With drizzle and the odd little shower
But in 48 hours we would suffer
The full force of nature’s power.
The rain lashed down all Monday
Surface water began to appear
Rivers rose alarmingly fast
A flood was likely we feared.
Civil Defence swung into action
Low lying areas resembled a lake
People were evacuated from their homes
In case the stopbanks should break.
Through the night the radio warnings
Sent information to every quarter
Stories of death, danger and heroes
Emerged from the raging water.
Tuesday and the deluge continued
Whole hillsides tumbled down
Wairoa’s bridge disappeared down river
Completely isolating the town.
We tried to comprehend the situation
Te Karaka and Ormond had suffered the most
But the disaster continued to widen
As we received the news from the Coast.
Wednesday dawned fine and calm
Helicopters rapidly filled the skies
As people stood shocked and bewildered
They flew in with hope and supplies.
The main water supply crushed and broken
Meant Gisborne City would suffer too.
People talked of years to repair it
Meanwhile, how we’d cope nobody knew.
New Zealand learned of the disaster
Politicians and experts confirmed our fears
A flood of this magnitude could be expected
Once in two hundred and fifty years.
Horticulture on the flats took a beating
Its precious crops covered in silt
Some hill country farms would never recover
More shattered lives to be rebuilt.
Volunteers moved in to help victims
Clearing mud, picking grapes by hand.
Gisborne’s survival depended on then
This, they could understand.
Roadmen, police, army and pilots
Worked tirelessly day and night
Along with the brave and gallant band
Putting power and telephones to right.
But how do you pick up the pieces
Of lives on the brink of despair
Government must come up with the answers
For farmers, the incentive must be there.
Maybe this disaster serves as a lesson
A terrible way to bring us together
Why can’t we just be New Zealanders
Without pressure from the weather.
It will take years to resurrect our lives
In this area we love the most.
But we’re a resilient breed of people
So let’s get together and rebuild the Coast.
Ginny Sherriff (A farmer’s wife who owes a great deal to the kindness and efficiency of the Civil Defence, helicopter pilots and neighbours)
