Student volunteers from Waikato muck in after Waihī Beach floods

Five student volunteers from the University of Waikato travelled to Waihī Beach to help flood-affected businesses recover, spending a full day shifting heavy and bulky flood-damaged items. The students — Zoe Wakefield, Kylo O'Toole, Alex Johnson, Samantha Pemberton, and Isaiah Dougherty — worked alongside local staff to load around 18 flood-damaged appliances and gym equipment onto trucks and trailers, bound for the Waihī Transfer Station.

The volunteers assisted two businesses: the Surf Shack Eatery and the Victoria Lemon Transform Today gym. Western Bay of Plenty District Council community resilience advisor Kurt Waugh helped coordinate the day and said it was inspiring to see the students step up. "Everyone worked hard. I was really impressed with how it came together and how amazing the student volunteers were," he said.

Surf Shack Eatery owner Pip Coombes praised the students' efforts, saying it was all hands on deck. "Between the students, our staff and Kurt, we got all the really heavy stuff out." Gym owner Victoria Lemon was equally grateful, noting the five volunteers worked enthusiastically and did their best to lift very heavy equipment and machinery. Student volunteer Isaiah Dougherty, from Tauranga, said he simply saw what was happening and wanted to lend a hand. "It made me feel useful to make other people's lives easier."

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).