‘My Cyclone Gabrielle’: Confronting the Aftermath

In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle sweeping across Aotearoa communities, multiple DEGANZ members worked on the new RNZ docuseries, My Cyclone Gabrielle. With a new director, location, and story in each episode, they share their personal experience and give voice to the residents’ tragedies. The four episodes look at the cyclone from a community perspective and depict their struggles and bravery.

The first episode, Aftermath, edited by DEGANZ member Jai Waite, tells the story of Hawke’s Bay families picking up the pieces of their lives after the destruction. The families reunite on the region’s ruins and share their pain with viewers.

The final episode, Lifeline, featured Kim Webby (DEGANZ) as director and fellow member Ben Murray as assistant editor. It depicts a hard-working community of Ruatoria, supporting each other and fearing a lack of governmental support. The other episodes examine similar themes of loss and grief in Muriwai and the Waitakere Ranges.

All four stories are different, isolated in their personal losses but united in their communal pain. The series reveals previously unheard voices and shows what is hard to ignore. It forces viewers to re-evaluate their perceptions of the cyclone and be motivated to address the existing restoration challenges.

You can watch the full series here.

Last updated on 13 April 2023