Message from ADLS President Marie Dyhrberg KC

Ten days later we are still getting to grips with the level of damage wreaked by this storm and just how widespread the destruction has been

The catastrophe that Cyclone Gabrielle has left in its wake has thrown us into a state of shock. What we are seeing on the news, in photos and in stories we are hearing shows us how catastrophic the situation has been for so many people, not just professionally as practitioners but personally as well. Ten days later we are still getting to grips with the level of damage wreaked by this storm and just how widespread the destruction has been.

At the same time, we are also hearing stories of the most incredible heroic and selfless actions by so many people towards strangers. It reminds us that there’s a lot of humanity out there. New Zealanders have always reached out to help people in need and we at ADLS are here to help in any way we can.

Lawyers are not only dealing with the loss of their businesses. No doubt many of you are also dealing with family issues, traumatised children, supply chain problems with basics such as food, water and electricity, and feelings of utter helplessness. It’s catastrophic on a scale that many who did not live through Cyclone Bola in 1988 have never experienced before.

Those of us who were physically untouched by this storm may feel we should all be doing more to help, and people will respond in whatever way they can. There is a long road ahead but there’s not a moment that goes by that we’re not feeling on a very personal level for the devastation and the suffering of affected practitioners, their whanau, their friends and their communities.

In the initial days after the Christchurch earthquakes – 12 years ago this week – all we could really do was donate to the wellestablished organisations which were co-ordinating the rescue efforts. That’s where we are right now – in very early rescue mode and donations to the Red Cross and other relief organisations are very welcome.

Once we reach the recovery phase, there’s a lot more we can do to help fellow practitioners in a more practical way – for example, by offering them a spare room or some of our case load once they’re in a position to work again.

In the meantime, we’re receptive to ideas. Contact us and if we can do something pragmatic, we will. But right now we need to recover and take things day-by-day or even hour-by-hour.

It’s important that people know that they’re not forgotten. We understand the feelings of distress and the personal toll this is taking on practitioners. And as with Christchurch, over the long-term we will be there to help as best we can in a practical and meaningful way. You will not be forgotten. ■