From the Mayor

Moeraki Road (thought we cannot see it to be certain) after the dramatic rise of the Pahaoa River.

Mayor Martin Connelly

We will all be talking about Cyclone Gabrielle for a very long time.  It was the most destructive weather events in our lifetime, causing most of the North Island to be put into a State of National Civil Defence Emergency.  As I write this, on the 18^th of February, the cyclone has resulted in 10 deaths. 5000 more people are unaccounted for, and many thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes.

In the Wairarapa, the worst affected area seems to be around Tinui, but closer to home the White Rock Road and Pahaoa Road have been severely affected and people have been cut off. Most people who live near the Wairarapa Coast are likely to have experienced road-slips, power outages or phone problems.

My deepest sympathy goes out to the families of people who died in this disaster.  I also express my sympathy to those whose lives have been severely and dramatically altered by the Cyclone.  Just as with the Christchurch Earthquake, the after-effects of this cyclone are going to last for a very long time.

Unsurprisingly, people in the Wairarapa have been keen to help.  Over the past two days I have been linking groups here, who are working out ways to assist those in the North, with matching organisations in the Hawkes Bay who can receive that assistance.  Thank you to everyone in the Wairarapa who has found a way to help our unfortunate neighbours.  

Over the next week I expect even more local groups to start collecting cash and/or suitable goods to donate to our hard-hit neighbours. Of the many groups who are working to assist cyclone affected regions I will mention one.  This is a local earthmoving company that has shifted four of their staff and heavy diggers to the Hawkes Bay.  They have also taken caravans, and enough food and water so that they do not need to consume any local supplies that could be better used by survivors.  This is a generous and intelligent way to help.

It can sometimes be hard to work out the best way to show our support when disasters happen. Sometimes we offer aid but it hinders the relief effort rather than helping it.  For example, if we send fresh food and it starts to go off, we have just landed another problem on a problem-ridden area.   Money is always useful, and one of the best ways you can donate is through a Mayoral Relief Fund.  If you are going to donate good such as tinned food, then its best to do this through a group that has links to welfare groups in the area you wish to send those good to. Papawai Marae has been operating as a collection point for tinned food and hygiene items, for delivery to receiving centres in Napier, Hastings and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne.  

But one of the best things you can do if you know affected people, is to keep in touch withthem. Try to contact people you know and ask them if there is anything they need help with, or just simply let them know that you are there for them if they need you.

Thank you to every person in the Wairarapa who has donated to the recovery effort.  Thank you also to the Council’s roading crews who have helped our coastal residents re-connect to the rest of the region.  I also commend those members of the SWDC staff who have gone to help the civil defence work being undertaken in neighbouring areas, or who communicated so well with isolated people in our area.