Our Hawke’s Bay Regional Manager, Jamie Richardson, recounts Cyclone Gabrielle and its impact on our Hawke’s Bay team and tenants.
“If I could describe the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle it would be complete devastation, for not only the Hawke’s Bay region but Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Tairāwhiti. It will be one of New Zealand’s worst natural disasters.
Waking up on Tuesday 14th February, hearing of how bad it was, heart-breaking. The question is where to start after an event like this – emotions are high and the unknown so scary.
Our Hawke’s Bay property management team, mostly based in Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere, immediately sprang into action on Wednesday 15th February! We knew we had the safety and wellbeing of our tenants, owners, properties and tradies to consider. That was our PRIORITY and we spent days contacting every single person on our database.
Are they safe? Are they warm? How are they feeling, and could we HELP? We have two Napier-based team members we couldn’t contact, and we were very worried for them and their families.
I’ve learned a lot about my team following the cyclone. They are resilient, dedicated and most of all caring towards not only our Oxygen clients but our entire Hawke’s Bay community. I’m so proud of them!
Our team members have been out helping on property clean-ups with friends and whānau, as well as helping to secure a rental property ready for a family displaced by the floods.
We will have a tough and long journey ahead, but I know we can do it. We are determined to help get Hawke’s Bay and our community back on its feet.”
Thank you, Jamie!
