Post Cyclone Gabrielle baseline sediment and sampling has been completed across impacted areas in Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Northland. This has been completed by LandWISE, AgResearch, Massey University, Plant and Food Research, Gisborne District Council and Luke Posthuma on behalf of the Northland Kumara Growers Association.
Data from this sampling is being collated. A selection of sites will be revisited over the winter to track their progress. We have been back to some sites already. In places where grass seed was flown on or drilled soon after the event, light cattle and lambs are grazing. In shallower deposits, hooves seem to be doing a good job of ‘blending’ the sediment into the soil. In deeper deposits, plant roots have encouraged earthworm activity and a surprising number of earthworms can be found in some spots.
In June Dan and Alex visited farmers in Wairoa and Gisborne to view the impacts and share experiences and ideas for recovery. Most of the damage in Wairoa was in a small area near Frasertown, but there the sediment was very deep.
Gisborne sediment was finer than we saw in Wairoa. Bryce McLoughlin and David Sluter from Gisborne District Council took the lead sampling impacted sites across Tairawhiti and also in Wairoa “because we’re closer than you”, which was greatly appreciated. They guided Dan and Alex around typical sites showing orchards, vineyards, maize and vegetable paddocks.
Drainage in some areas has been very slow, not helped by a major pump failure.
Where landowners were quick to resow areas, grass growth has been very good. On first viewing, some sites even appeared to have missed to cyclone.
A workshop outlining the lessons from the past, and lessons for the future was held at Bushmere Arms and attracted 30 people. One of the messages heard was that even without Cyclone Gabrielle, things have been tough with far higher rainfalls in the last two growing seasons. Constant wetness and low light levels have impacted orchards and other crops.
