Details of an independent review into Edgecumbe's stopbank failure during ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie last month have been revelaed by the the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The review of the Rangitaiki River Scheme will be led by Sir Michael Cullen, who this morning announced its membership and terms of reference as well as its management.

Sir Michael will joined on the review panel by two technical experts - Kyle Christensen, a water resources engineer, and Charlie Price, a geotechnical engineer. 'The failure of the stopbank during April's extreme weather has had a significant impact on the people of Edgecumbe,” says Sir Michael.

'Homes were flooded, property destroyed and people have lost personal possessions. 'We know that ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie was a significant weather event and that rivers were running at record levels.

'However, what we don't know yet is how this breach happened, and whether more could have been done to prevent it.

'People understandably are looking for answers and this is why the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has asked me to lead an independent review panel into the Rangitaiki River Scheme and its management.”

The review will look into the operation of the Rangitaiki River Scheme assets, including its design, engineering, maintenance and management.

It will also examine the implementation of the flood management role that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council delivered until the breach and in response to it.

Sir Michael says while the review is inevitably technical in nature, it is the answers to these questions that will provide the community with clarity about what happened and whether things need to be done differently in future.

The review will run until late July, with the team speaking to the community, iwi, landowners, stakeholders and others who may be able to provide technical information pertinent to the review.