Lions clubs generate help for two marae recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle

Gisborne Lions clubs and New Zealand Lions Clubs and Honda have teamed up to provide generators for Te Heapera Marae in Ruatoria and Te Putahi Marae in Wairoa. Pictured at the handover are, from left, Taka Mackey (Te Heapera Marae), Phil Summerfield (Gisborne Honda), Debbie Beuth (Gisborne Host Lions Zone chair), Peter Cowley (Wainui Lions), Kathy Grant (Te Putahi Marae and Wairoa Lighthouse Lions), Cilla Montaperto-Britt (Gisborne Host Lions president) and James McGuire (Gisborne Host Lions). Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne Host Lions Club and the Wainui Lions Club, in association with New Zealand Lions Clubs, have donated generators to two marae recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle.

The marae are Te Heapera Marae in Ruatoria and Te Putahi Marae in Wairoa.

“Donations by many New Zealand Lions Clubs from around the motu have allowed the Gisborne Host and Wainui Lions Clubs to directly assist groups and individuals around our region who have been affected after our recent adverse weather events,” said Gisborne Host Lions spokesman James McGuire.

The generators are 7KVA Honda machines.

“Gisborne Honda are proud to work with our Lions Clubs to help supply the generators,” said Gisborne Honda’s Phil Summerfield.

The company was confident the generators would be sufficient to allow the marae to function if and when another weather event like Cyclone Gabrielle occurs.