I want to put on record my thanks to all who were involved in the response, and, now, the recovery from the impact of the floods in our region. Thank you to the civil defence staff and volunteers who staffed the emergency operations centre (EOC) day and night as a complex situation evolved over a number of days, requiring quick decision-making by the teams working through the night and under immense pressure. Particular thanks to those members of the EOC who were red- and yellow-stickered themselves but still came in to work every day to support their fellow community members. Special thanks to group controller Alec Louverdis; your quick thinking and decision to evacuate homes as a precaution saved our city from a worse disaster. Thank you to the city's contractors, first responders, public servants, local iwi, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, urban search and rescue, local police, Defence Force staff, National Emergency Management Agency staff from across the motu, the Red Cross, Waka Kotahi, our local councils, and our health and welfare workers. Collectively you stepped up to support our people, as you always do. 