The devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle has seen employment for the large population of RSE workers in the Hawke's Bay disrupted as well as being displaced from their accommodation due to effects of flooding in the region. PFL has responded with urgency by investing into support for the affected groups.
PFL partner, SIAOLA, are currently providing on-the-ground support for Tongan RSE workers, with PFL having contributed $50,000 to help assist in their aid. Chief Executive for SIAOLA, Kathleen Tuai-Ta'ufo'ou, says one of the key immediate needs was food.
“Through the Vahefonua Tonga o Aotearoa Synod of the Methodist Church of NZ, SIAOLA contacted church leaders and RSE representatives in Hastings and Napier within 24 hours of Cyclone Gabrielle wreaking havoc in the Hawkes Bay region.
Initial requests for support included Tongan food, clean water, and clothing in which we were able to supply. We also provided food vouchers to families affected by the flood and food to farms who housed the work."
The SIAOLA team have provided these forms of support for the workers in Hastings, Napier and Gisborne; Tuai-Ta'ufo'ou adds that mental health support is another key need.
"Many of the Tongan RSE workers were airlifted from the flooded farms to different evacuation centres. The language barrier and cultural differences at the centres made the ordeal difficult for the workers, who were already experiencing trauma and isolation.
We acknowledged the importance of bringing the Tongan RSE workers together in one centre. This begins the healing process through interaction and sharing Tongan food, prayer and faikava."
PFL partners Etu Pasifika Auckland and Christchurch have mobilised health specialists to provide primary care, psychosocial and mental health support as part of the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Medical Assistance Team (PACMAT) who have been deployed to the Hawke's Bay region.
In a talanoa for 531 PI's Pacific Mornings show, PFL and PMA CEO, Debbie Sorensen, reiterated the importance of deploying a PACMAT team.
"The needs that had been described to us were for a health team, but most importantly for mental health and psychosocial needs and so we're in a unique position where we're able to send well trained health professionals so that they can talk with our RSE workers in their own language.
We couldn’t do this work without the support of our communities. When we asked for volunteers to go on this mission, we had people put their hands up all over the place; that generosity from our communities and our partners is really important to us."
Mrs Sorensen encourages our communities to maintain their resilience and to hold each other close during these challenging times.
"We know how to survive, we're used to steering difficult conditions and we will prosper after this. We will be able to pick ourselves up and we've demonstrated that all the time; if we continue to hold onto our faith, we will be okay."
