Following the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, Ernslaw has donated $500,000 to the Tairawhiti Mayoral Relief Fund to assist with the region’s recovery.

The donation is part of a wider contribution by Ernslaw over the last week to help neighbours and the community.  

CEO, Darren Mann, says that while staff and contractors have been running the machines and getting on the end of tools to help clear debris and silt, he knows there is so much more to do.

“We’re committed to doing whatever we can and hope that this donation will go some way to supporting the many people in need,” says Darren.

The company has provided Gisborne District Council and Civil Defence with diggers, machine operators and manpower to assist with the clean-up in and around the significantly impacted Te Karaka township and also up the Coast.

Ernslaw has used its fire appliance to blow the silt out of flooded homes, carried out streetside rubbish collection, supported volunteer organisations in packaging up food parcels and many of the 20-strong team are moving through flooded homes to clean out mud and silt.

“We have been working with Gisborne District Council and Civil Defence to identify daily tasks and get our resources on to it,” continues Darren.  “The work has involved removing silt from people’s homes, properties and orchards and we’ve also had equipment on a couple bridge clean-ups” says Darren.

Many contractors and their crews are coming under immense pressure and with it not being possible for some crews to return to work, livelihoods are at risk.

“We are doing what we can to redeploy some of our contractor workforce into areas requiring manpower to assist with the cleanup and provide ongoing income,” says Darren.  

“For the crews that we’re unable to get back working, we will be looking for ways to assist them accessing support until operations can resume.”

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