During Cyclone Gabrielle, the Waipaoa River changed its course and drowned the small community of Te Karaka. This morning Dame Cindy and Dr Davies visited Claude Ruru to see his house, which like many in Te Karaka, has been raised metres to withstand future flooding events. They then viewed a temporary village before going to Mahaki Tiaki Tangata Evacuation Site.
You can find more images from Their Excellencies' visit in the Te Karaka image gallery.
After seeing the temporary housing ‘pods’ provided to whānau in Te Karaka, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies visited Buildsmart in Gisborne, which has provided many of the pods and is constructing hundreds of relocatable houses for iwi in the region. Their Excellencies then visited residents in Gisborne whose houses were flooded during Cyclone Gabrielle.
You can find more images from Their Excellencies' time with the Te Hapara residents in the Te Hapara image gallery.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies then made their way up the iconic State Highway 35 to beautiful Uawa Tolaga Bay. First, they visited the Māori health promotion, advocacy, and support agency Te Whare Hauora o te Aitanga a Hauiti. During and after Cyclone Gabrielle the organisation provided extensive practical and mental health support to the community, and continue to work to empower whānau in all areas relating to their own health and wellbeing.
You can find more images from their kōrero in the Te Whare Hauora o Te Aitanga a Hauiti image gallery.
Finally, Their Excellencies visited the Uawa Tolaga Bay Volunteer Fire Brigade for the very special investiture ceremony of Mr Eruera Kaiwai, QSM. Eru, as he is widely and fondly known, has been a volunteer with the Tolaga Bay Fire Brigade since 1957. He is a kaumātua at Puketawai Marae, and has been a minister at tangihanga, weddings, and hui. Eru also helped to establish Ngāti Radio and chairs Tolaga Bay Golden Oldies. Our very warmest congratulations to Eru, his whānau and friends.
You can find more images from Eru's investiture ceremony in the Eruera Kaiwai QSM image gallery.