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Storm recovery efforts are well underway in Mt Roskill, with council and the community working together to build resilience after the major 2023 storms. But recent weather events have been a reminder that the job isn’t over — and that preparing for future storms is just as important as recovering from past ones.
Local groups, with support from the recovery planning Wesley and Roskill Leadership Rōpū, are working with flood-affected residents to understand what matters most to them in this space — including how to be better prepared for floods. The goal is to create a Community-Led Recovery Plan that genuinely reflects the needs of the people who live there.
Upcoming events will help bring together different voices and experiences, ensuring that everyone’s input shapes the future. The goal is to not just to recover from the 2023 storms, but to be stronger and more ready for what’s ahead.
Promoting emergency preparedness
Two local groups— Acts of Roskill Kindness (ARK) and Global Hope Missions (GHM) — have multiple projects planned to support connection and preparedness.
“With these events we are looking to understand what our community needs to feel recovered after flooding. Alongside that, we are conducting workshops with Auckland Emergency Management, Civil Defence, and other organisations to support these families and encourage them to be prepared so that in the event of a natural disaster our community is more resilient,” says Peter Leilua of ARK and GHM.
As part of this series of events, they have launched ‘Road to Recovery’ workshops to help young people in Wesley and Mt Roskill learn about how to stay safe during natural disasters like floods and cyclones.
“The 2023 storms caused a great deal of disruption in our families and communities, and a lot of those families are still suffering,” Peter adds. So, we are very excited to have such a diverse group of student leaders from various high schools participating in this community leadership project.”
- Road to Recovery youth workshops: Saturday 23 May, 4-6pm followed by the free ‘Love and Light’ gig until 9pm. Roskill Youth Zone, 740 Sandringham Road, Mount Roskill. Performances by KMUX, Irene Folau, Lomez Brown, Switche, Brotherhood MUSIQ, and more. Registrations for workshops are essential. Those wanting to attend are invited to invited scan the QR code to register and answer some storm recovery questions.
Nik Naidu from the Wesley Whānau Community Hub
Engaging all communities
This Sunday, the Wesley Whānau Community Hub is hosting an Ethnic Communities Festival — a celebration of culture, connection, and recovery — at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall.
“Our Roskill and Wesley communities are amazingly diverse, so our focus is really on hearing from as many different flood-affected locals as we can,” says Nik Naidu, event organiser.
“A celebration of ethnic diversity is a great way to start those conversations. We’ll be chatting with people about their experiences of recovery: what kind of support they still need; what a happy and healthy neighbourhood looks like for them; and what might be getting in the way.
“Puketāpapa is one of the most diverse areas in Aotearoa, and that’s something we’re proud to reflect in this event.”
- Ethnic Communities Festival: Sunday 18 May, 4-8pm, Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 15 May Road, Mt Roskill. Supporting Community led Flood Recovery with food, dance, performances and kai vouchers for survey participants.
These events are part of a wider local effort to support community-led flood recovery in the Roskill–Wesley area.
If you’d like to help out, come along to an event, or share your thoughts, email Heather at thecommunitycollectivenz@gmail.com.