Abstract
When Cyclone Gabrielle swept across large parts of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) in February this year, it displaced thousands of people as flooding caused landslides, ripped through homes, trapped people on roofs, ruined farmland and closed roads. Here we assess the reported damage to water infrastructure in this disaster and find evidence of a low level of resilience. It is clear that both central and local government need to invest far more in upgrading water infrastructure if it is to survive intensifying climate disruption.