Remembering the Kaikoura earthquake

It’s been four years since the massive 7.8M earthquake hit Kaikoura in November 2016. Dave Jacobsen (Golden Bay Fencing) and a few mates wanted to help those farmers whose properties and livelihoods had been devastated by the damage, so they packed up their swag and their tools and went to help out.

1.6km of new netting fence, repairs, new cattle yards and a wood shed were just some of the projects required to get the Millton and Clarence Farms (and other properties) back to working form.

The following poem was written by Jane Millton (of ‘Moo and Moo and Little Calf Too’ fame) for Dave Jacobsen and those mates, who volunteered selflessly and tirelessly to mend her broken property.

TO THE TAKAKA FENCERS

12.02 that earthquake hit

Fences gone and tracks all slipped

A team of fencers of notable fame

All the way from Takaka generously came

Those fencing men travelled in style

Swags packed, here to stay for a while

They came with enthusiasm, a smile and good cheer

They came to help us... that earthquake hit here

November fourteen, twenty sixteen

Violent shaking, never before seen

The Seafront slumped ... water lines stuffed

The cleanup job had us all puffed

The work began; we’ll do what we can

With alkathene pipe, kilometres ran

Water connected, and the cattle now calm

The next job was fences, to dig up and down

There was Dave and Sandy, Luke and Mitch

A team working together and never a hitch

Fence lines dozed, and the posts now driven

That generous help was graciously given

Posts and battens and tiebacks too

Those men pulled wires with one eye on the view

The coastline had changed, and that seabed lifted

Those Takaka men, they were certainly gifted

They camped in the whare

Cooking roast beef and curry!

And now and again

dined with Derrick and Jane

Mashed spuds, peas and stew

And Fissy stayed too

Some beers and some laughter

And much poetry after

Fizzy and Sandy had stories to tell

Of their travels and antics way back from hell!

The banter of stories of common places

With recognition of so many old faces

Back home to Takaka for a weekend

Do all their washing and catch up with a friend

Then back they came to that old comfy shack

With a brand new picnic table tied on the back

Thank you all for being so kind

People like you are pretty hard to find!