February 03, 2023
Covid crisis network kicks in for flood relief
The chair of Mangere’s Te Puea Memorial Marae says networks set up to help Maori through the Covid pandemic are proving invaluable in responding to the city floods.
Hurimoana Dennis says the marae is helping flood victims despite losing power and having its kaumatua flats inundated.
He says the Auckland-wide Taumata Kōrero community support network is making a huge difference.
“We had all this infrastructure in place – the distribution networks across Tamaki, from Te Hana down to Port Waikato. And we’re still doing it. Although the focus is on trying to support whanau who have really been bowled over by the flooding, losing everything,” he says..
Hurimoana Dennis says the big lessons from the flooding for him are that Maori networks need better council and government agency support – and a more streamlined emergency plan is critical for any future events.