16 October 2026
Gisborne District Council’s innovative approach to tackling woody debris following Cyclone Gabrielle has received further national recognition, winning the 2026 LGNZ SuperIdea Award.
Turning the Tide: Large Woody Debris AI-assisted Removal was announced as the winner at the LGNZ SuperLocal Awards last night.
Developed with Interpine, the project uses AI-assisted aerial imagery, drone technology, advanced mapping and a risk assessment framework to identify and prioritise large woody debris across Tairāwhiti.
The approach has supported around $50 million of recovery work, saved more than $1 million and helped teams target resources to the areas of greatest risk.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz says the award is another proud recognition of the people behind the Tairāwhiti region’s recovery.
“Cyclone Gabrielle left us facing challenges on an enormous scale. Our teams had to find new and smarter ways of working, and this project is a great example of that.
“What makes me particularly proud is that this innovation was developed to solve a very real problem for our communities – helping us make better decisions, use recovery funding wisely and focus our efforts where they would make the biggest difference.”
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, large volumes of woody debris were deposited across the region’s rivers and coastline, creating risks to communities, infrastructure and the environment.
The new system enabled Council to move from a largely site-by-site response to a transparent, evidence-based approach for assessing risk and prioritising removal.
Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher Swann says the recognition shows how lessons from the region’s recovery can benefit the wider local government sector.
“We’ve combined local knowledge and experience with technology to create something that has made our recovery work more efficient and effective.
“While it was developed out of a difficult situation, what we have learned has real potential to help other councils prepare for and respond to future events.”
The LGNZ SuperIdea Award recognises innovation that helps councils work smarter and deliver better outcomes for their communities.
The win follows Turning the Tide receiving awards for ALGIM Data & Insights Project of the Year, Datascape Award for Digital Local Government and 2026 Taituarā Members’ Choice earlier this year.
Image caption: Receiving the LGNZ SuperIdea award, recognising innovation through cyclone recovery, left Gisborne District Council Councillor Alexandra Boros, Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher-Swann and Councillor Jeremy Muir.