Te Aroha Cook

Recovery Manager

Local woman Te Arohanui Cook (TC) has returned home to Wairoa and taken up the position of Wairoa Recovery Manager in the wake of the June flooding event.

Mrs Cook has extensive experience across 30 years of working in local government, Civil Defence and emergency management.

For the past five years, she has worked as Group Manager of Regulatory, Planning and Community Services for the Westland District Council, based in Hokitika.

She has also been a Civil Defence Group Controller for multiple weather events on the West Coast and deployed as a Group Controller to the Hawke’s Bay Emergency Coordination Centre for the first two weeks of Cyclone Gabrielle. She was also the Local Controller and then Recovery Manager for the 2019 Flood Event in Westland.

Rupene Amato

 Kaimanaaki Matua

Rupene Amato is a key connector for the Wairoa Recovery team.
The son of Manu and Julie Amato returned home to help his parents whose home was flooded. Being a true Wairoa lad he has stuck around and helped the community.

Jase Hayes-Moeau & Michelle Tahuri Olsen

Danie Brown-Mckenzie

RECOVERY TEAM RELOCATED TO COUNCIL OFFICES

Wairoa’s Recovery team is settling into its new office space based out of the Wairoa District Council site on Queen Street.

After Cyclone Gabrielle, the Recovery Office was located at the Wairoa Airport lounge, as the team wanted to be as close as possible to those impacted by the cyclone.

The move to the south side means they can now be closer to those affected by the June flooding and also be able to draw on Council resources more easily.

Recovery Manager Te Aroha Cook said the team is focusing on doorknocking for those involved in the June flooding event.

“We have been on the ground trying to connect with people to ensure their needs are being met. It can be hard to track people down as many cannot stay in their homes. If you haven’t been contacted, please get in touch with us so we can see if there is any additional information or support we can provide.

“Our role is about connecting people. This is a different response to Cyclone Gabrielle where Wairoa was part of a national and
regional response. Now, our focus is on ensuring that people can be connected to the agencies that can help them the most.

“While we are taking the gauge on the south side at the moment, the North Clyde side of town is still very much a priority. We are working across both these areas to get as many people as possible back into their homes before Christmas.”