Under the Weather
Under the Weather
Podcast Description
Join Kristin on a journey through stories from Cyclone Gabrielle, NZ’s most widespread & costliest natural disaster. Survivors & rescuers from some of the worst-impacted communities in Hawke’s Bay, share their accounts of survival, courage, & resilience.
Kristin wasn’t directly affected, but has lived experience of the cyclone’s impact on her community. She’s not a journalist, broadcaster, or even a podcaster; just a local having open, authentic conversations. These interviews are informal & conversational. Some of the content may cause emotional distress. Listener discretion advised.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on narratives of survival, community resilience, and experiences surrounding Cyclone Gabrielle, with specific episodes covering harrowing stories from the Barber brothers and insights from military personnel involved in rescue efforts, highlighting themes of loss and recovery.
Stories from a cyclone of survival, loss and recovery. Real voices. Raw emotion. Lasting impact. What happens when unprecedented flooding consumes entire communities without warning? Under the Weather brings you the voices of survivors and rescuers from Cyclone Gabrielle. Host, Kristin Speers is not a journalist, just a local having authentic conversations with those deeply impacted by this disaster. Some content may be distressing. Listener discretion is advised.
Cam's rescue efforts are nearly sunk at the end of episode 9. How does he resurface?
⚠️ This episode may be distressing for some listeners. Loss of life and some harrowing escapes are covered in this episode.
We left Cam Taylor in deep water at the end of episode 9. Join him with Tara Taylor and Geoff Keighley for this final episode of S1 of UNDER THE WEATHER. Geoff and Cam are relentless in their efforts, rescuing nearly 200 people. Don't miss Part 2 of this incredible story as more rescues unfold and response becomes recovery.
With pilot Geoff Keighley, Cam is about to embark on one of the most challenging rescues of the day – but must haul himself out of trouble first. The day and the phenomenal rescues roll on and on until it gets dark.
Because of the failed comms, Tara has no way of knowing where or how Cam is. Around mid-afternoon, she receives a video from Geoff Keighley, and it takes her a few heart-stopping moments to understand what she’s seeing.
The end of the day brings them back together, and their recollections of this result in a highly entertaining recap of events. There are a few wardrobe malfunctions and a lot of laughter.
Geoff and Cam also have some incredible reunions with the people they’d rescued. Some of these were many months later at the Puketapu Pub. Known to locals as ‘The Puketap’, it was also flooded. Despite that, it played an integral role in community recovery.
When Cam and Geoff, along with many of those they'd rescued, attend its re-opening, there are some emotionally charged reunions. As the stories and drinks flow, Cam and Geoff begin to get a true perspective of how many lives they saved – more than they'd realised.
Geoff flies under the radar and gets the better of civil defence once more. Geoff Keighley – Two. Civil Defence – Zero! Cam andTara reflect on the enormous impact on Taylor Corp and the horticultural sector in general.
They also reflect on the personal costs as they continue to plough through a lengthy recovery process. Tara shares some powerful reflections on life and the shifting landscape of friendships in the wake of disaster.
Notes:
Hayden is the usual Taylor Corp pilot and was rescuing people by jet boat when Tara reached him on the morning of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Cam and Geoff aren’t 100% sure of the exact number of people they rescued. The numbers referred to in this episode of UNDER THE WEATHER are:
150 – this is the initial rescues of RSE workers from riverside accommodation blocks.
200 – their estimate of the total number of rescues (some months later) once they'd had time to process the events.
If you enjoyed listening to TAKING FLIGHT PART TWO, please take a moment to rate and review the episode. This ensures more people will discover these stories from Cyclone Gabrielle.
UNDER THE WEATHER has been featured on RNZ and Stuff. Links below to find out more:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360795376/devastation-healing-cyclone-gabrielles-untold-stories
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2019002009/tales-of-horror-and-heroism-in-cyclone-gabrielle-podcast
Chapters
00:00 Cam is in deep water
00:45 A difficult rescue
03:50 Noah’s Ark
06:15 Back on Sudley Farm
08:10 The Puketapu Pub
09:20 Kiwi hospitality
10:20 Tara
12:00 ‘That ain’t happening buddy’
13:50 A long day on their roof.
14:40 Cam is in a state.
19:15 Geoff’s out to lunch
20:30 Day 2 in Dartmoor
22:40 The beer fridge
23:45 No comms
26:00 Flying under the radar
28:40 Grounded
30:20 A bloody mess
32:00 Bumper to bumper
33:00 Fruitless
34:40 Limbo
36:00 Life or death
38:00 Old dogs, new tricks
38:40 A near miss for Napier
39:10 Trapped
40:10 Exit strategy
41:00 New connections and final reflections
45:10 Conclusion
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All Transcripts for Under the Weather are AI-generated.
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