Trust Tairāwhiti, along with funding partners Te Whatu Ora and Eastern and Central Community Trust, has provided $242,696.75 in funding for community-led commemoration events and initiatives to mark the anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle. The funding supports activities all across the Tairāwhiti region to honour the resilience and strength of the community during the disaster.
Upcoming events:
20 February 2024
Tiēki Taiao
An environmental day in Tairāwhiti. The day will be led by groups involved in the Wai Tuwhera o te Taiao programme and associated Te Taiao groups. The kaupapa of the day is to share learnings over the last year, one year on from Cyclone Gabrielle, connect and take environmental action together.
Waterway activities with Te Taiao groups
Location: Various locations
Time: 8am-10am
StoryMap Session and guest speakers
Location: Te Poho o Rawiri Marae, Turanganui a Kiwa
Time:10.45am - 4pm
Register to attend Tiēki Taiao
2 March 2024
Tū Whitia
Gisborne District Council is hosting a free community event to acknowledge the resilience of Te Tairāwhiti. With live music including Tami Neilson, Scribe and local band Oceanspace as well as loads of kids activities. This is an Alcohol, Drug and vape free event.
Location: Gisborne Soundshell
Time: 3pm-8:30pm
23 March 2024
Community Kaitahi
Bringing whānau together to strengthen community connectedness, like during cyclone Gabrielle but for a happy occasion. The event will offer free barbeque and refreshments, pakeke table, bouncy castle and volley ball, service displays, karaoke and a mini hunting competition.
Location: McKenzie Street, Te Puia Springs
Time: 10am
Initiatives:
Waipiro Bay and Te Puia Springs
Upcoming activities include:
- A monthly kaumatua breakfast.
- A long weekend Tiaki Taiao wananga.
- A women's one-day oranga workshop.
- A community effort to support the Relay for Life fundraiser.
- Numerous workshops prioritising oranga and preparedness.
Te Araroa
Manaaki Matakaoa led community markets have popped up in the Te Araroa community and are creating enduring opportunities to co-ordinate positive whanau activities regularly. Engaging with local businesses and community organisations, these market events will be ongoing throughout the year.
Any queries should be directed to:
Manaaki Matakaoa
Sheena Luke
sheenal@manaakimatakaoa.com
Manutuke
Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust, alongside the Manutuke Civil Defence Team, are finalising a programme of resilience workshops that can support the 370 Manutuke community residents with preparedness. The aim of this is to connect and to be prepared for future disasters.
Matawai
Community members continue to come forward to offer support across this vast inland farming community nestled at the entrance of the Waioeka Gorge. Opportunities are being explored for an event during Te Tau Hou Maori, Matariki.
Ruatoria
Puawaitanga Skate Park has received a significant upgrade through a collaboration with Hoeā! Gallery supported by local rangatahi. The bright mural on the skatepark depicts Horowatu, the tipuna taniwha, and the arrival of the kumara and the Torea bird of Manutahi. A community celebration was held in late January.
Uawa
Restoring and Restorying – a kaupapa being led out by Te Hauora o Te Aitanga a Hauiti will focus on wellness, and take the time to acknowledge the many whanau, hapu, hapori and iwi who give willingly in times of adversity.
Past events:
Ka Mua Ka Muri - Research Symposium + Road Show - Tokomaru Bay
A regional roadshow inviting participants to connect directly with communities across Tairāwhiti.
Wharekahika Thriving
Date: 17 February 2024
Wharekahika Thriving is a hapu-led event to connect the community and share their aspirations for the hapori township, whānau and hapu, along with fun activities for tamariki and rangatahi. Bring kai to share, and the Hicks Bay Rugby Club will put on a hangi.
Tairawhiti Resilience Research Symposium
Date: 15-16 February 2024
The Te Weu Charitable Trust Ka Mua Ka Muri Tairawhiti Resilience Research Symposium.
The research symposium showcases insights from community-based research projects conducted in response to the impacts of extreme weather and climate events on the community.
Te Karaka
Date:14 February 2024
Cyclone Gabrielle commemoration event for Te Karaka the wider communities of Puha, Whatatutu, Branson Road and Lavenham Road residents, starting with a dawn karakia followed by a shared breakfast.
Tikitiki Rangitukia
Date:14 February 2024
Whakanuia - A day of gratitude a year on from Cyclone Gabrielle. Celebrating our resilience, our togetherness, our future. The programme includes a hikoi, planting ceremony, kids’ activities, live music, hangi lunch and other kai available, as well as spot prizes and giveaways.
Muriwai
Date: 14 February 2024
Ngai Tamanuhiri Tutuporoporo Trust is compiling a community pānui summarising the emergency preparedness and resilience efforts, including their achievements and aspirations. The community will also present the findings of a research project many of the Muriwai/Tawatapu whānau have participated in (Deliberative Democracy Approach to Tairawhiti Climate Adaptation Planning).
Tokomaru Bay
Date: 10 February 2024
Me mihi ka tika – a 3-course dinner and awards ceremony to acknowledge volunteers and contractors for their skills and commitment in the cyclone response and recovery.
Photography by Eruera Walker