An extremely challenging time for our community

The past week has been extremely challenging for our community. The loss of life at Mauao and Welcome Bay has weighed heavily on many.

I want to acknowledge the tragic loss of Austen Keith Richardson, 10, and his grandmother Yao Fang, 71, who died in the Welcome Bay landslide. Their loss is felt across the rohe, and our thoughts remain with their family and friends.

Many people faced frightening and exhausting circumstances during this weather event, and I sincerely thank our first responders, community response teams, council staff, volunteers, and emergency services, who worked tirelessly in difficult conditions.

I also want to thank the wider community, who have stepped up in remarkable ways – from offering evacuees a bed for the night, to helping neighbours clear debris, fix fences, and restore access to their properties.

Volunteers ran Community Emergency Hubs in Katikati, Waihī Beach and Te Puke through the night, while marae across the rohe opened their doors to those with nowhere else to go. At Waihī Beach, 31 of the 73 people evacuated from campground were billeted into private homes.

The many acts of kindness seen over the past week build a picture of who we are here in the Western Bay - like the local vet who took a dog into their home when its owners were evacuated, and a Te Puke resident who charged mobile phones for people from her caravan during a power outage.

The scale of this event has been significant –70 slips have affected the roading network, and more than 370 weather-related service requests have been logged with Council.

We’ve completed 30 Rapid Building Assessments, due to flooding and landslips. As a result, two homes are currently red-stickered and 16 yellow-stickered. We know this is distressing for people, but recovery will take time.

Council continues to support those who have been impacted, while also maintaining essential services.

As work progresses to restore homes, roads and services, we ask for patience and kindness. Together, we will heal as a community and come back stronger.

James Denyer

Western Bay Mayor