In 1964, I remember the floods of the Tararua district, where the Tui Brewery was flooded with water from the Mangatainoka River. It was a 100-year weather event apparently. That's exactly what it felt like to this 4-year-old living behind the Brewery at the time.
In 2004, the Manawatu floods were a significant event, with horrific flooding and damage to hillsides. It was called a 100-year weather event, and that's what it felt like to this 44-year-old, farming there at the time.
Eleven days ago, the lower North Island was hit with yet another severe storm. In Bulls, our local area, we lost thousands of pine trees plus hundreds of others. It was a significant weather event and that's what it felt like. As yet, it hasn't been labelled as a 100-year event.
Insurance claims for these events are huge, and of course, it gets passed on to the public paying the premiums. After each event, farmers learn and adapt. But are we ahead of the next event? It doesn't feel like it becase each one is different from the last and so easily catches us out.
Of course, it's not just farmers. Every year now, our wee country (among many others) gets smacked with a major weather event.
How we plan our infrastructure rebuild both publicly and privately needs careful consideration, and I don't get the sense that that's happening. When you are living inside a system it's very hard to see it, according to Simone Olbert.
Our droughts and floods are projected to increase 300% in New Zealand in the next 50-100 years. That's going to take a significant shift in mindset to adapt to.
Here's a fun fact: When was the last time this country had a below average temperature year? 1985! Which means you need to be over 40 years of age to have experienced this. Whether we agree on what has caused climate change or not - we are living in an altered world. Personally, I believe humans are responsible for the anthropocene.
On the weekend of the storm, I was playing interclub golf at another clubs course. It was a nice Sunday when we started, but soon the drizzle set in. It wasn't heavy, just steady. And then it started getting chilly. No big deal.
But what happened to the putting green was something I had never seen before. The rain couldn't enter the ground, and they were awash with water within 15 minutes. It may as well have been raining on concrete.
It didn't help my mood (or my golf!) when the locals were telling me it was because of the clay and soil type. I held my tongue as a guest but it destroyed my joy of playing, because I know a little about soil and realised we were playing in an environment that had been destroyed biologically so we privileged few could play a silly game!
This is the nub of the blog: We are literally fucking our natural environment without understanding our impact, or sometimes even caring.
I have no idea how we wake humanity up to its destructive ways, but I'm trying.
Coming ready or not - a whole new climate to a place near you!
Love to hear your thoughts!
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