Editorial: Waimarama School hits the news

Nearly three weeks after the storm of April 2011 and parts of Waimarama still resemble a bomb site.

Out Waitangi Rd, the canyons created by land that collapsed as a river of water gushed down the hills and underground is quite something to behold.

In the township itself, parts of Gillies Cres still bear the scars from the wall of water and mud that swamped properties in the early hours of April 27. Curiously, as you drive around Gillies Cres, there are sections that escaped damage entirely.

When you cross the bailey bridge into Waimarama, the drop-off to the water below is sharp and frightening. This was a raging torrent just a few short weeks ago. It is a miracle no one died in the extreme weather.

At Waimarama School, principal Linda Whitlow is just pleased that much of the mud has been cleaned up around the classrooms and the kids are back in attendance. She is grateful to all the volunteers who helped, particularly the Magpie Army that literally dug the school out of the muck.

Her pupils have been going around Waimarama interviewing and photographing locals so they can write reports on how they coped with the drama of the storm event.

The school approached Hawke's Bay Today for help with publishing their stories and we were pleased to assist.

On Friday, May 27, we will publish two pages of reports, pictures and commentary by the pupils of Waimarama School about their village's experience in the April storm.

The pupils have appointed two editors and yesterday questioned myself and staff reporter Caitlin Nobes about what they had to do to get their reports published.

Caitlin talked to them about how to structure a story and her experience reporting on the Christchurch earthquakes. I talked about the importance of accuracy and meeting deadlines.

The Waimarama School reporters now have their own deadline to meet in order to have their stories printed. I warned them not to be late. But I don't think this talented young team will let us down.