Catering for earthquake refugees: Te Awhina shows how it's done

February 28th, 2011
[by David Armstrong]

Te Awhina Marae has raised the bar to a new level of organisation and planning, with its detailed preparations and readiness for any number of Christchurch people choosing or forced to seek temporary living arrangements after the February 22nd earthquake.

The Marae is the official Civil Defence centre of the Motueka district, but organisers there have taken it upon themsleves without CD's guidance to build a thoroughly planned organisation to feed, house and care for anyone needing help and without independent resources.

The set-up would easily cater for more than 100 people, and the organising team believe they could even manage double that number if needed. Although the core functions and organisation is being superbly handled by a dedicated team at the Marae, it would not have been possible without the huge community support in the way of food, bedding and other donations.

Today (Monday) there were very few refugees asking for help yet, but partly this would be due to virtually no publicity for the service as well as it being early days, before more organised refugee movements begin. Many people, including officials, do not seem to be aware of what the Marae has already achieved.

The meeting house (wharenui) has been laid out with matresses with freshly laundered bedware, along with several other smaller rooms in other buildings for those wanting private individual or family space. Tents have been provided in the back field by Coppins Outdoor and the Motueka Cadets. There is also space out back for caravans and campervans. Security lights have been installed in the area, and great care has been taken to aleviate any safety or hygiene concerns.

The kohanga reo area provides a fenced-off safe area for young children, and schools are helping with looking after children of school age with tempoorary enrolment and in some cases transport. A counsellor and a social worker are on site to help with any health, psychological or financial issues, and the church is open at all times for personal use.

On registration at the entrance to the dining hall, people arriving fill out a Red Cross form so the disaster coordinators in Christchurch know who is where. This also becomes the initial contact for those needing help from WINZ and other government agencies. A checklist ensures all have their basic material needs (toothbrushes etc) are met, and a questionnaire assesses needs for health and other issues, such as lost medical prescriptions. Thought has gone into addressing every conceivable problem.

The reception is manned 24 hours a day, and food is available for new arrivals throughout the day and night. A team led by a professional chef is working the kitchen, and each of seven churches is taking a turn to cater for a hot evening meal each night this week for whoever is in residence at the time.

One of the three organisers, Donna McLeod, is full of praise for the donors of food, materials and labour so far. Sealords donated 100kg of fish (the large freezers and chiller ensure no food goes to waste). Many small community groups in the district have brought in baking and other food. Individuals have donated plenty of fresh vegetables, and the Marae is using crates of fruit from the orchards it owns.

The Motueka Community Gardens in Old Wharf Road donated their surplus produce for the week. One large room holds donated bedware, books, games and toys, plus some clothes. One Motueka woman laundered over 70 donated bedding sheets and pillowcases to a fresh state.

The tricky part is being prepared for large numbers of people while never really knowing how many will be on site on any day. Donna says the facility will be re-assessed in perhaps two weeks and see how it fits in with Civil Defence's operations and needs. She sees the set-up as a longer-term offering than just a few weeks, as numbers displaced by the earthquake will continue to grow after the initial devastation.

Nellie Bell looks after registration, helping new arrivals to fill in Red Cross forms	The Marae's kitchen is ready to serve food whenever it is needed
"Tent city" in the back field will cater for overflow or those seeking separate family accommodation	Donna McLeod among some of the donated goods

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