Editorial: No lack of help during a crisis | Bay of Plenty Opinion | Local Voices from Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Disaster brings out the best and worst in human nature.

Since disaster hit the Bay of Plenty nearly two weeks ago when the cargo ship Rena hit Astrolabe Reef, followed by a string of catastrophic consequences, we have certainly seen this.

While some people have criticised salvage efforts and response times from the comfort of their own homes, in general we have seen the very best sides of most.

The minute oil started spewing from Rena and lapping on to our shores, locals turned up in their droves to start the clean-up.

The number of volunteers now registered with the official clean-up team has reached a staggering 5000.

Over the weekend, more than 500 people were involved in clean-ups along the coastline.

In the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend we featured 18-year-old Sammy Griggs, who set up the Rena Kai Run to feed the dedicated volunteers.

Sammy was brought to tears by the generosity of locals and businesses who donated time and baked good to help her on her mission.

Her Facebook page has more than 500 likes, and according to her updates Sammy and her helpers have worked non-stop keeping the troops fed and watered.

Even after her car broke down there were offers of cars and more help.

This selfless act by someone so young gives hope that the Bay of Plenty will recover from this awful situation.

And Sammy is not the only one. Other groups such as Surfemme were at Tay St on Friday, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic lecturer Laurie Steer started a baking run and Larry's Tea House has completed at least four runs.

Yesterday afternoon the Big Smoke BBQ Company was serving up steak and sausage lunches with the help of several businesses who donated meat, fruit, chips, muesli bars, soda, water and prepacked lunch bags.

There are countless other locals and businesses generously giving of their time - whether it is offering services or technical skills to help with the clean-up, mucking in at the beach clean-up or feeding the workers.

The tales coming into the Bay of Plenty Times newsroom are heartwarming - long may they continue.

When this disaster will come to an end, no one knows, but as long as the community continues to work together there is hope that we will get through it.