A small crowd gathered as the day drew to a close on Thursday December 2nd, looking out across the calm Whakatane River and harbour entrance, from the Whakatane i-site, almost 24 months since the enormity of the pyroclastic eruption on Whakaari-White Island first became apparent.

At that time, on December 9^th, 2019, the scene at the river edge was frantic, fraught with desperate cries for help as the critically injured passengers were brought ashore. A chaotic scene that none of the First Responders could ever have prepared themselves for. And yet, this is exactly what they had to do…step over that line and give of themselves, embrace the circumstances and put all of their knowledge and training into practice.

Reacting to this tragedy, communities around New Zealand responded in the ‘kiwi-way’, offering cash donations to assist, when they felt so helpless and unable to do more. Our Community Foundation became the trusted repository of donations, to assist in the medium to long term needs of New Zealand based victims and families, to provide for trauma counselling and for the training, upskilling and resourcing of local voluntary first responders.

The Eastern Bay Community Foundation Trustees felt that the time was right, to look forward, to honour those whose assistance was crucial to the outcome, and to provide them with funds to assist in their recruitment, training and resourcing. When disaster or tragedy strikes, it is so often volunteers who are at the forefront, so it has been fitting to apply this portion of the fund first.

Those present who received funds were: The Whakatane Coastguard, Whakatane Land Search and Rescue, NZ Fire & Rescue, Whakatane, Waiariki Maori Women’s Welfare League, Te Manuka Tutahi Marae, Friends of the Emergency Department (FEDS), EBOP Victim Support, and St John Ambulance Whakatane.  The presentations were made by Foundation Chair; Doug Bull, who took the opportunity to salute all those present and to thank them for the care, aroha and manaakitanga given in such tragic circumstances and for taking on the role that each had volunteered for, within our community.

The Honorable Kiritapu Allan, Minister of Emergency Management recalled the day that our community downed tools and rushed to help, offering to do whatever was needed to alleviate this scene of abject horror. She also shared her heartfelt thanks to all of those present, for the aroha shared and the often, challenging role that emergency volunteers have in times of high need.

Eastern Bay Area Commander of Police Stu Nightingale, spoke of his own experiences in coordinating the response, the recovery and the repatriation of the deceased. He spoke of the images forever indented in the minds of those who were at the forefront, and the ongoing needs of those volunteers and professionals.

Whakatane District Mayor Judy Turner expressed her gratitude to the Foundation for recognising the selfless efforts of so many, and implored those present to consider the value that the Foundation brings long term to our region.

Incredibly positive feedback has been received, that this acknowledgement of the volunteers, has been a turning point in the recovery, as a community from this disaster, which has totally changed our region and its people.