Editorial: Pride in helping others

Bay of Plenty Times photojournalist Ruth Keber was one of a group of Tauranga residents who gave up their own time and money to do what they could to help in Vanuatu. Photo / Rebecca Savoury

I'm proud to be a Kiwi.

We're a nation of explorers who are known to work hard and do whatever we can to help those in need.

That's exactly what we've seen in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

It's hard to comprehend the destruction the earthquake has caused. More than 7000 people are dead and officials fear the death toll could reach 10,000.

In the midst of such horror I've been inspired by the Kiwis who have been so quick to jump in and help out.

In the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend we reported on Tauranga nurse Alyssa Lowe, who was trekking in Nepal when the earthquake struck. She told a TV3 reporter in Nepal she wanted to stay and use her skills to help.

It's that compassion, can-do attitude and work ethic that New Zealanders around the world are known for.

It's a reputation we should all be proud of.

Bay of Plenty Times reporter Ruth Keber also recently gave up her time to help in a disaster-stricken nation.

She was one of a group of Tauranga residents who gave up their own time and money to do what they could to help in Vanuatu.

They re-roofed a women's centre and a women's block of toilets, rebuilt two classrooms and the foundations for another classroom for one primary school and re-roofed a school building and toilet block for another.

We have also reported on another young Tauranga woman, Courtney Tilby, who was volunteering in a small village in Vanuatu when the cyclone hit. She was reluctant to come home and even when she did she and her mother, Kerri Tilby-Price, have thrown themselves into collecting donations to ship back to Vanuatu.

During a missions trip I was on in the Philippines I learnt just how much it means to locals that we are willing to pitch in and help them.

They were so grateful for the little we could do and so happy with the little they had.

More than anything, I came away with a new outlook on life.

Living in New Zealand we have no idea how good we have it.

Going on a missions trip of some sort is something every Kiwi should do during their life. It's a life-changing experience.

I'm proud so many of us do already.