Generous donations boost supplies for those in need

The Rotorua Aero Club flew into Hawke’s Bay this weekend, their planes full of supplies to support the local response effort.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst headed to Air Napier today to welcome the teams who brought food and other necessities that had been collected through a combined effort by the Waiariki Women’s Refuge Rotorua, Rotorua Whakaora and Rotorua Aero Club.

The goods from the three plane loads delivered today, and two yesterday, were set to go to support RSE workers from flood-damaged orchards, and also be dropped off at the Civil Defence community hub at Tomoana Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay, in Hastings.

“I was invited to welcome the team to the region and thanked them for making the trip to support our region’s recovery,” Mrs Hazlehurst said.

“It was wonderful to meet them - their efforts will be much appreciated by our wider community – there’s a huge amount of need and it’s wonderful to have people pulling together like this to help others.”

The Rotorua Aero Club also earlier this week dropped supplies into Puketapu and Wairoa.

Mrs Hazlehurst also thanked Air Napier for opening their tarmac to the planes - to date they’ve moved about 80 tonnes of supplies throughout the region.

Helena Von Oslow and her friend Micky C picked up the goods on behalf of 80 RSE workers who had been displaced by the floods.

“There was rice, lots of cans of food, muesli bars, pasta and snacks and razors and shaving cream, which they had particularly asked for. The workers were pretty happy to get these supplies – it’s a big help.”

She said she had also received supplies from the Environment Centre yesterday, all of which was much appreciated.

Mrs Hazlehurst said multiple agencies were working together to continue getting out into remote communities over the coming days to assess people’s needs.

26 February 2023

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