I have spent time this week with mayors of affected districts following Cyclone Gabrielle, including the marvellous mayors of Gisborne and the Far North.  

Some of the stories they had to tell were chilling and I stand in admiration of them and others in the affected areas for the way they have led, and continue to lead their communities.

There were a few messages that came through clearly that I'd like to share.

Number one is that the damage is almost unfathomable; to the extent that some places may simply never recover back to what they were.  

This event is going to affect our whole country for many years, and of course those effects are going to be keenly felt in those places hit.  

We will need to stand by our country-people shoulder-to-shoulder as they go through this not for just the next news cycle, but for the months and years ahead. It's not going to be cool to complain about the price of kumara next year, that's for sure.

Second is that you just simply can't be too prepared for this to happen to you and your family. Get ready now, not when it's too late.

Third, one of the biggest issues they had to face was loss of communications, especially fibre and broadband.  

With no internet, there was no eftpos, with no eftpos, people couldn't buy essentials. Things became very difficult very quickly and were only resolved once Starlink communications came into play. Who would have thought those little lights in the sky would have become fundamentally important so quickly.  

Big tip - if you can, put some cash away somewhere in your home for a very rainy day.

Don't forget to support the Central Hawkes Bay Mayoral Relief Fund if you can with a donation to 01 0777 0038665 00 labelled ‘relief’.