Cafe’s gift to services working for victims

A Whakata¯ ne cafe has been offering free meals to those involved in the treatment and rescue of Whakaari/White Island victims.

Cafe 4u is usually full of smiling locals and visitors – but owner Taylor Ulufonua and wife Lila Henareh opened their doors for a different purpose after Whakaari’s eruption.

Search and rescue teams, doctors, nurses, fire crews have been offered meals at no cost at the busy cafe on The Strand in Whakata¯ ne since the eruption.

‘‘One of the (local) firemen came in here on Tuesday morning, as he does most days, and to see the hurt and to see how devastated he was hit our hearts,’’ Ulufonua said.

Realising the devastating impact the eruption was having on the families and emergency services, the couple felt they needed to do something to help.

‘‘We just want to give back and we want to leave them something to remember from this community other than a great tragedy, which is just love.’’

The couple said the response to their actions had been ‘‘overwhelming’’.

‘‘It’s been amazing, people have just been coming in and giving us a hug. It’s been a really emotional time for us as well. We’re just so grateful that the community has been coming in and giving a koha and anything they can put in and help,’’ Henareh said.

‘‘That’s just the impact that it has at a time like this – that’s the impact of love. If that’s going to bring us in unity then it’s for the better.’’

‘‘... to see the hurt and to see how devastated he was hit our hearts.’’

Taylor Ulufonua

Ulufonua said concerns had been expressed by others about the money they would lose by giving out free meals, but had only one response.

‘‘We live in faith – that doesn’t even register to us. We know what we give, we will get back 100 fold, so it doesn’t matter’’.

Ulufona said he would continue assisting emergency services and their families for ‘‘as long as it takes’’.

‘‘It’s just all about that love eh. And giving back.’’