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Original poster

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

259 replies

HelpNZ · 15/02/2023 23:12

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)?

OP posts:
Untitledsquatboulder · 16/02/2023 06:42

InWalksBarberalla · 15/02/2023 23:24

International aid organisations are going to focus on Turkey and Syria - at least 40,000 dead and an estimated 5.3 million people homeless in Syria alone. Not saying that what is happening in NZ isn't devastating but as a relatively wealthy country I'd expect them, with near neighbours like Australia to run the rescue and recovery.

This. How many thousand dead do you think there are in NZ right now?

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/02/2023 06:43

It’s Syria and Turkey that’s keeping it out of the top of the news cycle, otherwise they’d be much more. Something like 5 million homeless I think, in much less well off countries. What hits the news is often sbout timing. It’s not evidence the world doesn’t care.

But in practical terms if NZ need help beyond Australia I’m pretty sure they’d ask for it. I also think that there will have naturally been diplomatic conversations with counties like the Uk.

follyfoot37 · 16/02/2023 06:44

Redebs · 16/02/2023 04:33

Yes, and I think people are confusing sympathy with the aid process. New Zealand is a wealthy country, compared to Turkiye and Syria, where war and refugee situation already had them in a drastic and piteous state.

Any disaster is awful for those hit by it. The international relief effort has to be targeted where it is actually needed though and the situation in Turkiye and Syria is a hundred times worse.

(I pause before saying it, but I do hope this thread won't descend into a whatabout white people thing. That would be sickening.)

Show quote history

You are the only one to mention anything about race. FFS, completely unnecessary and goady. Well done, you have poked the fire

Pirateships · 16/02/2023 06:48

Since when do things on the news only get reported? Are we doing competitive natural disasters now? Some people have very strange attitudes.

TheExistentialistCafé · 16/02/2023 06:50

With the extent of damage still unfolding, New Zealand requested Australia’s help for disaster response on Thursday morning.

“I can confirm that NEMA [National Emergency Management Agency] has accepted an agency-to-agency offer for emergency response support and expertise,” Hipkins said.
www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/16/cyclone-gabrielle-new-zealand-weather-floods-flooding-storm-warnings-deaths

NZ is receiving help from Australia.

AbsolutelyNebulous · 16/02/2023 06:52

We don't want your assistance. That said, if you're going to whinge about the covid response that kept NZ out of lockdown and deaths low, it would be nice if there was some mere mention of the country when it is pretty much all in a state of emergency. Or is NZ a faraway that is only worth mentioning to denigrate?

Well, I saw it on RTE News, Sky News, BBC News and Independent.ie so it’s had more than a mere mention.

All these I haven’t heard/seen anything about it posts. I mean you won’t if you don’t watch or read the news, will you Hmm? People select their news - it’s pretty easy to click on the WORLD section of your preferred site and find out all sorts of stuff that’s happening around the globe.

Pureradio · 16/02/2023 06:57

Baffles me people saying stuff about not seeing it on their 'newsfeed' don't they ever watch the actual news?? There's been lots of coverage on the BBC about the floods and cyclone.

It's awful but it's nothing like on the scale of what's going on in Turkey and Syria, surely that's obviously going to dominate headlines? NZ is a fully developed nation the other two, not so. 40,000 dead in the earthquake, 5 in NZ? They're incomparable situations.

MrsMikeDrop · 16/02/2023 07:02

Pureradio · 16/02/2023 06:57

Baffles me people saying stuff about not seeing it on their 'newsfeed' don't they ever watch the actual news?? There's been lots of coverage on the BBC about the floods and cyclone.

It's awful but it's nothing like on the scale of what's going on in Turkey and Syria, surely that's obviously going to dominate headlines? NZ is a fully developed nation the other two, not so. 40,000 dead in the earthquake, 5 in NZ? They're incomparable situations.

This is a really good point about people not watching proper news!

FiveShelties · 16/02/2023 07:05

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/cyclone-gabrielle-floods-rescue-operation-underway-in-puketapu-napier-new-hawkes-bay-evacuations/RMMVL7IR6ZBITE4RODSM2PXQAI/

Above is a link showing photos of the area near me - it is bad and will take ages to fix but most of us are just so thankful that we have not lost more lives. We have friends we cannot get in touch with because they have no power and many cell towers are down and we are just hoping they are safe.

BrendaWearingBaffies · 16/02/2023 07:11

Knew nothing about it until you posted. Sorry to hear they are having a rough time.

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 16/02/2023 07:11

@MarshaMelrose
The Australian fires were headline news every night. As were the California fires and mudslides. I remember the awful loss of wildlife and eeling so sad for people losing their properties.

Maybe the last few years have been, granted these have felt like a non stop barrage of catastrophes, but I lived in the UK for nearly 2 decades, and yes I watched the proper news service, and rarely were major bushfires etc mentioned.

Okunevo · 16/02/2023 07:12

Baffles me people saying stuff about not seeing it on their 'newsfeed' don't they ever watch the actual news?? There's been lots of coverage on the BBC about the floods and cyclone.
Who can afford a TV licence these days?

AbsolutelyNebulous · 16/02/2023 07:14

Okunevo · 16/02/2023 07:12

Baffles me people saying stuff about not seeing it on their 'newsfeed' don't they ever watch the actual news?? There's been lots of coverage on the BBC about the floods and cyclone.
Who can afford a TV licence these days?

Oh give over! You can access news sites with the device you’re using to post here.

Okunevo · 16/02/2023 07:21

AbsolutelyNebulous · 16/02/2023 07:14

Oh give over! You can access news sites with the device you’re using to post here.

Show quote history

That's what I mean. Many people can only access news online, not watch the 'actual news' which is apparently different.

Blackheath95 · 16/02/2023 07:22

Fordian · 16/02/2023 00:15

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.

What a nasty little post.

Original poster
HelpNZ · 16/02/2023 07:22

Cantgetyououtofmyheadboy · 16/02/2023 00:58

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.

It's this exactly.

OP posts:
gogohmm · 16/02/2023 07:23

With the exception of requests for search and rescue teams, it's not common for aid appeals in the immediate aftermath in richer countries, assistance tends to be for after the disaster can be assessed. New Zealand is a wealthy country quite different to turkey.

gogohmm · 16/02/2023 07:25

The USA gets similar incidents and they don't require aid, again the only exception would be search and rescue if applicable because no country has that many teams.

Original poster
HelpNZ · 16/02/2023 07:28

NumberTheory · 16/02/2023 03:56

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.

It's the lack of interest that has shocked me given the close ties to the UK. I'm in the UK because of my Welsh ancestory much like other young New Zealanders.

OP posts:
Duvethider · 16/02/2023 07:30

NZ didn’t offer any support when we had a massive covid crisis. In fact they didn’t even support their own trapped overseas. Eg the case of Charlotte Bellis, the talliban showed her more humanity and support than the NZ government.

🤷‍♀️

what goes around comes around

PleaseJustText · 16/02/2023 07:31

I don't watch the news in the evening so hadn't seen it. I usually look at the BBC website headlines but it's not on there this morning.

MoltenLasagne · 16/02/2023 07:34

I've seen this on social media, online news and the actual news so it's definitely being reported.

Obviously there haven't been appeals for aid like Turkey and Syria because NZ is a wealthy country (wealthier than us per capita I think?) who fortunately have a good response organised.

Perhaps you're feeling that contrast with Turkey/Syria and feeling its about lack of compassion? I think more that while what's happening in NZ is news, it doesn't require urgent mobilisation in the same way.

Original poster
HelpNZ · 16/02/2023 07:36

Duvethider · 16/02/2023 07:30

NZ didn’t offer any support when we had a massive covid crisis. In fact they didn’t even support their own trapped overseas. Eg the case of Charlotte Bellis, the talliban showed her more humanity and support than the NZ government.

🤷‍♀️

what goes around comes around

Wow. This comment Shock

OP posts:
Okunevo · 16/02/2023 07:39

PleaseJustText · 16/02/2023 07:31

I don't watch the news in the evening so hadn't seen it. I usually look at the BBC website headlines but it's not on there this morning.

I only found it by clicking on 'World' then 'Asia' (after trying 'Australia' first), one article came up when I scrolled down.

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 16/02/2023 07:40

NZ is a wealthy country with good infrastructure and wealthy neighbours.

Why do you think that the UK should foot the bill?