‘Ordinary people doing extraordinary things’

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga summed up his experience of Cyclone Gabrielle a year after it struck in one word . . . “unreal”.

“Unreal is what I think about what we went through last year.”

He was one of several Gisborne district councillors who attended yesterday’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group meeting, where on the first anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle  they reflected on its devastating impact on Tairāwhiti.

There was “unreal devastation, unreal broken roads, unreal, no water, unreal, too much water, unreal, how much silt we had,” he said.

The district had unreal people with unreal leadership in various hapū and communities, some of which were isolated by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Mr Wharehinga spoke about the Tairawhiti Superhero Awards being presented tonight. They were to honour “those who think their actions weren’t hero actions, but they absolutely were”.

He was proud of the region.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz, also the  Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group chair, said the entire week had been a time of reflection and sharing of stories, with various events held throughout the district.

The Tairāwhiti Superhero Awards were an opportunity to acknowledge such moments as “my neighbour saved my life or changed my life”.

She thanked the Civil Defence team and hapū on the Coast and “western-inland”.

Civil Defence “made sure we have what we need”.

There had been many weather events since 2019 and Civil  Defence had got stronger and stronger.

Civil Defence and Emergency Group manager Ben Green and others were doing an awesome job.

The mayor said she had earlier that morning met former East Coast MP Kiri Allan who said Civil Defence in Gisborne was an example to the rest of the country.

“We learn as we go,” Mrs Stoltz said.

“We don’t always get everything right.

“But we are bloody awesome.”

Cr Debbie Gregory said television coverage of the cyclone 12 months ago had left her with tears running down her cheeks.

But news coverage only showed “the tip of the iceberg”.

“I just want to acknowledge every single person who feels that pang of anxiety every time they hear rain on their roof.”

As a councillor she was aware there was still deep anxiety and frustration in the community.

“The fact is we are millions of dollars short of what we need to fix this.”

Cr Rawinia Parata said she had seen ordinary people doing extraordinary things with generosity and kindness.

She thanked Mr Green and acknowledged “the struggles of Te Karaka”, including the death of a resident, and people who continued to have issues with their homes.

The community would be stronger as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, she said.

Cr Ani Pahuru-Huriwai said here were many more unsung heroes — so many more, thousands and most of them volunteers.

Climate change was here, she said.

Cyclone Gabrielle would not be the last weather event and the region had to prepare for “what is to come”.