Mt Maunganui.
A place of beauty, meaning, and connection for so many.
Today, the maunga carries a scar, a visible reminder of the fragility of our whenua.
That scar also speaks to something deeper.
The fragility of life.
Most of us feel the pain and loss of the families involved.
We grieve with them. We hold space for them.
The response teams have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly - with care, professionalism and heart - to return those lost to their loved ones.
This afternoon, I spent time running workshops with leaders from Tauranga City Council.
They are hurting too. Hurting for the lives lost. Hurting for the families.
Hurting as they see the strain and exhaustion in their people.
And yes, hurting from the extreme rhetoric being directed at Council.
The reality is this: people who work in councils care deeply.
They have big hearts.
They show up every day to serve their communities.
When a small sector of the community redirects their pain and anger toward Council, it is unwanted, unnecessary, and it causes harm.
Before posting, please pause.
You might be hurting too.
And while it helps explain behaviour, we must remember, hurt people may hurt people. But that doesn’t make it right.
Let compassion lead.
The photo is a view of the mountain from the council meal room, a daily reminder of the pain felt by many.