MHF’s post-cyclone wellbeing research

Through its disaster recovery programme All Sorts, the Mental Health Foundation has commissioned a research project to get a snapshot of community wellbeing a year on from Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events of 2023. The research is being undertaken by Napier-based organisation SIL Research.

The goal is to gain insight into the nature of the post-disaster recovery experience, looking closely at mental wellbeing and distress, and identify areas for action to support recovery. While the research is still ongoing, the preliminary results with a particular focus on Te-Matau-a-Māui Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Gisborne are now available.

Over 60% of the participants from Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne reported negative impacts, and more than one third across all areas felt their lives had worsened after the extreme weather events.The predominant (unprompted) cyclone impact was mental/emotional stress. Community support, unity, and neighbourly help were identified as the most beneficial factors during the extreme weather events.

Two reports were produced:

• 2023-24 Community Wellbeing North Island Weather Events/Cyclone Gabrielle focus
• 2023-24 Community Wellbeing North Island WeatherEvents/Cyclone Gabrielle focus - Māori respondents overview