Precipice
Precipice is a podcast about landslides and community restoration in Muriwai, New Zealand, following the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle on 13 February 2023. It shares stories of resilience and recovery in the aftermath of the disaster.
Episodes
Are you OK? Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep.26 Precipice Podcast
I speak to Helen and Rowan Aish in this episode. Mother and son and long time Muriwai residents, Helen and Rowan work in mental health and provided mental health care and support to the Muriwai community after Cyclone Gabrielle.We talk about meetings set up for the community to give people tools for dealing with this traumatic event, offering counselling support, supporting children through this p
Rejuvenate the Land. Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep.25 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I speak with Zac Bogdan. Zac talks about his role as the coordinator of Scars On The Land, a project instigated by MCA and the MET after the cyclone, to replant the exposed land of the demolished and removed houses with locally raised native trees. He explains how this project works and the goals for the planting Zac shares his experience and challenges of being ordered to evacuate
Hugs and Connection. Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep.24 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I speak with Maggie Brott. Maggie was involved in the initial communications and organisation for the community after the cyclone through the creation of a Facebook Group, an email contact, a website and spreadsheets coordinating spaces, queries and outside assistance as well as donated food and supplies.Maggie talks about sourcing skills from different people and the power of dele
Collaboration. Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep 23 Precipice Podcast
Mette Hay joins me in this episode. Mette is an artist/designer and Muriwai resident. Her art practice explores the visualisation of soundscapes, both natural and voice Mette talks about an artistic activation she created for the community after the cyclone at a gathering at the surf club, using voices of the community. Mette talks about the fundraising initiatives that were taken to support the s
Art Heals: Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep.22 Precipice Podcast
Joss Hong has lived in Muriwai for 30 years and was an integral part of the collaborative community initiatives after Cyclone Gabrielle.Joss talks about setting up and managing the food hub set up at the surf club in Muriwai after the cyclone, the organisation and distribution of clothing donations and setting up the ‘locals lounge’ in the surf club to provide a comfortable nurturing place for loc
A Commemorative Sculpture: Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep 21 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I talk to Aotearoa NZ artist Jeff Thomson, who was commissioned by the community to create a cyclone gabrielle commemorative public sculpture for Muriwai.We talk about considerations made by Jeff and his team when designing and building the sculpture such as intention, audience, location and design development as well as lighting, placement, materials and scale.Jeff shares the chal
Create a Charitable Trust: Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep.20 Precipice Podcast
Mike Alexander joins me in this episode. Mike is a Muriwai resident who is based in Auckland city during the week. He is a partner in an Auckland law firm, Heimsath Alexander, which helped with the formation of a charitable trust to coordinate and distribute financial donations after Cyclone Gabrielle. Mike explains the process of setting up this trust, receiving and administering funds, registeri
Step Up People! Community Initiatives after a Traumatic Weather Event. Ep.19 Precipice Podcast
Erin Griffin is my guest in today’s episode. Erin has lived in Muriwai for 41 years, was a member of the trust that owns and operates the surf club at the time of Cyclone Gabrielle, and was very involved in many of the community initiatives taken throughout the restoration process.Erin talks about the processes developed for providing accommodation for displaced families, coordinating donations, t
Auckland Council Learnings. Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep.18 Precipice Podcast.
Mace Ward from Auckland Council joins me in this episode. Mace was the General Manager of Group Recovery at the time of Cyclone Gabrielle and a ‘group controller’ in the lead up to the cyclone. Mace talks about his role in the recovery and the learnings and changes that have been put in place by Auckland Council since the cycloneHe unpacks the categorisation process of houses in Muriwai, valuation
Auckland Council Steps In. Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep.17 Precipice Podcast.
Today I speak with Scott De Silva, the current Auckland Council Manager of Regional Parks and an operations controller in Auckland Emergency Management when Cyclone Gabrielle hit. He has worked in Muriwai and been part of the community for many years and lives nearby in Cable Road.Scott talks about what Auckland Council was expecting and preparations taken before the weather event, his role in the
Preparing your Evacuation Point. Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep.16 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I speak to Michael Ward, known by most as Nate. Nate is married to Kate Ward who I also speak to on the podcast. He was the Chairman of the Surf Club at Muriwai at the time of Cyclone Gabrielle. He is now the Finance Administration Convenor and is still a trustee of the facility that owns and manages the surf club building.Nate talks about the issues on the night and in the days fo
Red Stickered Residents Unite: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep 15 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I speak to Muriwai local Jeremy Jones. Jeremy’s home in Motutara Road was initially 'white stickered' then ‘red stickered’ despite him not feeling their home was under threat. He was very involved in the creation of the stickered residents group of more than 150 residents’ on What’s App. He talks about the intentions for this group and how it operated.Jeremy shares his f
Building Trusted Relationships. Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep.14 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I speak to Mike Hibbert. Mike is a Muriwai resident and was a key figure in managing communications for Muriwai after Cyclone Gabrielle. Mike talks about his role as the chair of the Stickered Residents Group, the high trust relationships he built with media, council members and central government, the numerous media interviews he was part of, connecting with CEOs of banks, other b
Coordinating the Community: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep. 13 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I speak with Kenton Osmond, a long time Muriwai resident who is a member of the Muriwai Community Association and was a key figure in establishing and managing the Muriwai Emergency Response Group following the cyclone for almost 9 months.Kenton talks about the creation of this group, their role coordinating messaging and communication, organising volunteers to help and delegating,
Creating a Brand, Restore Muriwai: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep.12 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I talk to Maria Koppens. Maria was a resident of Muriwai but lost her family home as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle and is now living in the neighbouring suburb of Waimauku.Maria shares how she applied her marketing skills to the restoration phase in Muriwai, creating a ‘brand’ named Restore Muriwai, connecting with politicians and councillors as well as connecting across impacted c
Muriwai Lodge Re-emerges: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration. Ep.11 Precipice Podcast.
I chat to Clare Bradley in this episode. Clare is the owner of the Muriwai Lodge, and she was the joint chair of MCA at the time of the cyclone. She is a resident of Muriwai and was not allowed to live in her home in Domain Crescent for 9 months after the cyclone. We discuss the impact on the lodge and her home on the night, the success of many community initiatives in the recovery and restoration
Surfers Come Together. Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep. 10 Precipice Podcast.
Greg Skinner is a long time Muriwai resident, a local surfer, the president of Maori Bay Boardriders and the owner of local events production business Roller Coaster.Greg talks about his contribution to the recovery and restoration period in Muriwai: helping to coordinate the funerals for volunteer firefighters Dave van Zwanenberg and Craig Stevens, a paddle out for the boys, using his business eq
I Feel Everybody's Pain. Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep. 9 Precipice Podcast.
Jackie Mason has lived in Muriwai for more than 20 years in Domain Crescent and was a school teacher at the local school for many years. Jackie shares her experiences and perspectives of the night and the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle as an 80 year old woman living on her own.Jackie lived close to the landslides and shares the most challenging aspects of the disaster, She talks about how Cyclone
Muriwai Golf Club Responds: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep. 8 Precipice Podcast.
Andrew Jackson is my guest in this episode. Andrew is the General manager of the Muriwai Links Golf Club and was manager at the time of Cyclone Gabrielle. He and his team were involved on the night of the cyclone and in the recovery and restoration of Muriwai.Andrew shares how the club prepared for the weather event and what they expected, how the golf club supported the surf club and the communit
Evacuate to the Surf Club: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep 7 Precipice Podcast.
In this episode I speak with Kate Ward, the surf club facility manager and the administrator of the Muriwai volunteer lifeguard service and the Muriwai lifeguard services amenity trust. Kate is a resident of Waimauku, 8 kms away from Muriwai.Kate talks about the role of the surf club in Muriwai, some of the problems experienced at the surf club on the night of the cyclone, changes and upgrades th
Devastation on Domain: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep. 6 Precipice Podcast.
Elaine McKnee, Charlotte Reynolds and Jessica McDonald have come together to join me in this episode, as they lived near each other in Domain Crescent and also worked together closely in the recovery period after the cyclone. We talk about the “Disaster Tours” created as a way to communicate local issues with MPs, councillors and media, creating the Restore Muriwai Instagram account as a means of
Emergency Accomodation at the Campground: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep 5 Precipice Podcast..
In this episode I speak with Denise Mackle and Cheryl Beattie. Together they are managers of the Muriwai Campground, and accommodated displaced families in the campground on the night of Cyclone Gabrielle and for months after the event.Cheryl and Denise talk about the impacts and logistics of providing emergency accommodation for families who couldn’t return to their homes, receiving and coordinat
Do you Feel Safe? Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai: Ep. 4 Precipice Podcast.
Kat and Andy Corbett join me in this episode. On the night of Cyclone Gabrielle, their home in Motutara Road was severely impacted by a landslide - they had to flee with their 2 sons and 2 dogs and were never to return. They recall their individual perspectives of this traumatic event, the immediate aftermath, having to leave their home, finding emergency accommodation in Muriwai then relocating o
Never to Return: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep.3 Precipice Podcast.
Caroline Bell Booth joins me in this episode. Caroline lost her home on the night of the cyclone and now lives in Wellington. She is a television director and used her skills to be an advocate and the so called ‘poster child’ for the Muriwai community.Caroline recounts the traumatic events she experienced on the night of Cyclone Gabrielle, the personal impacts of the disaster and the surprise issu
A Home Buried by a Landslide: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep 2 Precipice Podcast.
Eddie Wood joins me in this episode. Eddie is a surfer and kite surfer who came to Aotearoa NZ from the UK in 2012 and has lived in Muriwai for most of the time since then. His house came down with one of the biggest landslides in Motutara Road opposite the Muriwai Lodge on the night of cyclone Gabrielle.Eddie talks us through the events of the night of the cyclone at his place.He shares the traum
Turbo Prop Engines on Full: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai. Ep.1 Precipice Podcast
In this episode I speak with Abe Dew. Abe was a long time Muriwai resident who was never to return to his home after the cyclone and now lives out of Muriwai in nearby Waimauku. He used his marketing and advertising strategy experience to support the recovery and restoration of Muriwai.Abe talks about the traumatic night of the cyclone for his family: evacuating to the Surf Club, the immediate aft
Introducing Precipice
On the west coast of Aotearoa, New Zealand, less than an hour from central Auckland, is Muriwai Beach, a popular destination known for its black sand, surf, gannets and sunsets. A few years ago it was also home to around 1200 people, a small vibrant coastal community close to the land, the sea and each other. On the 13th of February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle changed all of that. Flooding and landsli
