Cyclone Gabrielle left Wairoa alone and isolated. The district had no communication, limited electricity supply and was regionally isolated by road for five days. The only way to communicate with hundreds of flood-impacted whānau was by distributing A4 hardcopy information sheets.
This engagement approach proved successful and evolved into a Wairoa Recovery newsletter, which has been distributed digitally, in hard copy and via social media over the past two years. Initially, the newsletter was planned to provide information in the recovery period for around 18 months after Cyclone Gabrielle, focusing on the North Clyde area and rural, isolated communities. However, the second flood event in June 2024 necessitated its continuation, with 17 publications having now been produced.
The newsletter is a voice of truth sharing information and how to access support. It has been inspirational by telling grassroots stories to uplift the community and demonstrate that Recovery is possible. The qualitative and quantitative nature of the newsletter has provided a resource for agencies, kept Wairoa’s needs in the spotlight, generated financial support and resources, and has been vital in capturing learnings and preserving the impact of two significant flood events within 18 months of each other and the Recovery process.
