Images of boatloads and truckloads of supplies destined for cyclone-affected communities have filled the news, but people in some cut-off areas say they haven’t seen any help. National Correspondent Tony Wall reports.
Families in parts of Tairāwhiti still without power and running water a week after Cyclone Gabrielle claim they have received very little help from authorities and question where aid supplies are going.
Stuff spoke to families in the Tokomaru Bay area – which is still cut off by road both north and south –who say aid hasn’t been handed out evenly and life is becoming increasingly tough.
“I haven’t seen a loaf of bread in four days … nobody knows where it’s going,” one person said. “The [navy] boats keep coming in, and the helicopters keep flying and dropping things off – but no-one has seen food apart from the people in one area and that was only done yesterday.”
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Some people claimed Civil Defence in Tokomaru Bay was not sharing out food and supplies evenly.
“It’s favouritism,” one person said. “It seems like, well you’re from that marae, you get nothing – but the ones from a different marae, they look after [you], and that’s the truth. It was the same with the last flood – a lot of people got nothing.
“Have you heard of Pā Wars [sports festival]? This is almost the same, but it’s kai wars.”
kiri allan/Supplied
The Hikuwai Bridge, north of Tolaga Bay, has cut off Tokomaru Bay from the south.
But Gene Takurua, a Civil Defence co-ordinator for Tokomaru Bay, said his team was doing the best it could with the “intelligence” available, asking Stuff to provide the names of those complaining, so they could be helped.
None of those criticising the response wanted to be named, for fear of retaliation in a small community.
Takurua denied there was any favouritism.
“We’re working out of a fire station in the middle of Tokomaru Bay, it doesn’t matter whether you come from Asia, India, from Tuatini Marae, Pakirikiri Marae – if people require welfare support, and we know about it, they’ll get it.”
Takurua said they faced major connectivity and roading challenges in getting to people.
“We’ve tried to ascertain our gaps … it’s not an easy task.”
Do you feel you haven’t received enough help? Email tony.wall@stuff.co.nz
While power has been restored to the main township of Tokomaru Bay, outlying areas remain without electricity and running water a week after the cyclone, and have been told it could be another week before it’s back on.
Months worth of meat stored in freezers has spoiled, people can’t wash without running water, and generators are in short supply.
“We’re trying to keep them [kids] happy, but you can see it in their faces … they’ve never seen anything like it, they’re distressed,” one resident said.
One person said even people with serious health conditions were struggling to get help.
Some people described begging for generators, without success. Petrol has run out in the main township, meaning people in outlying areas are stranded, and can’t get to the Four Square supermarket.
“There have been fights ‘cos there’s no gas,” one person said. “People are pinching gas – they’re going into homes to try and get gas to save themselves and get somewhere.”
Takurua said there wasn’t an “abundance” of supplies. “We’re relying on our connection with [Gisborne] and it’s been quite tricky to get anything out of there.
“No-one’s seen bread for days – it’s not like we’re sitting on a bakery here in Tokomaru.”
Stuff reported yesterday how a midwife from Te Puia Springs had to walk through slips and wash-outs to get supplies to a family that had completely run out of kai.
Tony Wall/Stuff
Midwife Corrina Parata had to walk through slips and wash-outs to get supplies to a client.
Some people were upset that the Civil Defence newsletter told them not to be whakamā [shy] and come forward if they needed help, only to feel like they were being “interrogated” when they asked for food.
Takurua said: “I’m not sure where that type of thinking comes from, we’re keen as to bend over backwards and if we know people need things and where they are, we’ll get it to them.”
But some people complained that when supplies were handed out, they were often meagre. One person described a box containing a couple of rolls of toilet paper, sugar, noodles and cleaning products, but no meat, veges, fruit or bread.
People were encouraged to support the Four Square so that “we can conserve our resources”, the newsletter said, but everything at the store was expensive.
Civil Defence had advised that aid was being prioritised for the elderly and vulnerable.
“But we’re all cut off, we’re all vulnerable, we’re all stressed.”
“Everyone’s too scared to say anything,” one resident said. “If you try and [criticise] these people you are going to be condemned in this tiny little town. But a lot of us feel like this.”
Takurua said he was keen to find solutions and find ways they could do things better.
“There’s stuff happening everywhere and there’s choppers flying all around, we as a Civil Defence defence crew aren’t necessarily aware of what’s going on … 24-7, so it’s a little bit challenging, it’s not a straightforward thing.”
He said getting help to the elderly, children and those with medical conditions was a priority.
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