Auckland tornado: Papatoetoe residents struggling to find housing after freak event

Monday, 21 June 2021

Ashna Rohit has been left picking up the pieces after a tornado ravaged south Auckland on the weekend.

Residents who lost their homes to the freak tornado that ripped through south Auckland on Saturday morning are worried they won’t find a new place to live for a long time.

Ashna Rohit and her husband Sandeep Kumar raced home from work after their neighbour sent photos of their Papatoetoe apartment block without its roof.

Their unit’s downstairs area is in relatively good condition, but the entire upstairs is uninhabitable. For now, they are staying with Rohit’s family in Flat Bush – “but it’s not the same as being in your own home”, Rohit said.

“We are struggling. We are going from house to house looking, people say they are not able to hand over the house straight away, it will take a week or so. But it’s hard to stay at someone else’s house, you know?

Ashna Rohit and Sandeep Kumar are residents of one of the areas worst affected by the tornado.

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Many residents spent Monday clearing trees and debris from their homes after a tornado on Saturday morning.

“Even though [my family is] happy to keep us, it’s not right. They look after us, but your own home is your own home. You feel free at your home.”

She said their Christchurch-based landlord has been calling them often to check in, and his brother in Auckland has been helping them extract their belongings from the red-stickered flat.

Kim Bloom is waiting to hear whether insurance will cover the damage to her home, which assessors estimate will cost about $15,000.

Police came to their home and offered them help from Victim Support, but they keep finding themselves at the end of a long phone queue. The last time Rohit rang, she was 24th in line to talk to someone, she said.

“It’s a big hassle for us, having all these headaches: going to insurance, calling Victim Support, we just feel that it’s no use.

“I am on the edge, we have already giving up. It’s not only us, there are others as well.”

The clean-up after the weather event which damaged numerous properties and killed one person in Papatoetoe continues.

Down the road, Kim Bloom is looking at a bill of at least $15,000 in damage that might not be covered by insurance.

On Monday morning, she had a team clearing the remains of several large trees that collapsed into her property, and taking down the 35-metre high pine at the back of her home.

Although her insurers recommend removing the pine in case of another freak storm, Bloom thinks the pine might have saved her and her daughters from even more damage to their home.

Emergency housing and financial support has been set up for those impacted.

Roofing iron from their neighbours was lifted clean off and ended up wrapped around the pine, she said, likely stopping it from ending up through their windows.

But Bloom is worried there is too much traffic already on her street. Contractors cannot get through to help clean or start repairs, and once she and her daughters leave for the night, security is a concern.

“If they closed off this area … we can’t even walk on the footpath, people have to walk on the road, and it’s dangerous,” she said.

Papatoetoe resident Andy Zhang is feeling thankful for the help of the local community following the tornado.

“At least close it off for a week, it’s still not stable. What if a tile goes flying into someone that goes past?

“Our alarms aren’t working, our cameras aren’t working, what is the security for our properties? We all are [worried]. You just don’t know.”

Bloom hopes either Civil Defence, Auckland Council or the Earthquake Commission can help her cover the cost of clearing and cutting down any trees that still pose a safety threat.

“I think that should be covered with the Government, they should come to the party on it. It’s ridiculous.”

The Government has given $100,000 to a Mayoral Relief Fund to support communities impacted by the tornado.

The family was looking for a place to stay on Monday night, but Bloom said before they booked they needed to know whether insurance would cover their stay at a hotel, and how long it would be before the yellow sticker came off their door.

Residents and affected families can still visit the Red Cross and Emergency Management team at the Allan Brewster Leisure Centre for help with finances or emergency accommodation.

An overnight emergency shelter in Ōtara was closed on Sunday night because it wasn’t being used, Red Cross team leader Logan Sheehan said.

But the info hub is available to connect people to funding and help, he said, and people were coming through for much of Monday morning looking for just that.

Andy Zhang, a plumber, was in bed when the tornado hit, while his wife and his 8-year-old daughter were at a swimming class.

He said he is feeling thankful for the help of the Papatoetoe community.

Since the tornado, neighbours have offered food, blankets and even a place to stay.

“I have to stay positive, and we have hope that everything will be sorted. I don’t think we can return to our home, the damages are really bad, we’ve lost everything but the clothes on our back,” he said.

“It’s just been so great to see our community help out.”

On Monday, Papatoetoe residents were seen patrolling the streets, offering help to neighbours.

Sina Tawake had not been directly affected by the tornado, but wanted to help those who were.

“The damage, wow. All we can do is offer hot drinks, blankets and food – nothing compared to what they’ve lost. Hopefully it brings some comfort to them at this time,” she said.

If you or your family need financial help, call 0800 752 102.