Whaea Maraea in her Wairoa whare with her kaiārahi Gene Waihape from Te Whare Maire o Tapuwae ki Wairoa Whānau Ora.
The mud and silt from Cyclone Gabrielle was up to the board by her knees. Her whare is still in the process of being fixed four months on to the day and counting. We have so much aroha for these resilient whānau continuing to do it hard and the partners supporting them through this gradual changing and challenging period.
Like many Wairoa residents, Maraea has a pod coming onto the property that is dry with all the amenities and once it is connected to power and sewerage it will be liveable until their house is completely fixed.
“I thank the lord we are still here to breathe another day I really do. I thank these lovely people who have come to help my family in a big way. We have been given a lot. A LOT. I thank Jean and Kimi and everyone from Te Whare Maire o Tapuawae were here on the third day and that’s what I appreciated, the communication. Then they came once a fortnight, consistently and they always helped us and whatever I got, I halved it with my daughter n law. I looked forward to Jean and Kimi coming, and they always came. That made us really strong together as a family here and my community family and I welcome that in”.
