Hawke's Bay resident Jessica Maxwell talks to Paul Brennan about the Ombudsman’s inquiry into the Havelock North detention dam, which found Hastings District Council acted unreasonably, neglecting the dams and contributing to Cyclone Gabrielle flooding. While the Ombudsman stopped short of directly blaming the Council, Jessica and the community disagree, accusing them of deception and inaction. With residents facing financial losses and Council deflecting blame onto climate change, Jessica sees this as both a win for accountability and a loss of faith in leadership, now calling for key resignations.

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1 July 2024:  JESSICA MAXWELL: Havelock North Resident & Activist: On Hastings District Council’s Mismanagement Of Havelock North’s Detention Dams And Streams

24 Nov 2023: JESSICA MAXWELL: Havelock North Resident: On The Council’s Negligence Of Local Dams And Streams And The Impact After Cyclone Gabrielle Hit