Learning and Adapting after Cyclone Gita

In 2018, Cyclone Gita caused havoc across the lower North Island. New Plymouth was hit particularly hard, causing widespread power outages, felled trees and landslips and major pipe damage to one of the potable water supplies.

During the cyclone one of those trees fell directly onto a major watermain pipe that feed to 10,000 homes which left them without water for three days, causing the residents to go directly on a boil water notice. Schools and businesses had to close which caused an economic impact of $4.5 million dollars.

NPDC saw the need to upgrade and invest in pipes and fittings to cater for all of their reticulation critical spares. Hynds Water worked directly with the project manager and provided solutions for all of the different pipe sizes, all types of repair solutions catering for all pressures across the three waters network. Some of our major brands could offer custom built pipe fitting solutions for pipes that are not even made to this day!

Now NPDC have a brand-new purpose-built facility that stores an extensive supply of fittings and other infrastructure spares including critical pipe! As well as a modern inventory system with scan codes, electronic access to instructions and diagrams and life reminders for perishable items held in the store.

Article by: Brent Merritt – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water

Project Timeline

Site establishment

28th March 2022

Boar bush reservoir back to service

31st March 2022

Temporary works in river

8th April 2022

Repair leaking coupling

11th April 2022

Rip Rap placement

18th April 2022

Reinstatement and Disestablishment

28th April 2022