Mace Ward from Auckland Council joins me in this episode. Mace was the General Manager of Group Recovery at the time of Cyclone Gabrielle and a ‘group controller’ in the lead up to the cyclone.

Mace talks about his role in the recovery and the learnings and changes that have been put in place by Auckland Council since the cyclone

He unpacks the categorisation process of houses in Muriwai, valuations, submissions, pay outs and settlements for red stickered home owners and the dispute process. I asked Mace if Auckland Council expects to respond better to future weather events and what’s been put in place within the council and the government around emergency management.

Mace shares what he thinks Muriwai did really well, a message to our community and advice for other communities going through a similar event

Precipice launched on July 20th 2026. 3 seasons will be released across 4 weeks and then the full series of 26 episodes will be available for you to listen to at your leisure.

Season 1: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai

Season 2: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration

Season 3: Community Initiatives after a Cyclone

Listen on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@precipicepodcast

Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/precipicepodcast

Hosted and produced by Mandy Jakich. Commissioned and funded by Muriwai Community Association, supported by the Auckland Council Recovery Office.

Today I speak with Scott De Silva, the current Auckland Council Manager of Regional Parks and an operations controller in Auckland Emergency Management when Cyclone Gabrielle hit. He has worked in Muriwai and been part of the community for many years and lives nearby in Cable Road.

Scott talks about what Auckland Council was expecting and preparations taken before the weather event, his role in the recovery and restoration of Muriwai, the first community meeting in Muriwai, managing communications and some of the frustrations he experienced.

We explore the Muriwai cordons process, opinions of the cordons within the community and beyond, impacts of the cordons on local commercial businesses and the security systems adopted.

Scott shares the challenges at this time, the learnings, the changes and developments in emergency management in Auckland Council and Regional Parks that have been undertaken, and advice he has for other communities facing or impacted by a weather event.

Precipice launched on July 20th 2026. 3 seasons will be released across 4 weeks and then the full series of 26 episodes will be available for you to listen to at your leisure.

Season 1: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai

Season 2: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration

Season 3: Community Initiatives after a Cyclone

Listen on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@precipicepodcast

Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/precipicepodcast

Hosted and produced by Mandy Jakich. Commissioned and funded by Muriwai Community Association, supported by the Auckland Council Recovery Office.

In this episode I speak to Michael Ward, known by most as Nate. Nate is married to Kate Ward who I also speak to on the podcast. He was the Chairman of the Surf Club at Muriwai at the time of Cyclone Gabrielle. He is now the Finance Administration Convenor and is still a trustee of the facility that owns and manages the surf club building.

Nate talks about the issues on the night and in the days following at the surf club, which became the evacuation point for the Muriwai community on the night of Cyclone Gabrielle and a pivotal gathering point for the community. He talks about the learnings and actions that have been taken to prepare the facility better for possible weather events including plans for water, infrastructure, systems, resources, funding, power and communication.

Nate shares advice he has for other communities dealing with a weather event like this and running a community facility that has become an evacuation point as well as an integral part of a community’s response to a disaster and subsequent recovery.

Precipice launched on July 20th 2026. 3 seasons will be released across 4 weeks and then the full series of 26 episodes will be available for you to listen to at your leisure.

Season 1: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai

Season 2: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration

Season 3: Community Initiatives after a Cyclone

Listen on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@precipicepodcast

Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/precipicepodcast

Hosted and produced by Mandy Jakich. Commissioned and funded by Muriwai Community Association, supported by the Auckland Council Recovery Office.