Cyclone Gabrielle: Hawke’s Bay volunteers feted as one-year anniversary looms

Te Piringa Manatopu Mario Wardens Regional Recovery Unit, from left (back) row, Ta Lita Renata, Janelle Ngametua-Auua and Anna Cook and (front) Eunice Atutahi, Janie Wichman, and Sophia Harris.

A week of commemoration marking 12 months since Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation of Hawke’s Bay on February 14 last year has started with a volunteer appreciation day at one of the major venues from where help came in the days and weeks afterwards.

The event, recognising services, volunteers and families, was held at Tomoana Showgrounds, Hastings, on Sunday, with Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst saying afterwards the focus of the week is on people who lost lives and property “and still have a long way to go to recover.”

Tia Ataera, aged 4, of Hastings, at the Cyclone Gabrielle volunteer appreciation event on Sunday, writing her message for display later in the week. Photo / Connull Lang

“Through both the response and the recovery our region united with a determined spirit; our people worked together to support each other, especially those in extreme need,” she said, listing the array of emergency services, and the volunteers from such units as surf lifesaving, volunteer search and rescue, and helicopter pilots, and “local groups and individuals from schools, marae, churches, community centres and more, who used whatever they had to save the lives of so many, and then shelter and feed our distressed people.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with children from the families of the Hawke's Bay Meal Drive Crew.

Sponsored by Evergreen Foundation, the event featured food and entertainment, and speeches, including that of new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and came ahead of a public commemoration service being held on the anniversary on Wednesday in Civic Square, Hastings, from 11.30am.

The Mayor of Hastings, Sandra Hazlehurst, speaking at the Cyclone Gabrielle Volunteer Appreciation Day.

Relaxation day for appreciated volunteers and whānau.