Rev Russell Pickersgill-Brown on the floods in Motueka and how we can respond

How have the recent floods affected the Motueka community on the ground?
To be honest, I don’t think the TV coverage captured the reality of it. We had an event about three weeks ago where the groundwater was already high and the ground was completely saturated. Then we had a second major rain event the following week, and finally, the big one last week with wind and torrential rain. Altogether, we had six months of rain in two weeks.

The first week was bad enough. By the second week we were thinking, “How are we going to get through this?” The third week didn’t break the community, but it felt like it might. There was a lot of despondency and hopelessness. The valleys were hit hard, though the town itself came through nearly unscathed.

What did the community response look like in the face of such ongoing hardship?
That’s where the amazing part kicks in. The Rec Centre car park turned into a giant garage sale, but with no money involved. People brought anything they had to spare and those in need just came and helped themselves. It was beautiful.

On Tuesday night, Smoking Barrel provided a meal for 600 people, completely free. We partnered with them, as we have for years, and used our church auditorium as overflow. Around 120 people came to eat, sit in the warmth, and listen to jazz music. It was about making people feel welcome and valued.

What made that partnership with Smoking Barrel work so well?
We’ve had a relationship with Josiah from Smoking Barrel for four or five years. We’re the only green space in the CBD, so we said, “Put your tables out on our lawn during summer to take the pressure off your restaurant.” Over time it’s become a natural connection. It really felt like unity. Volunteers just showed up ready to help. The people who weren’t badly affected stepped in and said, “What can we do?”

How has the parish responded?
Most of our people can’t get out and dig, and that’s absolutely fine. But take Audrey, for example. She’s 92. A few days before the third big event, she started baking. Sultana loaves, chocolate chip biscuits, gingernuts, day after day. She did it so volunteers digging out farms could have morning and afternoon tea.

Others made extra meals when cooking at home. If they cooked for two, they made enough for four. One of our members, Debbie, picked those up and delivered them to families in Brooklyn Valley. What’s special is that all of this was self-initiated and done quietly. It was just beautiful to see.

How can people across the diocese support those in Motueka and Tasman?
I’m a huge believer in the engine room of prayer. That’s the first and most powerful thing anyone can do, and I know many already are, so thank you. As for practical help, my advice would be to keep an eye on the Tasman District Council website or the Motueka Community Facebook page. Needs are changing daily, and the best way to support is to respond to what’s actually being asked for.

We don’t need unsolicited donations of furniture or food right now. And while people from outside the area might want to help dig out, there are already lots of hands on the ground. The biggest thing is this: pray that people here would encounter Jesus through the love and care being shown to them.

What is your hope in all of this?
That people would know they’re loved, not just by those around them, but by God. We were so glad to support Smoking Barrel because it gave us a chance to gently point to Jesus. Not by preaching, but by creating a warm, safe space and quietly sharing who we are. We had Messy Church handouts available for anyone curious. In all of it, from the baking to the shared tables, we’re praying that people would encounter hope, and that that hope would lead them to Christ.

‍