The strength of the blue ‘whānau’ has never been more evident than in the past two months since Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the Eastern District.
Hundreds of Police staff from across the country left their homes to travel to Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti to help their Eastern colleagues.
They have filled in on Public Safety Teams to give local staff the opportunity to take time off, as well as joining the reassurance patrols that have been operating across the district, connecting with local communities hit hard by the cyclone.
Palmerston North Senior Constable Selica Winiata has just completed her second deployment to Hawke’s Bay. She jumped at the opportunity to help her cyclone-stricken colleagues. She was there in the early days after the cyclone and recently returned.
Selica says she’s proud to be able to help.
“We know it’s not just the community that’s suffered, our own colleagues have also suffered and have lost their houses. So to be a part of that, to be able to help in some shape or form, I feel very proud to do that.”
She says her second deployment has been all about reassurance, getting out and speaking to those affected by the cyclone and hearing their stories.
“The goal is to provide a bit of reassurance that Police are out there doing the best we can.”
As a former Black Fern and international rugby referee, Selica takes any opportunity to kick a ball around with the public and she’s been doing that in Hawke’s Bay.
“Joining in with something they're interested in goes a long way. So if I can spend a bit of time doing that, I feel like I’m helping in the community.”
Selica says the local staff have been incredibly welcoming and appreciative of the support from colleagues from other districts. Watch the video below to hear more about her deployment.