Breaking: Cyclone Gabrielle review find state of emergency was declared ‘too late’

New Zealand’s national emergency system ‘sets up good people to fail.’ 

That’s the damning finding of an independent review into the Civil Defence response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay. 

The review - which was carried out by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush - flags what it calls a lack of 'situational awareness', and adds that the system is currently not fit for purpose. 

Stuff Audio's senior journalist Aaron Dahmen joins Imogen Wells to talk about the report, and what it means for future emergency responses.