As the 20th of the month deadline for this update nears, I sit at my Dad’s dining table in the Manawatu and wonder what to say and even where to begin.
I drove down from Auckland on Thursday 26 January to scoot ahead of the anniversary weekend traffic. Since then it feels as if the world has been turned upside down with the shocking flooding in Auckland on the 27th, a catastrophic earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the ongoing grim devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in significant parts of the North Island.
All this compounded for me by my Dad having a bad fall on the 30th that resulted in hip surgery and now an uncertain recovery. All these unpredictable events serve to remind us just how precious life is and underline the slender thread on which it hangs.
We now collectively wonder what best to do, how to help, and where our efforts can most effectively be placed. Sitting here in a dry and functioning house, with access to food, communications, being with friends and loved ones seems like an extreme luxury right now. My hope is that we will collectively rise to the challenge of looking after everyone and that we look after them well, for as long as it takes with consideration and empathy.
He waka eke noa - we are all in this together.
It is at times such as these that we are reminded our communities are our lifeline and support. Problems can be solved and issues resolved by finding solutions through creative thinking, adaptability, and perseverance. Our Community-Led design group for Ponsonby Park*, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road wishes everyone well-supported times ahead as we begin to address the mountain of problems we now collectively face. Go well, and stay safe. Arohanui.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata. He tangata. He tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people. It is people. It is people.
* The Community-Led design group will have presented to the Waitematā Local Board an overview of the Ponsonby Park project to date at their scheduled Board meeting on 21 February. Being post deadline, this will be reported back in next month’s update. (JENNIFER WARD) χPN
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