A diverse group of locals have formed the Wesley and Roskill Recovery Leadership Rōpū (group) and are working together to make sure storm-affected communities in Mt Roskill and Wesley not only recover but thrive.
In January and February 2023 communities across Mt Roskill and Wesley were impacted by flooding, with hundreds of properties affected including owner-occupied, tenanted and Kāinga Ora homes. The most affected neighbourhoods were around the Oakley Creek which runs through the War Memorial Park in Welsey, and under Dominion Road toward Mt Roskill Grammar School.
More than 170 homes have registered to receive a future risk category from Auckland Council, with all categorisations due to be completed in the next few months. So far, 49 homes have received a Category 3 status, indicating they have a serious risk to life from future storms. These homeowners qualify for a council buy-out, allowing them to move out of harm’s way.
With these buy-outs underway and long-term flood mitigation plans in development, Mt Roskill and Wesley will look different in the years ahead. Some homes will be removed, and open spaces or new flood management areas may replace them. While most affected residents have repaired their homes and moved forward, others face difficult decisions about their future.
Nik Naidu from the Whānau Community Hub at a Welsy Community event talking recovery with locals
Community at the centre of planning for the future
Wesley and Mt Roskill are home to one of Auckland’s most ethnically diverse populations, and the area’s cultural richness has been a defining strength in its recovery, with different communities stepping up to support each other.
Recognising the scale of change ahead, the Wesley and Mt Roskill Recovery Leadership Rōpū has come together with the support of the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office to ensure local voices shape decisions about the future of the area.
The group includes residents from a wide range of ethnic, linguistic, and faith backgrounds, including homeowners, private renters, Kāinga Ora tenants and community leaders. Their focus is on ensuring communities lead their own recovery and influence the changes ahead.
“This isn’t just about recovering from the past - it’s about shaping our future,” says Nik Naidu, Founder of the Whānau Community Centre & Hub.
“It’s about our community leading their own recovery. We want to know about what the immediate needs are while creating a long-term vision for our own neighbourhoods. Our aim is that people feel recovered and are doing better than they were, we hope, before the flooding.”
L-R: Sevai Tolovae, Sasikala Syed Niyamathullah, Kirsten Cant, Kaaren Goodall, Zakir Shaikh, Nik Naidu, Roosandee Edirisinghe, David Mitchell, Richard Barter, Eve McLoughlin
Something for everyone
With the rōpū engaging across the community, there will be plenty of opportunities to help shape the local recovery plan. To ensure language is not a barrier, a community workshop will be delivered in eight different languages, reflecting the diversity of Wesley and Roskill’s communities.
Over the next few months, seven different local groups will host community-led events to gather input and strengthen connections, including a music festival, youth sports day, street-based chats, primary school workshops, an ethnic communities’ festival and community picnics.
Richard Barter, ARK (Acts of Roskill Kindness Trust) Coordinator, also sits on the Rōpū and says part of the job is assessing how the community is feeling about their recovery from the storms.
“This dynamic group of leaders have all played a part in supporting those affected by the floods,” says Richard.
“We are fortunate to have the resources to help us engage with the community, so that we can discover where they are in their recovery journey, and what it’s going to take for them to feel safe in the future.”
If you’d like to get involved, find out about events, or have your say, email Heather at thecommunitycollectivenz@gmail.com.
Community recovery planning in action
