Coromandel gets its fair share of storms. Annually it averages 3550mm of expected rain. Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp is used to heavy rain and had experienced some flooding on the property, but nothing prepared them for the ferocity of the July storm in 1978.
That year, drenching rain and a howling wind took off the roof of the girl's dormitory, splitting the purlins and rafters lengthways causing $4,400 worth of damage. Fences were washed away, and serious erosion transpired. This meant countless hours of remedial labour.
In April 1981, torrential rain and high winds struck the Thames-Coromandel area and inland to Paeroa. Paeroa and Thames suffered considerable flooding and over 2000 people were evacuated during the event. A Civil Defence emergency was declared in the Paeroa Borough and Ohinemuri County and the Thames-Coromandel area. At camp, flood water covered the lower fields in silt, up to a few centimetres from the top of the fence posts. People from the assemblies came and cleared the fields of rubble, stones, kauri logs, and fencing wire.
Another weather event brought heavy rain that caused the Kauaeranga River to flow onto the road which then flowed off the road down into camp, covering the lawn and finishing up in the workshop at a depth of 200mm. Sadly, the waters covered the rabbit cages, and several furry friends were lost.
Devastation came in July 2008 when the $400,000-week-old gymnasium was destroyed along with the camp office and manager’s accommodation. The storm lifted the entire gymnasium off its foundations just metres from the cafeteria where 50 campers and staff huddled through the five-hour storm. It took many volunteers working for the next four months to get the camp ready to host guests again. Gratefully, the gymnasium was insured which guaranteed a rebuild.
In June 2022 Coromandel endured a ‘weather bomb’ which led to extensive flooding and during January 2023, Cyclone Hale dumped five months of rain in the short space of 11 days.
Saturation levels were unprecedented. Then in October ex-Tropical Cyclone Lola swirled its way into the region, making it the fifth severe weather event in the Coromandel that year.
Through all these storms, the staff at Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp have endured and persevered. The Lord encouraged them with God’s people rallying to assist with repairs and supplies to rise again. We salute their resilience and faithfulness. They are true servants who say; ‘When the storm has swept by….the righteous stand firm forever’ (Proverbs 10:25).
