09/09/2026
As the ripple effect of a loss like this reaches through a community, the last few days have felt surreal and heartbreaking for us, living directly opposite.
Hubby and I can’t help but sit with that feeling of wishing we had seen the signs, or noticed something months ago, just something.
As a mum to young children, my heart has been especially heavy watching a whānau, and especially his māmā, go through something no parent should ever have to face. Feeling helpless, but wanting to do so much.
But the beautiful thing about our valley is that when our people need us most, we come together. There is never a shortage of aroha, support and manaakitanga.
It really makes you realise how much we can take our people and our time with them for granted.
Wrapping so much aroha around the Kopa whānau. 🤍
I took this photo on Monday afternoon as the whānau sat below, and as everyone began to gather, a rainbow appeared. 🌈
Tino pouri.
Sending all our love and thoughts with the Kopa whānau through this devastating loss. 🤍