Refuge and manaakitanga in Te Karaka

Issue: Volume 102, Number 4

Posted: 30 March 2023
Reference #: 1HA_96

In areas devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, marae often provided shelter, food and comfort for locals. But when two of Te Karaka’s marae became inaccessible due to flooding, Te Karaka Area School took on the role of refuge for displaced locals.

Te Karaka community leaders, whānau, Civil Defence team members, teachers, and school Board members are pictured here with Te Karaka Area School principal Renae Savage and Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie

Te Karaka community leaders, whānau, Civil Defence team members, teachers, and school Board members are pictured here with Te Karaka Area School principal Renae Savage and Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie.

Thirty kilometres north of Gisborne, the small settlement of Te Karaka was cut off from the rest of the world for almost a week when communication systems went down. The township was on its own.

More than half of the school population were evacuated from their homes and up to 120 people could not return to their homes, says principal Renae Savage.

Te Karaka community leaders, whānau, Civil Defence team members, teachers, and school Board members are pictured here with Te Karaka Area School principal Renae Savage and Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie

Te Karaka community leaders, whānau, Civil Defence team members, teachers, and school Board members are pictured here with Te Karaka Area School principal Renae Savage and Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie.

“We were very fortunate the school wasn’t affected by the flooding, so we adapted as the marae to provide sustenance and shelter during the immediate shock after the event.”

Along with the gymnasium that served as sleeping quarters, the school provided shower and toilet facilities. The cooking classroom has the capacity to store and prepare food for a large number of people.

The school had a few mattresses and although local marae, Takipu and Rangatira, lost many resources, about 10 more mattresses were retrieved “in the nick of time”. Tank water was plentiful, generators provided power and contributions of food and clothing arrived at the school.

Koha from the cyclone-devastated community to the school included boxes and trays of food and bottled water.

Koha from the cyclone-devastated community to the school included boxes and trays of food and bottled water.

“This is a reflection of the generosity of our community,” says Renae. “Koha came from local people’s cupboards and freezers. If they could give, they were giving.”

Te Karaka Area School’s commitment to a localised curriculum – mātauranga Māhaki, or knowledge indigenous to Te Aitanga a Māhaki tribal lands – has enabled reconnection with the community, and relationships with its six marae to be strengthened, says Renae.

“Our localised curriculum includes stories and myths that pertain to the six marae. We’ve been able to connect the school with marae, pa sites and landscapes, particularly our tribal lands. So, we had strong links with the community before the cyclone. Through this we enable our ākonga to develop characteristics according to one of our school values – whanaungatanga/relationships.

FENZ workers hose silt off paving stones on the school grounds.

FENZ workers hose silt off paving stones on the school grounds.

“Manaakitanga/care and affection is another of our school values. Whether people in need had a short or long relationship with the school didn’t matter. It was our intention everyone felt the generosity and kindness of our school.”

The school made do with the resources available at the time, but Te Karaka Area School Civil Defence headquarters could have been better equipped, says Renae.

The response from the recently formed local Civil Defence team was key.

“Three months into their civil defence roles they made pivotal decisions which saw most of the township evacuated to safety.”

The crisis also highlighted everyday needs that are easily overlooked in an emergency. These include toiletries, nappies, milk powder, gumboots, spare clothes, cleaning and hygiene products, and even pet food – resources that could be stored on-site for future emergencies.

“It’s the little things you don’t think about when your house is flooded,” says Renae.

In the aftermath of the cyclone, the school closed for 13 days but needed to eventually return to some kind of normality.

Waikohu District Civil Defence deputy area coordinator Dave Pikia outlines to Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni challenges faced by their team during the flood crisis, response and recovery. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie

Waikohu District Civil Defence deputy area coordinator Dave Pikia outlines to Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni challenges faced by their team during the flood crisis, response and recovery. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie

“The school board and Civil Defence met, and we gave them an indication of when we could open the school again. They downsized to an on-site skeleton team.”

With the understanding some students would be dealing with trauma, the school set up mindfulness and wellness workshops for them to help calm their anxiety.

“Staff took part in professional development and learning around responding to trauma. We learned skills and strategies to deal with our own anxiety and tools to help students manage their anxiety too.”

The motto Ki te hoe! (to the paddle) on a banner used for waka ama played out, figuratively speaking, as the Te Karaka community came together to help clean up damage left by Cyclone Gabrielle. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie.

The motto Ki te hoe! (to the paddle) on a banner used for waka ama played out, figuratively speaking, as the Te Karaka community came together to help clean up damage left by Cyclone Gabrielle. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie.

When the school reopened, two families were still staying on site. Temporary fencing across the quadrangle separated students from the remaining whānau.

“I was heartened by the attitudes and levels of response from our students when they returned to school and I am proud of our staff for their professionalism and focus on planning for a return to school,” says Renae.

“Our thoughts, prayers and aroha remain with all of our whānau, locally, regionally and nationally who have been affected and impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. Mauri ora, mauri Māhaki.”

Surrounded by thick silt and muddy water this building shows some of the devastation at Te Karaka’s Rangatira Marae. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie

Surrounded by thick silt and muddy water this building shows some of the devastation at Te Karaka’s Rangatira Marae. Photos courtesy of NEMA; photographer: Josie McClutchie

BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz

Posted: 11:31 am, 30 March 2023

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