People did what rural communities so often do. They looked after each other.
As we mark ten years since the 2016 Mw 7.8 Waiau and Mt Lyford earthquake on 14 November, we pause to remember a night that had a lasting impact on our district and our people.
We remember the fear and loss, the isolation, and the challenges that continued long after the ground stopped shaking. But alongside those memories are stories of remarkable resilience, kindness and community spirit. People checked on neighbours, supported friends and strangers, and worked together as the long road to recovery began.
Today, we acknowledge what we lost and what has changed, while also recognising the strength, connections and enduring spirit that helped Waiau, Mt Lyford, Cheviot and the wider Hurunui move forward.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari kē he toa takitini
My strength is not that of an individual, but that of a collective
