A boy goes through a tree torn in front of the Miami Beach Surf Surf Lifesaving Club after the Alfred cyclone on the Gold Coast on March 8, 2025.
Photo: David Gray / AFP
A New Zealander who lives in Brisbane says last week was long, stressful and induced anxiety as she crouched at home and waited for the cycle.
Sophia Ducker-Jones, who lives in New Farm, said she and her apartment colleagues bought the last remaining cans of beans and tuna from the local supermarket last Sunday, filled the water bath and commissioned their power banks.
“We were very well prepared, and then became a waiting game that was inducing anxiety about itself, as I worked at home and tried to do a one week job in a few days because you just don’t know if the cyclone will arrive that day and when we lose the power.”
Ducker-Jones said on Friday night that the winds were strong and horrendous, but on Saturday it rained a lot.
She said she felt very lucky that she didn’t lose power, but all her friends had.
“So, I offered everyone, as if they need a stove to use, they are well – but they are simple things as if they had tried to come and then their garage does not open – you forget how much power uses.”
A lifeguard tower is surrounded by water on the main beach, which was damaged by record waves caused by the outer margin of the Alfred Tropical Cyclone on the Gold Coast on March 7.
Photo: AFP/David Gray
While on the gold coast, Bree-Arna Harris told RNZ that the sky was “electric blue” overnight.
“All the neighborhoods around us have lost power,” she said.
Harris added that the supermarkets were “chaos.”
“Without milk, no eggs, bread, toilet paper. It looks like covid all over again.”
And although Harris said that there was not much panic about now former tropical Cyclone Alfred, she said there was a lot of “stupid curiosity.”
“People are just endangering each other to see all the damage.”
A damaged house is portrayed after a tree torn by strong winds collided with the structure in Elanora’s suburb when the Alfred cyclone passed near the Gold Coast on March 8, 2025.
Photo: AFP/David Gray
Stephanie Grech was not as lucky as Harris and had lost his energy last night.
“We still have no energy. Many houses on the gold coast have no energy, but we were lucky to buy a generator.”
Grech said there was a lot of rain on the gold coast at night.
“Today is not so bad. We still have tight gusts and rain, but it is a lighter rain, so not as bad as last night.”
A damaged yacht that was swept by the waves rests in Point Danger, in the southern end of the Gold Coast on March 7, 2025.
Photo: David Gray / AFP
However, there was a silver lining for Grech, who said she managed to spend some quality time with her Whānau – and had a barbecue at breakfast.
“In fact, it’s been very good – there was no wi -i or internet, so they weren’t on their devices – they really came out with us.”
While north of Noosa, Steven Field – who moved from Dunedin in January – said Alfred was amazing.
“To be sincere, the cyclone did not reach naosa.
“I mean, we had some strong gusts, but without all these articles and other things, you would not have thought anything about it.”
New Zealand for rescue
New Zealand’s fire and emergence confirmed that he had received a request for support from the Queensland State Government, and national deputy commander Brendan Nally said the fire and emergency planned planned an urban search and rescue team (use) for the state.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters had said in X more than 60 users would be going.
Also in X, Defense Minister Judith Collins said the defense force would guarantee that New Zealand people could reach Queensland to help.
Emojis and hashtags in the display of solidarity
New Zealand’s offer was not only announced in Australia on social media, but both foreign minister and defense emphasized our special relationship with a demonstration of digital expressions.
Peters has chosen an emoji of gold squeeze – a symbol according to, congratulations, making a deal, but also by representing two groups of people or individuals who are different but can share something similar. He also marked his Australian colleague, Senator Penny Wong.
Meanwhile, Collins had signed his post #workingtogether.
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