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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:
TooBigForMyBoots · 17/02/2023 23:06

HelpNZ · 17/02/2023 23:03

Thank you @HelpNZ.Thanks

Pureradio · 17/02/2023 23:07

HelpNZ · 17/02/2023 23:03

I'm sorry but honestly - I'm not giving money to a wealthy country to buy blankets for people who may have been displaced. I will and have given money to Syria/Turkey. It's actually unbelievable that anyone could be as crass as to put the two side by side.

Original poster
HelpNZ · 17/02/2023 23:15

@Pureradio I'm
I'm not here to argue or incite any sort of upset. It's very much a personal decision to you and what you feel you would like to do.

OP posts:
TooBigForMyBoots · 17/02/2023 23:18

That's OK @Pureradio. No one has to give anything to anyone anywhere.

This is a thread about the devastation in NZ. I find the "comparison" posts a bit distasteful. If your home is lost, your home is lost.Sad Its not about plotting it on a graph.

Pureradio · 17/02/2023 23:38

TooBigForMyBoots · 17/02/2023 23:18

That's OK @Pureradio. No one has to give anything to anyone anywhere.

This is a thread about the devastation in NZ. I find the "comparison" posts a bit distasteful. If your home is lost, your home is lost.Sad Its not about plotting it on a graph.

Of course it's terrible if your home is lost but I'd imagine most people will have home insurance, relatives or friends that they could stay with, money within govt to rebuild afterwards. Lots of practical help immediately, Syria will have absolutely none of that.

Pureradio · 17/02/2023 23:40

Last time I looked New Zealand wasn't in the middle of a war zone either

Original poster
HelpNZ · 17/02/2023 23:56

@Pureradio so we have whole towns completely stuffed and people missing (over 4500 missing was the last stat). There are 10,000 displaced people with no where to go (I'm sure plenty will find friends and family), but lots won't. Some towns have no drinking water. It's a small country population wise so these numbers may sound small but when you think about the population being just 5 mill all up these numbers start to feel not so great.

I agree it's not comparable to Turkey but it's still really bad.

OP posts:
Shelefttheweb · 18/02/2023 00:00

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.

We had communities cut off, power down for two weeks in sub zero temperatures, some without water, not phone connections, and roads closed with millions of fallen trees, in Scotland just over a year ago. It was barely even acknowledge by the Scottish Government and no help organised.

Original poster
HelpNZ · 18/02/2023 00:13

Shelefttheweb · 18/02/2023 00:00

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.

We had communities cut off, power down for two weeks in sub zero temperatures, some without water, not phone connections, and roads closed with millions of fallen trees, in Scotland just over a year ago. It was barely even acknowledge by the Scottish Government and no help organised.

Did you also have temporary morgues set up?

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpNZ · 18/02/2023 00:18

I'm trying to avoid talking about some of the more graphic stuff that has happened but I'm finding the minimisation and lack of empathy on this thread quite disturbing. Please imagine if the tables were turned and this was your community.

OP posts:
FiveShelties · 18/02/2023 00:23

Shelefttheweb · 18/02/2023 00:00

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.

We had communities cut off, power down for two weeks in sub zero temperatures, some without water, not phone connections, and roads closed with millions of fallen trees, in Scotland just over a year ago. It was barely even acknowledge by the Scottish Government and no help organised.

OK you win. I have no intention of getting into a competition with you.

Shelefttheweb · 18/02/2023 00:33

FiveShelties · 18/02/2023 00:23

OK you win. I have no intention of getting into a competition with you.

Show quote history

You missed the point; the Scottish Government couldn’t even organise help for people IN Scotland (didn’t see any from New Zealand either)

CallItLoneliness · 18/02/2023 03:04

Shelefttheweb · 18/02/2023 00:33

You missed the point; the Scottish Government couldn’t even organise help for people IN Scotland (didn’t see any from New Zealand either)

Show quote history

But there were worse things going on in the world! Why did you expect any help from anyone, you selfish, unreasonable person.? Oh, wait, that's not how it works!

The misery olympics on this thread are truly appalling, as though you can't have any feeling for people in NZ because Turkey and Syria are suffering. Believe it or not I have sympathy for those in Turkey and Syria, and those in NZ, and the people of Broome who have been sweltering through temperatures closing in on 50C all at the same time. Talented, I know!

magicthree · 18/02/2023 05:50

We had communities cut off, power down for two weeks in sub zero temperatures, some without water, not phone connections, and roads closed with millions of fallen trees, in Scotland just over a year ago. It was barely even acknowledge by the Scottish Government and no help organised.

Did those people also have water up to the ceilings inside their houses, their livestock dead, their crops totally wiped out? Many of these people will never be able to live in their homes again, and they have lost everything. I really don't think you, or some others, have any idea of what has happened in the worst hit areas. And yes, did they have temporary morgues set up - you didn't answer that one?

journeyofinsanity · 18/02/2023 06:04

Did you also have temporary morgues set up?
For the love of God you are ridiculous. Your misery Olympics is crass and embarrassing. You try to draw unbelievably tone deaf similarly with the absolute human disaster in Turkey/Syria and yet try to minimise an entirely more similar event that happened in Scotland. Your self obsessed, immature 'what about me' attitude is shameful. Literally fuck off.

DesertRose64 · 18/02/2023 06:30

HelpNZ · 17/02/2023 23:56

@Pureradio so we have whole towns completely stuffed and people missing (over 4500 missing was the last stat). There are 10,000 displaced people with no where to go (I'm sure plenty will find friends and family), but lots won't. Some towns have no drinking water. It's a small country population wise so these numbers may sound small but when you think about the population being just 5 mill all up these numbers start to feel not so great.

I agree it's not comparable to Turkey but it's still really bad.

OP, I’ve lived through two devastating cyclones in a third world country that is comparable to NZ in size and population. We managed without outside aid our death toll was higher than NZ’s. We don’t have the infrastructure it has either. Far from it. New Zealand can and should be doing this on its own and not just because there are other places right now where aid is needed in the very real sense.

My family are in New Zealand and have experienced loss and damage but they’re taking it more in their stride than you are. I haven’t heard them asking for international aid.

And 4500 people missing? I think in real terms that means they’re unaccounted for due to a difficulty with communications.

DesertRose64 · 18/02/2023 06:35

Did you also have temporary morgues set up?

Yes. Also military field hospitals and tented camps for those who needed them. And some villages never were inhabited again as it was obvious it coukd all happen again and the destruction was immense. Then a couple of years later when we were just getting over the first cyclone we were hit with another one. And again we managed.

Original poster
HelpNZ · 18/02/2023 07:27

Ok. Well it seems you can't draw attention to a National disaster for your own country now days if it's not big enough Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpNZ · 18/02/2023 07:30

journeyofinsanity · 18/02/2023 06:04

Did you also have temporary morgues set up?
For the love of God you are ridiculous. Your misery Olympics is crass and embarrassing. You try to draw unbelievably tone deaf similarly with the absolute human disaster in Turkey/Syria and yet try to minimise an entirely more similar event that happened in Scotland. Your self obsessed, immature 'what about me' attitude is shameful. Literally fuck off.

Feel free to leave this thread.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpNZ · 18/02/2023 07:33

I'm over and out on this thread also as the abuse is literally awful. Was just trying to do a good thing here folks. It's a bit sad. Thanks to those who were thoughtful and caring with their comments.

OP posts:
WhenItIsRaining · 18/02/2023 07:37

HelpNZ · 16/02/2023 12:58

This thread has just made me feel worse. I think there are some very sad people out there (I've noted the kinder comments!). Most people have jumped to the conclusion that I'm suggesting the UK 'foots the bill'. Actually what's making me feel a bit disappointed is that there is a very long history between our two countries. My family fought in the world wars (both) under the 'empire'. I just get the sense that those good old days of the UK seeing NZ as a country that is important to them have gone. This is not about money to me but just a sense of caring and community despite the distance.

You opened a thread asking quite clearly for people to show they care and some/a lot of arseholes took that opportunity to demonstrate what fuckwits they are. Unfortunately that can be the nature of Mumsnet.

I am still trying to absorb the stories and images coming out of Hawke's Bay, it really is an apocalypse. It is so incredibly sad and distressing. X

WhenItIsRaining · 18/02/2023 07:39

Pureradio · 17/02/2023 23:38

Of course it's terrible if your home is lost but I'd imagine most people will have home insurance, relatives or friends that they could stay with, money within govt to rebuild afterwards. Lots of practical help immediately, Syria will have absolutely none of that.

Show quote history

Imagine whatever you like. How ignorant, tone deaf and downright unpleasant you sound. You are so far from understanding the situation that I am embarrassed for you.

magicthree · 18/02/2023 07:42

WhenItIsRaining · 18/02/2023 07:37

You opened a thread asking quite clearly for people to show they care and some/a lot of arseholes took that opportunity to demonstrate what fuckwits they are. Unfortunately that can be the nature of Mumsnet.

I am still trying to absorb the stories and images coming out of Hawke's Bay, it really is an apocalypse. It is so incredibly sad and distressing. X

Show quote history

Both these posts sum it up really. I've known for some time that there is a very unpleasant group of MN users and this has only reinforced my views. Fuckwits/arseholes is a very good name for them.

Coxspurplepippin · 18/02/2023 07:52

It shows just how vulnerable humans are in the face of devastating natural disasters. It doesn't matter if you live in a wealthy country. If your home, business, town are destroyed, if, god forbid, a loved one is killed, it doesn't matter if you live in Syria, New Zealand or Scotland, on a personal level it's just as devastating.

Really hoping that the 3,000 people uncontactable are OK - there are reports that the figure is inflated due to cross reporting (people being included in the figures multiple times), but for this to still be an issue several days after the cyclone shows how difficult things are on the ground.

DesertRose64 · 18/02/2023 08:15

HelpNZ · 18/02/2023 07:27

Ok. Well it seems you can't draw attention to a National disaster for your own country now days if it's not big enough Confused

stop being so ridiculous. Its not about size. It’s about New Zealand being a wealthy country in the first place. You don’t need aid or money. You have enough to begin with.

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