Our heroes and helpers
attention.
Gerard Daldry drove a 30-tonne truck loaded with 16,000 litres of much-needed water to Kaikoura over the then virtually impassable inland route from Waiau. What a bloke.
They don’t get more colourful than Ian Walker, the 70-year-old Kaikoura Volunteer Fire Brigade chief and veteran, who, with his loyal crew, helped extract 100-year-old Margaret Edgar from the collapsed Elms homestead near Kaikoura airport.
Like many of his volunteer crew Walker had to leave his wrecked home and worried spouse to help others.
Kindness has gone to tourists as well as locals. The Takahanga Marae, the home of the Kaikoura runanga of Ngai Tahu, put on a huge meal of delicious crayfish for hundreds of people and some tourists spent the night at the marae. Ka pai.
The Kaikoura New World opened the day after the earthquake and gave food away.
These are, of course, only just a few of the countless acts of help and kindness that have assisted the areas to get back on their feet.
Most people will have gone out quietly to check on neighbours and help where needed.
It’s not that people are suddenly transformed by the needs of a disaster. It’s more that in our dog-eat-dog world, the inherent goodness and kindness of the human spirit is often forgotten. Regrettably, a disaster is the event that will usually bring it to the fore. A disaster allows those good inherent qualities to shine and to show people at their best.
A disaster also has another bright side, which is that it brings people closer together. An earthquake is the ultimate shared experience, a wonderful talking point and great leveller. Rich or poor, strong or weak, brown or white, earthquakes don’t care.
The people of the hardest-hit areas will need all the good vibes and shows of unity over the weeks and months ahead.
This is when the collective spirit of the worst affected communities will be tested. If people can keep going the extra yard for their fellows, support each other and show patience and tolerance, things will be a little easier for everyone.
People also need to reach out if they need help and not be ashamed if they are struggling to cope.
And remember the beauty of Kaikoura is undiminished and summer is on the way.