Otago Flood Recovery: The Power of Collaboration

Volunteer South was pleased to be able to support Otago Student Volunteer Army (SVA) and UniCrew in their response to the recent flooding in Coastal Otago. As the rain continued consistently over 48 hours from 4th October, it became apparent that in addition to urban flooding and slips, the rural sector would need significant support with ongoing cleanups as well.

In anticipation of potential need for volunteers, we put a call out to Dunedin, Coastal Otago, Clutha and Maniototo audience to sign up via our Emergency Volunteering page, so that we could readily redirect them to the appropriate agency when needed.

As the situation developed, we maintained regular contact with Otago SVA and UniCrew and were also advised by SVA’s national office on their experience with the Auckland floods. Soon after, the conversation expanded to include the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), Otago Rural Trust (ORT) and Clutha Council as well, who were in the process of conducting welfare checks in the affected areas.

We coordinated our calls to action and the SVA received a request to help out at a large farm in the Catlins. While SVA focused on the planning and resource capability and mobilising volunteers locally and from neighbouring regions, Unicrew activated Otago University students and staff, as well as provided some other resources. Volunteer South attracted a significant response to the previous call out and was able to share the opportunity to volunteer at the Catlins farm to those emergency response volunteers.

Within a week, collaborative efforts generated a plan for transport, baking, PPE, a BBQ and comprehensive health and safety measures, and Saturday 12th October saw a bus full of volunteers on their way to Catlins. A combination of students and people from the Dunedin community, 45 sets of willing hands joined the farmers and their neighbours (and the bus driver!) to clear flood detritus from fences, as well as cooking up lunch for everyone involved.

With Otago Heritage Transport funded by Freemasons Charity, and fueled by kai from Silver Ferns farms, coffee from Hummingbird, baking by Mosgiel North Taieri Presbyterian Parish Catering Group, and supplied with some handy equipment by Mitre10, volunteers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds contributed nearly 400 hours towards cleaning and catering efforts, clearing several hundred metres of fences.

The scale of mahi accomplished is a shining example of the power of collectively giving time, resources and labour. It also demonstrated how agencies can channel their unique individual capabilities in a smooth collaborative manner to activate necessary change. The impact of volunteering is always two-fold; this was a learning experience as students and volunteers observed an NZ farm first-hand, the extent to which rural property can be damaged in floods and gained an understanding of the amount of work farmers do in general. The rain staying away, many baby lambs and farmdog puppies were definitely a bonus!

Are you a workplace, student (18+) or service group keen to volunteer for recovery efforts? MPI and ORT are monitoring the ongoing demand for support, and communities across Otago, and it is likely that these clean ups will be needed for some time. Email kiaora@volunteersouth.org.nz to find out how you can help.

If you’re an individual who would like to join our Emergency Volunteer on-call list, please sign up here so you can be contacted when the need arises.