How the Muriwai community are supporting each other following Cyclone Gabrielle

Friday, 24 February 2023

Muriwai residents Mary-Ann Paterson and Jane Scott were evacuated from their homes as landslides hit houses.

Muriwai locals are starting to rebuild their lives after Cyclone Gabrielle damaged homes and roads.

The West Auckland beachside community was hit hard by the cyclone, with heavy rain causing slips which killed two volunteer firefighters.

Part of Domain Crescent has been cordoned off since last week due to the risk of further slips and many homes were red-stickered – meaning they cannot be entered.

Despite the destruction, many people and businesses are supporting each other, including free sessions on dealing with trauma and raising funds for those affected.

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Aerial photos of Muriwai show the scale of the slip damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Retired psychotherapist Janet Redmond is offering a free hui to help locals process the impact the cyclone has had on them.

“My son used to live on Motutara Rd, which has been very badly damaged and I have friends in Muriwai and wanted to be able to something to help.

“I’ve had decades of experience working with trauma and with a life event like this it can easily become trauma if it’s not felt and processed.”

On Sunday, March 5, Redmond would be in Muriwai, offering the opportunity for community members to speak about their feelings and how they’ve been affected by the cyclone.

“It’ll be a place to talk, feel and find solutions, and by having it in a group setting it can help everyone to feel less alone.”

Muriwai resident Shaye Boddington, director of Shaye's Tiny Homes, had offered to build a tiny home for anyone who had lost their house to a slip or had it red-stickered.

Boddington was already relocating one tiny home back to Muriwai for a family affected.

'There's a lot of farmland in Muriwai and big properties where there'd be many suitable parking spots and locations for tiny houses,' Boddington said.

Muriwai’s Surf Club was being used as a food hub for residents who had been displaced from their homes.

Anyone wanting to attend Sunday’s 1pm meeting can email Redmond at janetredmond@gmail.com.