1988: Cyclone Bola

March 6, 2024

By AHNZ

Sometimes at this time of year things dry up or catch fire. Other times cyclones strike and we catch flooding the likes of which we had forgotten because of our short memories.

Today in history, 7 March, 1988, Cyclone Bola came to New Zealand and hit the North Island. Taranaki and Gisborne in particular.

The State long ago took over control and authority of predicting the weather and warning New Zealanders of danger. According to news headlines of the time they dropped the ball. Bola was classified as ex-cyclone and as recently as the day before the media reported “Bola No Threat.”

We, or, The Government, felt secure enough that resources were sent to Vanuatu to help with their Cyclone Bola clean-up. In fact, ours was only about to begin.

“Bola was one of the costliest cyclones in the history of New Zealand…Seven people were killed due to flooding, and hundreds were evacuated..” – Wiki

“One person is dead and at least 3000 are homeless in Vanuatu after _ eight day’s of torrential rain and wind, Government sources said.” – The Press (5 March, 1988;) Papers Past

“Cyclone Bola…has been officially downgraded into a deep depression as it crosses the northern North Island.” – ‘Bola’ no threat, The Press (7 March, 1988;) Papers Past

Until Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 this was the worst we’d had.

But how can we be ready as a nation when we centralise our warning system on the Government’s advice? Especially if they fail to give it in time and even offer the opposite of what we need to know when we need to know it?

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Image ref. Roger Gillingham surveys the damage after floodwaters submerged a cottage on his farm- Stuff (2018)

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