Kate Hawkesby: Heartbreaking events have brought out the best in New Zealanders

The scenes this week have been utterly heartbreaking, but one of the most heartwarming things to come out of this week I reckon is the way Kiwis have come together to help each other. It is a very Kiwi thing to do of course, but we’ve seen such incredible community spirit this week in such trying and difficult times. From neighbours helping neighbours, to strangers putting people up, to farmers helping other farmers, to people from all around the country digging deep to support charities and front line workers. People have responded with generosity and thoughtfulness, they’ve rallied round each other, and come together to do whatever they can to pitch in. Volunteers have gone above and beyond, local councillors and mayors have passionately advocated for their communities, emergency services have worked tirelessly.  Supermarkets, fast food joints and restaurants have been offering up food to evacuees, cafes who’re able to open have been offering up power to charge phones or give people some free Wi-Fi.  We’ve heard endless stories of good Samaritans rescuing people or livestock. One hero got a pregnant woman through floodwaters to Hospital, many have climbed or waded through extremely adverse conditions to help others.  And people have done extraordinary things that I'm sure they'd never have imagined they'd have to do, like kicking in their own ceilings. Stuff reported on one mother who got herself and her three kids up onto the kitchen table as water inside the house was a metre deep, then worked out she’d have to smash the roof to keep going up. Her partner got a “mini hacksaw to get through the wiring”.. and then she told Stuff she “just stood up and booted (the hole) in with her Docs.” They were trapped on their roof for six hours before being airlifted off. It’s absolutely unimaginable how quick thinking so many have been and the lengths they’ve gone to, to keep their kids calm. The way people have rallied around each other has been quintessentially Kiwi and extremely endearing. And insurance companies, who must be absolutely inundated, seem to have – in my experience anyway – been extremely helpful. I mean if ever your insurance company was going to get tested it’s now. I rang about a claim yesterday and expected to be on hold for about an hour but they picked up after 30 minutes. They were extremely helpful, talking through exactly what was covered and how, how they’re processing cyclone claims, timeframes for loss adjusters and site visits, very keen to assist and make the process as easy as possible. It is literally all hands on deck and there seems to be a camaraderie that comes from the shared collective experience. Even those untainted personally by the weather event have been touched by the images they’ve seen and the stories they’ve heard and have donated generously or helped where they can. There are food drives and clothing donations and people taking gas or diesel to people.  So it’s brought out the best in many New Zealanders, and is testament to the spirit of community that we often see in this country, but especially in times of crisis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.