New Zealand is in a National State of emergency and it feels like the world doesn't care

[HelpNZ]

I live in the UK but originate from NZ. They have just been hit by an incredibly destructive cyclone. Thousands are homeless. 5 people have died but there will be more. I appreciate this is not on the scale of the Earthquake in Turkey/Syria. I guess I'm wondering where the international support for NZ is? I've heard nothing and it's not even hitting the news in the UK (or just minor mention buried somewhere)?

Do they need or want international aid? Presumably as a first world country with sophisticated communication and organised stable government, neither of which have been affected on a country-wide basis by these natural disasters, they will ask for it if they require it? I’ve just got home from a week in Wellington due to a family bereavement and even there quite close to the east coast towns that bore the brunt of the cyclone, while there was a lot of news coverage, life was completely normal. It’s really nothing remotely like Turkey/Syria.

Humanitarian aid has to be requested by the affected nation, so that's why there is no global response - because NZ hasn't asked. The same thing was true after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, they did ask for some specific assistance for search and rescue crews but not the full UN circus. Google relief web and have a look at all the current disasters globally, there are many that are not reported on, it's terrible. Hopefully NZ can cope with help from nearby neighbours.

NZ. You're a first world country with plenty of mitigations in place; amply funded via Chinese investment .

These are decisions your government voted in, in an open, democratic system.

It doesn't mean 'we don't care'. But, currently, on the very east of our doorstep, 40,000 people have died and thousands are homeless, in sub-zero temperatures, following an earthquake.

You invited in one of the planet's biggest climate-change-deniers to finance you. Ask THEM for help.

I heard about it from an old friend in Palmerston North, but didn't see it as being something they'd need a huge worldwide relief effort for?

I absolutely loved Napier, beautiful place and sad to hear this. I don't follow MSM so I don't know what's been said, but I would be surprised if the world was ignoring a huge emergency?

I hadn't heard. The footage coming out is horrendous. I am so sorry.

I think part of the reason for the lack of coverage is that the areas worst affected by the flood are completely shut off - no power, no internet, mobile coverage intermittent, bridges washed out etc so there has been no way of getting (this sounds awful but I hope you know what I mean) the dramatic footage the media relies upon.

I’m here and some of the stuff coming out today now shows glimpses of the horrific devastation - so there may be more in the world media now.

some of the comments on this thread are pretty callous. Pretending there aren’t long ties between the two countries (which I think is what the OP was alluding to) that would warrant coverage seems churlish.

When you say you want UK govt support I assume you mean financial? 5 people dying is a tragedy of course but its nowhere near on the scale of what is happening much closer to home in Turkey and Syria. Uk government is supporting there financially and logistically and its right that it focuses on this disaster. NZ is better placed in terms of wealth and infrastructure to manage this disaster with its own government and resources. Turkey and Syria who are much poorer and actually need our support.

Dgd is in Auckland and said it had been windy and they had stayed home for a few days but was bright and sunny this morning so they were heading out. They seem to have missed the worst of it.

I've been following the typhoon in NZ and it looks devastating @HelpNZ. My sympathies to all those bereaved, injured and homeless.💞

I'm sorry New Zealanders feel ignored. We are living in "interesting times"🤦‍♀️ and stories that once would have been headline news find themselves on the inside pages.

Apologies if I have got confused but is this the floods that were caused by the cyclone?

Well according to this Sunak has spoken to Hipkins & pledged UK assistance in “anyway possible”, so the UK government has responded; what more would you like OP?

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/chris-hipkins-new-zealand-jacinda-ardern-prime-minister-ukraine-b2281549.html?amp

Okay yes they’ve experienced something major but have they requested international aid?
countries usually offer but not all offers are taken up.
NZ is wealthy and well organized. I assumed they are managing.

Yes from Cyclone Gabrielle. They've also had 2 earthquakes

I am in Hawke's Bay, NZ, and the situation is really bad. We have many people in Evacuation Centres, many roads closed blocked with trees or still flooded. Power is down for many people and may be out for weeks in some areas. Some towns and villages are completely cut off, with bridges down and roads blocked.

Personally we have been very lucky, just lost two small trees in the back garden. We had around 36 hours without power or communications. Cellphone service came back yesterday but we could only dial 111 (Like UK 999) for around 12 hours, but back with proper service now. It was really scary and I was worried we were going to lose the roof during the storm, but we are grateful to be safe and well.

I don't feel ignored and have not heard anyone say that they do. I think probably the major difference between the EQ in Turkey and the damage here after the Cyclone is the sheer number of people trapped buried in and under buildings in Turkey.

What I have learnt is that you need to have a plan for any disaster which may occur, an escape plan, food, basic first aid supplies and water to keep you alive until help comes and most of all do not rely on your phones or cell phones working. We had a small radio which was our way of keeping up to date with what was happening. The only thing which was a little annoying was the number of people on the radio who said for 'further information please see our Facebook page' which is impossible with no power or working cells phone.

Sorry that is a bit of a ramble!

As far as I am aware the EQs have not caused any major damage - thankfully.

It was definitely in the Guardian because it always goes over to Australia and NZ news overnight and then comes back to more Uk based news in the morning and that is when I saw about the cyclone.

I did not know about the earthquakes but that is probably me not noticing them.

It is awful, I must admit our news is shit nowadays especially when it seems toi be a distraction to the real important stuff but rest assured OP people do know about it and people do care.

This.

But also, NZ is not a third world country. It is well organized and well prepared for natural disasters and less susceptible to corruption.

Most people will have had an evacuation plan for themselves in an emergency. The government did - it was prepared for the cyclone and urged early evacuations in some of the affected areas. Of course, it couldn’t predict the timing of the earthquake but NZ has had earthquakes in the past and is prepared for more. Having two natural disasters occur at the same time may complicate things but doesn’t change the basics.

I think the fact that there is less in the news reflects NZ is well prepared to handle and they know they can get through this.

In Turkey and Syria, people, understandably, really don’t know how they will get through this with so much more destruction and loss of life. The emergency infrastructure is not as robust as NZ, the people are less prepared for this type of disaster than the people of NZ, and the scale is at least ten times worse than NZ.

Our PM has said today that other countries have offered help and we are accepting what we need and he will be updating it later today. Still bloody raining in wairarapa

It's a cyclone which has caused the damage, not the earthquake.

Excuse me, but it is the OP who is complaining about the world not caring, not NZ. We will of course accept help, and may even ask for it, but we are well used to natural disasters in this country and will manage somehow without you and your oh so wise input!

Maybe read posts properly before wading in with this sort of nonsense.

I care very much. A friend lives there, in Northcote. They have not been severly affected fortunately.

It's for the NZ to ask for help as far as I'm aware it has been offered I'm not sure what more the UK govt can do or you want them to do?

Obviously being so far away sending majority of supplies from the UK when you have Australia a lot closer isn't going to assist much but we do have specialist teams etc.

I’m shocked at how little it’s been covered, OP. I get that there wouldn’t be much monetary support compared to something like the Syria/Turkey earthquake, but it’s still news. We can still sympathize with New Zealanders.

Possibly we have expertise that is in short supply or a ship in the vicinity that could aid in logistics. But it’s more just the lack of interest in what’s happening to the people that seems most shocking.

OP, my family are there and haven’t mentioned this but it does explain why my sister was doing a home school round her kitchen table for her children and her neighbours children a few days ago.

NZ is a first world country, that is probably got well thought out disaster plans due to the earthquake/tsunami risk.
As an Australian I would expect that any additional help that the NZ govt requests, eg search and rescue, would initially be coming from neighbouring Australia.