Photo: Leonard Powell

The families of the men who lost their lives in last year’s severe weather in Auckland want the response to the events to be investigated.

A hearing was held at Auckland District Court on Thursday to decide what matters will be considered by the coroner looking into the deaths from Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.

A second hearing will be held at Hastings District Court next month to address nine deaths linked to Cyclone Gabrielle in the region.

Four men die in Auckland floods – Daniel Miller, Dave Young, Daniel Newth and Dave Lennard.

Two Muriwai volunteer firefighters, Craig Stevens and Dave van Zwanenberg, died in a landslide two weeks later during Cyclone Gabrielle.

Firefighters Dave van Zwanenberg (left) and Craig Stevens, who died after being trapped in a landslide in Auckland’s Muriwai during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.
Photo: given

Several family members of the men were present in the public gallery during the hearing.

The family of Daniel Millerwho died while saving others in the North Shore’s Wairau Valley, told coroner Erin Woolley the safety of visiting homes needed to be discussed at a coronial inquest.

Jane Glover, the lawyer representing the families, told Miller’s father, Steve Miller, in court that his son may not have died if he had not been vacuumed into an open dormitory.

Steve Miller claimed that the manhole cover was not secured and worried that other manholes may not be properly secured.

Clockwise from top left, Dave Young, Daniel Miller, Daniel Newth and Dave Lennard – the four who died in flood waters and mudslides in Auckland and Waikato on 27 January 2023.
Photo: Provided via NZ Herald

Jane Young, the wife of retired high school teacher Dave Young, who was swept away by floods in Onewhero, rural Waikato, claimed there were “logistical and organizational problems” with the rescue effort.

Glover said Jane Young wanted to emphasize that the rescuers were “selfless and courageous,” but those efforts were hampered by communication mix-ups, including the erroneous closure of the missing persons case.

As Onewhero is just over the border between Auckland and Waikato, Jane Young claimed they did not receive the same flood warnings as those in Auckland.

Lucy Stevens, the fireman’s wife Craig Stevenswho died in hospital days after he was trapped in a landslide while investigating a flooded property, wanted the coroner to look into whether houses should have been built on the site.

“She has unanswered questions about a malfunctioning MRI machine at the hospital and a delay in the treatment her husband received because he was transported by ambulance and not by helicopter because of the weather,” Glover said.

Muriwai flood damage
Photo: RNZ / Nick Monroe

“In summary, the families want the inquest to look at the lack of warnings that were given, the search and rescue operations that took place and the communication between organizations during the two events.”

The families also want actions that could have been taken to mitigate flood risks before the two events under investigation.

A number of organizations were represented at the first hearing, including Auckland Council, Fire and Emergency NZ, WorkSafe, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the police.

Coroner Woolley said a decision on what the inquest will cover will be made after the Hastings hearing in mid-November.

She said an investigation would likely not begin until the second half of 2025.

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