I seem to recall it was a great storm in 1866 which diverted the river (long name I've forgotten) and revealed the stones that form the Gimblett Gravels.
This cyclone Gabriel seems to have been fairly cataclysmic.
What's the effect on the ground long-term? Any changes?
How's Hawke's Bay going after the cyclone?
Re: How's Hawke's Bay going after the cyclone?
I now live in HB, above the (now George Fistonich owned, and previously Esk Valley / Villa Maria) Terraces Vineyard, located between Bay View and Eskdale. From a wine perspective, Gabrielle’s most extensive impact was in Eskdale / the Esk Valley, home to ~5% of HB’s vineyards, with most vines there destroyed, and in the Dartmoor Valley (notably the Gunn family’s Skeetfield Chardonnay vineyard). The most significant vineyard areas came through relatively unscathed, with the heavily rain affected vintage to varying degrees rescued through settled weather over the past six weeks or so. While the Esk Valley’s long term future is uncertain, I’m not aware of any other longer term implications for the sector - no major river diversions or suchlike.