Communities step in to help tornado victims in South Auckland

 Over the weekend of June 19 and June 20, 2021, I was in Papatoetoe (in South Auckland) with Ministers of Civil Defence and Social Development, Kris Faafoi and Carmel Sepuloni, as well as local MPs and Councillors Efeso Collins and Sharon Stewart to support the community after the devastating tornado that tore through the area on Saturday (June 19) morning.

The damage was severe, with smashed power poles and houses rendered uninhabitable.

Most tragically, an engineer was killed while at the Ports of Auckland freight terminal termina in Wiri. Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends, and with everyone else who was affected by the tornado and its aftermath.

Damage assessment and support

As of Thursday, June 24, 2021, Auckland Council’s Building Inspection Team had assessed a total of 251 properties, with 22 deemed uninhabitable, 60 suitable for restricted entry, and 169 safe to inhabit. The Council will continue to assess damaged buildings and work with property owners and residents on the next steps.

Following the tornado, I announced the establishment of a Mayoral Relief Fund, with $200,000 from Auckland Council and the government to support people and families experiencing hardship due to the tornado who need urgent financial assistance.

The Fund is in addition to other support that people may qualify for through the Ministry of Social Development. It will be administered by the Council and will help those in need as an interim measure until they can get back on their feet and access other forms of assistance.

Financial assistance to the needy

If you or someone you know needs to access support, please visit ourauckland.nz and search ‘Mayoral Relief Fund’ to find out how to apply or call Auckland Council on 09 301 01 01. As well as the Mayoral Relief Fund, Auckland Emergency Management and the Ministry of Social Development are providing a range of assistance measures, with more information available at OurAuckland.

Amongst the tragedy and damage of the tornado, it was heartening to see the response from the Papatoetoe community, local volunteers, and organisations such as Auckland Emergency Management (AEM), the Red Cross and emergency services.

AEM supported about 100 people who needed emergency accommodation, establishing welfare centres on the ground in Papatoetoe, communicating important safety updates, and helping locals access support from other agencies.

Resilience reassuring

The team also worked together with Auckland Council on clean-up efforts, and Council staff were involved in roles such as inspecting damaged buildings, waste collection and welfare support. My thanks to all the organisations involved for their professionalism and hard work.

The resilience shown by the community in the face of the disaster was also noteworthy, and I want to thank all those who supported their neighbours through this difficult time.

A notable example was local builder Sulendra Raju, who was one of the first on the scene on Saturday, putting up tarpaulins on damaged houses, boarding up broken windows and fixing fences. This was a heroic effort and typical of the community spirit, solidarity and empathy shown by all those involved.

Phil Goff is Mayor of Auckland. He writes a regular Column in Indian Newslink. The above story has been sponsored by