Community leader says past victims are ‘in the forefront’ of their minds

As the Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa remains in a state of emergency, a Pacific Health and Development Manager used a brief reprieve to reflect on the community's resilience.

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Tofilau Talalelei Taufale said throughout the lashing of heavy rain and strong winds on the East Coast, the region’s communities remain resilient.

Tofilau added that when those on the ground figure out their needs, they will reach out for help to community and church leaders.

"We appreciate all the prayers and all the alofa (love) that people are sending to our families and our communities here," he said.

"And of course, we remember those who have lost their lives so we keep them at the forefront of our thoughts as well."

Four-hundred Wairoa properties, including 100 homes, were flooded on Wednesday, with many of them never having flooded before. Additionally, more than 100 people sought support from the War Memorial Hall, Taihoa Marae, and Hinemihi Marae last night.

Tofilau said in Napier, which is currently being monitored by emergency services, that there is the odd surface flooding but overall they are okay.

"In the Hastings area, we've had a number of families that have been displaced since yesterday morning because, from my understanding, the seawall was broken.

"I think there is some fatigue but there's a lot of resilience. I'd like to think that since the last cyclone a lot of our communities have banded together in terms of readiness."

Tofilau said in terms of future prevention that council and iwi leaders will advise the government eventually, and that he hopes they'll listen to "our community and our people".

Watch the full interview via 531pi’s Facebook page below:

How communities are coping across the East Coast
Further south, an evacuation order is still in place for about 140 homes in the township of Haumoana, south-east of Hastings.

Furthermore, the search for the missing Gisborne fishermen in Mahia yesterday found three bodies.

Evacuations are underway for parts of Tairāwhiti, while coastal inundation has caused Heretaunga Ward in the Hasting District to declare a state of emergency.

Tairāwhiti Mayor Rehette Stoltz also praised her community yesterday, for their cooperation and resilience, but did admit after 16 extreme weather events that the East Coast is overdue for a break.

Improving on last year's response
Last year's extreme weather, Cyclone Gabrielle, left a bad aftertaste for many in the Hawke's Bay region after criticism stirred towards a poor emergency rollout.

The infamous cyclone had led to approximately 350 homes being flooded alongside 120 businesses impacted in Wairoa.

Tofilau said although he cannot speak for how the community feel about the coordinated response this time around, that there have been improvements since then.

"I haven't been directly impacted so I can't speak for those in Wairoa and Haumoana but from my perspective, the communication is coming through," he said.

"It's a benefit of having power cut out and the benefit of having a good internet connection. So then at least we can say keep our communication up.

"That's the strength of this one from what I can see. But on the ground we'll have to wait and see what our community and our impacted whānau are saying."