Emergency services gather to heal: Speical karakia and kai breakfast a chance to support each other

Story provided by NZ Police

Reflection and healing were part of a special get-together at Gisborne Fire Station for Tairāwhiti emergency services.

Police, firefighters, St John ambulance officers, representatives from Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou and Te Runanga o Turanganui-a-Kiwa, Civil Defence emergency management, Te Whatu Ora and other support agencies gathered for karakia and kai.

The event was covered in an article in the police Ten One magazine this week.

“It has been a difficult year for the emergency services with a range of serious incidents, including a double homicide in the city in March, three local fishermen drowning in rough seas in June and a 5-year-old drowning in a farm pond at Tiniroto last month,” the article said.

“There have also been several fatal road crashes, forestry and hunting fatalities and flooding events.”

Acting Tairāwhiti area police commander Inspector Danny Kirk started by acknowledging that so many of the emergency services personnel in Tairāwhiti had been involved with one, and in some cases all, of the tragic incidents.

“We work so closely in times of tragedy and in times of triumph as well. But it’s important we come together as a cohort of emergency services and wrap support around ourselves, as well as those personally affected by tragedy,” he said.

Tairāwhiti Fire and Emergency district manager Peter Clark said that as a collective sometimes they did not have anyone else to lean on but their emergency service partners.

“We all go to these jobs and act in the most professional way we can, but it does have an impact on us, too.

“When we get in our vehicles, get back to the station or get home — that’s when it really impacts on our whānau, ourselves and the wider emergency services group.”

The decision to come together as a first responder collective stemmed from a desire to conduct karakia under the korowai of the Tikanga manaaki and be part of something to help heal. “For a small community, when a person passes away the ripple effect is felt through the whole area.”