Karekare locals have been told they will soon have a one-lane road out of the community after destruction from Cyclone Gabrielle left them isolated. Photo: RNZ / Leonard Powell
Residents of the cut-off coastal Auckland community of Karekare will finally have access to the city this week, says the local volunteer fire brigade chief.
Karekare has been isolated since Cyclone Gabrielle hit a month ago with major slips blocking roads.
Three weeks ago, First Up producer Leonard Powell was one of the few from the outside able to take a peek at the scale of destruction in the area.
Karekare volunteer Fire Brigade chief officer Toby Hyman told First Up residents were told at a meeting with local councillors and Auckland Transport representatives that a one-lane residents-only road would be ready by the end of the week.
"It's been pretty bizarre. I mean a couple of days ago we had all of our rubbish collected by helicopter and removed from Karekare."
"We don't actually have any shops out here" - Karekare volunteer Fire Brigade chief officer Toby Hyman
Fire Brigade chief officer Toby Hyman says while it has been a tough month, it was heartwarming to see the community come together. Photo: RNZ / Leonard Powell
Locals had created a community hub to shop for staple supplies, which were also flown in, and catch up with each other, Hyman said.
"The hub ... has been a really good thing for the community to get together, because we don't actually have any shops out here. There's no diaries, there's nothing.
"So it's been real different, for everyone to come together and do their shopping. They're not just coming and getting their supplies and leaving, they're hanging around, telling stories, having hugs."
A donation from someone had allowed the community to set up a farmers' market over the weekend, he said.
"We had a lot of people gathering for that, some kids set up a little stand to paint fingernails for the little kids and it was just a really good get-together."
Earlier this month, Auckland Transport warned some of Auckland's west coast beaches like Karekare may not be accessible to the public for more than a year.