Hometown heroes KIWIS GREAT IN A CRISIS
As heartbreaking photos and stories of the devastation flooded in, volunteers came up with unique solutions to help those in need
‘Everyone has skills they can offer’
Micki Michau and partner Jack Jensen are a force for good, determined to help others, spread positivity and prove anything is possible.
When Cyclone Gabrielle devastated their Hawke’s Bay hometown, they leapt into action, assisting with rescues, and in the coming days coordinating a mammoth and ongoing volunteer effort.
“We were straight into manual labour,” says Micki, 27. “Jack’s been in there with a spade from day one doing whatever needs doing, even picking up deceased stock.
It’s hard work, but he just got straight in.”
Sharing the recovery efforts on social media, Jack, 26, was inundated with people wanting to help, so partner Micki came up with Hawke’s Bay Helping – a simple website where people can post asking for help and be connected with available volunteers.
The brilliant solution has seen the community band together, working tirelessly to help each other. Just one week after its launch, in a single 24-hour period, 50,000 people visited the site looking for or offering help.
Extreme sports athlete Jack is something of a local legend in the Bay. He runs MSFT Productions, a multi-faceted events, content creation and apparel company dedicated to inspiring others.
Make-up coach Micki is just as devoted to the cause, so it’s no surprise they’re at the heart of this project.
“People from out of town don’t realise how bad it is,” tells Micki. “It breaks your heart to see flocks of live animals being washed down rivers. But everyone has skills they can offer. It’s not just physical labour.
“We’ve had so many amazing people baking to make sure the volunteer crews are fed or mums dropping off some spare nappies. Jack and I are such a little part of it really, and it’s the least we can do.
“It’s hard but it’s certainly rewarding to see jobs being ticked off so people can start to heal from this trauma.”
Raised in the UK, Micki moved to Aotearoa 10 years ago after meeting Jack while on holiday in New Zealand with her family. He made such an impression, less than a year later, as a 17-year-old, she moved here permanently.
“Jack and his family have taught me about inclusivity and work ethic. Everyone deserves help,” says Micki, adding she’s been amazed all over again by Kiwis’ can-do attitude after the cyclone.
“Seeing the selflessness here is proof of why I moved. Jack, his family and this community are the people I want to be around. I’ve thought about that a lot in the last week.”
‘I left in shorts and a t-shirt’
Taking cover at her Auckland home as Cyclone Gabrielle swept the country, clothing designer Sarah-Jane Duff texted to check on a Hawke’s Bay friend and customer.
To her great relief, Sue was safe after being rescued from her home by helicopter, but she had a new problem to face – finding something to wear.
“We were evacuated by helicopter and I left in a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and gumboots – no bra or anything else,” says Sue, who was flown to safety on February 14 as Cyclone Gabrielle devastated her community.
“We’re in Pakowhai, which has just been annihilated, nothing is inhabitable, nobody is living in their houses. The evacuation centre has been absolutely amazing and doing their best, but there just aren’t clothes for bigger women available.”
Hearing the plight of her friend, and imagining all the women displaced and affected by the cyclone, Sarah-Jane leapt into action, using social media to ask for donations of plus-sized clothing.
She and a team of dedicated friends have since sorted through countless garments, organising 400kg of clean clothes in excellent condition to donate. “If people need it, we will try and give it,” asserts Sarah-Jane, 40.
Speaking from Hastings District, where rain continues to wreak havoc, spreading dangerous levels of silt again, Sue says, “I didn’t realise when I made the comment to SarahJane what would unravel. She is a truly wonderful person.”
Sarah-Jane has also raised funds to buy 300 pairs of new underwear.
“I have the means to go and buy them, but it’s even really hard for me to find underwear that fits my size20 body, let alone for people who have lost everything to be worrying about this,” explains Sarah-Jane, who eight years ago started NZ-made label Lost and Led Astray, making beautiful clothes for sizes 14-26.
“I love working in plus size, it’s where my heart is. I am fat, I identify with these women.”
She believes it’s this shared experience of struggling to find clothes that fit which has seen women around Aotearoa rally together to donate clothing.
“There’s a feeling of not fitting into the structure of society and seeing the need is tugging at people’s fundamental ideas of acceptance. People have been so generous and it’s turned out much bigger than expected.”