Hawke's Bay Today photographers Warren Buckland and Paul Taylor recall some of the events they covered as Cyclone Gabrielle slammed into the region.
You don’t have to ask Hawke’s Bay man Phil Bayens if he would put himself in danger to save others, because he has already done it twice.
The Havelock North resident jetboated through muddy, fast-flowing, debris-ridden Cyclone Gabrielle flood waters to rescue more than 100 peopleon February 14, 2023.
Thirty-five years prior, he had put himself in harm’s way to carry out rescues during Cyclone Bola.
The efforts of Bayens, which he does not deem as heroic, were recognised when he received a Hastings Civic Honour at a ceremony at Toitoi on May 27.
He was one of 29 individuals and three groups to get an honour at the annual awards.
Bayens said he travelled to the Fern Hill area under police guidance and said as the Ngaruroro River rose rapidly, “an eerie feeling” washed over him.
“I thought if this bridge washed away, now we would have been in that water.”
Bayens was not there to observe the natural disaster unfolding, but was out looking for ways he, and the jetboat he had on the trailer, could be of help.
When asked by police what he needed, he said fuel so he could keep going.
He said at no point did he stop and realise the magnitude of what was happening, nor did he have time to feel scared.
“I was just concentrating on driving the boat and keeping ourselves out of trouble, and doing what we could.”
Civic Honours are a tradition of acknowledgement that have been run by Hastings District Council for more than 30 years.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said all the recipients had, in a wide range of ways, made a significant impact on the community.
“These awards recognise that while these people may have full and busy lives, they have stepped up to dedicate their time, energy and resources to make a positive difference to the lives of others, and our district as a whole.
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.
