Owner Kurawari Panere dug deep, and with support from whānau, friends and the church, The Wairoa Dairy was back open within a fortnight, with the convenience store becoming a hub for North Clyde.
Kurawari has a genuine love for Wairoa, and with her heart particularly on the North Clyde side of town, opening a dairy on Carroll Street was a perfect fit.
Her goal had been to open the dairy on January 30, which was achieved. “Little did we know that just two weeks later, Cyclone Gabrielle would strike. On the morning of February 14, I opened up as usual and then Michelle (McIlroy) alerted us to what was happening. We were grateful to be able to still walk out, and as we closed the front door, the water was starting to cross the road.”
Flood waters rose to about knee level through the dairy and home, with Kurawari relocating to live at Hinemihi Marae. “I am thankful for the aroha and support from my Hinemihi whānau.”
In true Kurawari style, whānau and friends stepped in, cleared silt and damaged items, and two weeks later, The Wairoa Dairy was reopened. Since then, the dairy has served as a North Clyde social hub; a place whānau gather, laugh and have a talk.
The North Clyde-based dairy is open Monday to Saturday from 6am-7pm with its key foundation aroha and trust.
