Thank you @Helen427 for bringing to light further and even more perilous circumstances had there in your region Auckland (NZ). The distressing conditions reflect the foibles and nastiness of contemporary means utilized to develop rural communities that negatively (understated) affect people, domestic animals, wildlife and their habitat.
I must agree with you on points you mentioned that have severely affected the stability and living conditions of most residents or visitors in the vicinity (not limited to and including AirBnB Hosts/Guest and tourism in general).
I hope conditions are steadily progressing towards a recovery. I understand there is little comfort when waiting on recon of your family home or home and farm. I have been present in similar (but not half as dire) circumstances.
I have seen the people's faces after their homes, farms and crops, harvest and livestock are laid to waste. It in almost too surreal to fathom the immensity of the utter decimation left in the wake of these type forces of nature. For people who are enduring the aftermath - it is ALL TOO REAL. It's nothing less than soul crushing and horrifying when you take into consideration the loss of lives!
Farmers are very hard hit - in the emotionally painful scheme of such conditions. Their farms often sustains them or are part/all of their livelihood and income). Entire areas of suburban & urban dwellar, too, find their residences unliveable or have been swept and/or washed away.
Commercial land clearing, resurfacing and literally moving mountains (or blowing them to bits) for the purpose of contemporary development (erecting commercial & residential structures, etc.
I am in !Large! agreements with you in all. Know that my thoughts are with you. Wish it were possible for me to Host someone affected by the horrendous destruction that area has incurred. I do realize, more than most know. Is there any collective effort on the part if NZ'ers to assist those affected?
it is very hard to help your neighbors when one is "over their head" and in the same way. Being a victim of mother nature (+ haphazard development of rural areas & the raw natural landscape of a region) is not new to me.
I understand..is so hard not to emotionalize over the devastation after I thought to look for myself & parsed the regional news online. There were photos..more of Buller River but fewer photos and articles re: The South Island, Rural News there reported on Dairy Farms of Buller River in recovery - it did, in part, describe the havoc wreaked on the farmers and their cows!
It is more than most people can imagine unless you see it for yourself or are resident. You love your New Zealand and care about people and animals there who reside in Auckland & beyond.
You are a very rare find, indeed, @Helen427 ! Am "the on the same page" with your thoughts on the subject. We see the necessity to preserve the natural scheme of things for the safety, health and "good of the many" - come what may. Buller River saw the result of "come what may" come & go, leaving very little unscathed. People who can least afford such losses are enduring them. I know how commercial land developers view this. THAT is even more upsetting. Greed taking precedence over the value of people's entire lives..it generally comes to a bad end at the cost of lives.
Thank you for taking the time to share the events that affect you and other fellow hosts, as well.
This is more than impacting NZ tourism it is affecting the entirety of people's lives (and more). Chime in and let me & your fellow hosts know how you and others are fairing there in NZ, please. You are a priceless addition to and part of the AirBnB CC and New Zealand and Endzedders, EVERYWHERE!
