Volunteers in New Zealand were recognised on 27 July for their relief and recovery efforts following severe flooding in Auckland and other parts of the country earlier this year.
Tagaloa Samuela received a certificate of recognition on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for its members' volunteer efforts after the flooding and cyclone events of January and February 2023.
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Tagaloa Samuela, Auckland communication director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receives recognition on 27 July 2023 for flood recovery efforts by Church volunteers.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Samuela—who, with his wife, Muriel, are the Church's Auckland communication directors—accepted the recognition from Paul Amaral, General Manager of Auckland Emergency Management.
At an event in August 2021, Tagaloa and Muriel Samuela helped to host leaders from several of Auckland’s religious communities in emergency and disaster preparedness workshops.
These relationships contributed to the rapid support and volunteer efforts of congregations from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the weather events of early 2023.
Church members worked with neighborhoods, community groups, and New Zealand's Civil Defence organisation, offering support to many who were impacted by heavy rain, strong winds and a cyclone over the period of several days in late January and early February.
Relief efforts took place in Auckland, Hawke's Bay and other parts of the country.
