Overcoming eruption aftermath
guides Jake Milibank and Kelsey Waghorn.
‘‘Your quick thinking gave us a chance of survival,’’ they said.
Liwei Jin showed her badly burned hands in her message. ‘‘Thanks to the heroes and the medical workers that I’mstill alive,’’ she said.
‘‘I will never forget it. I’ll stay positive in a bright mind and go through it.’’
All around Whakatane tributes were being left around as the town came together in mourning.
Floral wreaths were dropped into the sea. Flowers were left on tour boats that carried victims. Drinks were raised in toasts at the foreshore in memory of one lost or to simply commemorate the day.
Unfortunately, no manner of kindness can bring back those lost in the eruption and many were moved to tears at the words shared by family members of the deceased.
Emily Cozad lost her father in the eruption.
‘‘I will never forget the last time I heard your voice when you told me you were okay,’’ she said. ‘‘Even in the unimaginable state you were in you did everything you could to reassure me. There isn’t a single night where I don’t close my eyes and see your face looking back at me.’’
Lisa Dallow lost her 15-year-old daughter Zoe Hosking.
‘‘On this day our life ended,’’ she said. ‘‘You have gone home. Thanks for sharing those wonderful 15 years of your life. We did not get an opportunity to say goodbye. I miss you every day.’’
Mayor Judy Turner said while Whakatane will never be the same she hopes the event has brought some healing and comfort to all affected.
The ceremony ended with a wreath laid at the marae by Ardern.
There were three new cases of Covid-19 reported, all in managed isolation, yesterday.
Two were active cases and one was historical, the Ministry of Health said. Of the two active cases, one arrived on December 7 but their country of origin was not yet available.
The second active case is a person who arrived on December 3 from Britain via the United Arab Emirates.
The historical case is a person who arrived on December 2 from Britain via Singapore. They tested positive for the virus during routine testing on day three. ‘‘Further investigation indicated this is a historical case, now recovered,’’ the ministry said.
Another suspected historical case has been detected in a crewmember on the CTG Cobalt, docked at the Port of Tauranga after arriving from Japan and now en route to Timaru.
No crew had come ashore, so there was a very low risk of transmission to the New Zealand community, the ministry said. The crew member returned a weak positive test, indicating an old infection. They had no symptoms and were no longer infectious.
All other crewmembers had tested negative, the ministry said. Until the current investigation by public health staff is concluded, no crew will be allowed to leave the ship.