Wednesday, 14 February 2024 marks the one-year anniversary since Cyclone Gabrielle wreaked havoc in our region.
This past year has been a formidable challenge for Hawke’s Bay. While significant strides have been taken in the recovery, there is still a lengthy journey ahead.
Our community has united with kindness, courage, and unwavering commitment, instilling hope and optimism for our ongoing recovery.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated efforts of our exceptional volunteers, agencies, businesses, and the broader community who have steadfastly supported each other. A special acknowledgment goes to our first responders and agencies who tirelessly worked in the initial days and weeks after the cyclone and continue to do so today.
Ka whiti te tī, ka whakapakari te tī, ka tipu ake te tī.
As the Tī (Cabbage Tree) faces destruction, it strengthens from within and then begins to regrow.
Commemorative events will include:
A minute’s silence
Across the region, from Wairoa to Central Hawke’s Bay, we will be unifying for a minute’s silence at midday on Wednesday 14 February. We encourage your business, school or organisation to support this initiative and join us as we reflect on the challenges of the last year and pay our respects to those who lost loved ones, their homes, livelihoods, pets and livestock as a result of the cyclone.
Civic commemorative services
| Event | Date and time | Location |
| WAIROA Memorial Hikoi from the A&P Showgrounds to Memorial Park/Tapuae Grounds, followed by karakia and kai. | Wednesday, 14 February 2024, from 6am | Meet at the A and P Showgrounds for karakia. All whānau are welcome to ‘hikoia te hikoi’ from Ruataniwha Road and through North Clyde streets collecting whānau along the way and ending at Memorial Park/Tapuae Grounds. |
| WAIPAWA Commemoration service | Wednesday, 14 February 2024 11am – 12.30pm | Waipawa Primary School, 6 Harker Street, Waipawa |
| PŌRANGAHAU Community gathering | Wednesday, 14 February 2024 11am – 1.30pm | Pōrangahau Memorial Hall, Abercrombie Street |
| HASTINGS Commemoration service | Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 11.30am | Civic Square, HastingsThis service will be livestreamed via HDC’s Facebook page and website here. |
| NAPIER Commemoration service | Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 11.45am | The Soundshell, Napier |
| PLUS, for Wairoa District Council on 14 FebruaryMokopuna Day: A fun day that will see the Tapuae Grounds transformed into an inflatable world to acknowledge their amazing resilient tamariki mokopuna. All schools and pre-schools must pre-register to danielleb@wairoadc.govt.nzWhānau Concert: Wairoa reflecting as one with music, kai and whanaungatanga from 5.30-8.30, at the Tapuae Grounds. Come together to reflect on being proud Wairoa people. To register a stall and sell food please email danielleb@wairoadc.govt.nz | ||
Community-led events
| Event | Date and time | Location | Contact |
| PACIFIC CHURCH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS Commemoration Service | Sunday, 11 February 2024, 6pm – 7.30pm | Kings House Church, 190 Riverbend Road, Maraenui | Enquiries and RSVPs (before 2 Feb) to Talalelei.Taufale@health.govt.nz |
| TE WHATU ORA Memorial service | Wednesday 14 February, 2024, 2.45pm – 3.15pm | The courtyard behind the Chapel, Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital | Jeannine Epplett Jeannine.epplett@hbdhb.govt.nz |
| Community Karakia | Wednesday 14 February, 2024 7.30am | Ōmāhu Marae | Reverend Zhane Tāhau Whelan zhane@piringahapu.com |
| Commemoration service at Eskdale Church | Wednesday 14 February. 11.30am | Eskdale Church, Eskdale Drive | RSVP to Ash Gale 0226749684 |
| Community Together events | Wednesday 14 February | 4.00pm @ Bay View Hotel, 43 Petane Road, Bay View 6.00PM @ Valley D Vine, 347 State Highway 5, Esk Valley | |
| Community Remembrance Karakia | Saturday 17 February, 2024, 10am for karakia, 11am kai | Napier RSA – 34 Vautier Street | Ngāhiwi Tōmoana ngahiwi@kahungunu.co.nz |
| Let’s have some fun! Community Together event | Saturday 17 February, 3pm | Valley D Vine, 347 State Highway 5, Esk Valley | |
| Community Remembrance Karakia | Sunday 18 February, 10am for karakia, 11am kai | Clubs Hastings – 308 Victoria Street | Ngāhiwi Tōmoana ngahiwi@kahungunu.co.nz |
Hawke’s Bay Together in Black and White
To show your solidarity and support for the region, the councils collaboratively encourage you to wear your heart on your sleeve by once again, dressing in Hawke’s Bay colours (black and white) on Wednesday 14 February.
This initiative received overwhelming support when it was launched in March last year and we hope to show the same solidarity again.
How can you get involved?
- Dress in black & white on Wednesday 14 February
- Decorate the town black and white; store windows, shop fronts, letterboxes (anywhere visible!)
- Tell your friends, family, colleagues and customers so they can wear their Hawke’s Bay colours too.