Sending aroha to eruption victims
A week on from the deadly eruption on Whakaari/White Island, the public are being urged to remember those still fighting for their lives.
Under a threatening sky, about 50 people gathered inside the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion on Monday evening to pray, sing, and to remember those impacted by the tragedy.
The event dubbed ‘‘He Tai Aroha – A show of Aroha’’ was organised by Waikato-Tainui and Hamilton City Council.
In the aftermath of the December 9 eruption, many of the badly injured were flown to Waikato Hospital for treatment.
‘‘As we look across at Waikato Hospital, let’s continue to send our aroha, our love, and our best wishes for those who remain fighting for their lives,’’ Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate told the gathering.
‘‘Let them know that we’re still thinking of them and we’re here for them.’’
During times of tragedy, it’s hard to find the right words ‘‘because whatever you say can never be enough,’’ Southgate said.
However, it’s important to acknowledge the work of health professionals as well as the efforts of first responders and ‘‘heroes’’ who showed incredible courage to help the injured and dying, she said.
Fifteen people remain in hospitals across New Zealand; 11 in a critical condition. Thirteen Australians have been transferred home to receive treatment but one has since died, taking the death toll to 16.
Ngati Awa representative Joe Harawira said the impact of the Whakaari/White Island eruption had been profound but also served to highlight ‘‘the power of the indigenous way of knowing’’.
On Sunday, Ngati Awa welcomed 17 Australians from two families into their wharenui and prayed for those recovering in hospital and for the grieving.
‘‘I saw the coming together of peoples and the spirit of oneness,’’ Harawira said.
‘‘With our Australian friends — I said to them the majority of the hui will be in te reo Ma¯ ori and I said it actually didn’t matter that you understand what we were saying in te reo Ma¯ ori. All we ask you to do is hear the spirit of the words, of the Ma¯ ori language.’’
Waikato DHB chief executive Dr Kevin Snee paid tribute to medical staff involved in treating the injured. He gave special mention to staff at Whakata¯ ne Hospital who dealt with the initial aftermath.
Following the eruption, staff at Waikato Hospital took on the greatest workload due to the hospital having all the necessary services to treat burns patients.
This week, a contingent of Waikato Hospital staff will travel to Whakata¯ ne to allow clinicians working on the front line to have a break, Snee said.
Anglican Archbishop Sir David Moxon said New Zealand is a young country in a geological sense with underground shifts and movements surprising us and sometimes devastating our lives.
‘‘In this tragedy, in this disaster of an active volcano, we once again see how aroha responds to a wound,’’ Moxon said.
‘‘The country pours itself out in the face of unexpected death and massive wounding, it rises to the occasion and finds the strength it needs to bind and heal and mourn.’’
Rukumoana Schaafhausen, chair of Te Arataura, passed on the thoughts of the Ma¯ ori King, Tuheitia, and said Waikato-Tainui mourns with the wha¯ nau of those killed by the eruption.
‘‘To the injured who are fighting in various hospitals around the country, including our own here at Waikato, we send our love and prayers.
‘‘The reports from the hospital have been sobering and to the staff who continue to work to save the victims please know, we are in your corner.’’
‘‘Let them know that we’re still thinking of them and we’re here for them.’’