What a way to work: Midwife s muddy slog not for the faint-hearted stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Students making sandbags in Anakiwa.
Photo: Supplied / Outward Bound
They were part of the large community response to the flooding in the Sounds that cut off isolated settlements last weekend. Tourist and barge operators joined in the rescue and recovery efforts.
Ninety teenagers were two weeks into their three-week mind body soul course with Outward Bound, based in Anakiwa, when MetService forecast downpours for the top of south last weekend.
The students were quick to embrace their haepapa (responsibility) lessons before the weather hit, making and placing sandbags around Anakiwa to reduce the risk of flooding, and anchoring a resident s trampoline to a tree.
Trapped students shovelled mud during community flood response stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“We’re not sure how much water got into the houses . The stop banks will be bomb-proof by the time we’re finished.” Marlborough Mayor John Leggett said the region’s civil defence team was conscious that more heavy rain could add more water to Marlborough s “already sodden soil”. More bad weather could affect Queen Charlotte Drive, which re-opened on Tuesday for the first time in three days with traffic measures, so workers could continue clearing slips. “Public safety is the only priority . Caution is key.” Leggett said the civil defence team was not yet sure how many houses had been damaged by the wild weather.