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Two more days till the New Year.
It's a time to celebrate
and also a time to remember what happened in the year that passed.
Natural disasters have featured frequently this year
and the most memorable is Christchurch earthquake.
Historic buildings were destroyed and 180 people lost their lives.
In March Japan also experienced an earthquake,
which was later followed by a devastating Tsunami.
The townships on the coastline were ravaged
and Maori families living there had first-hand experience.
Although no Maori were killed, the death toll climbed to over 15,000.
And in May, a surprise tornado came into the North Shore of Auckland.
Many buildings were damaged,
and a Filipino construction worker lost his life.
Then on to the disaster of the Rena ship
that leaked oil into the waters of Tauranga,
devastating the sea life in the area.
The impact of the disaster carries on into the new year.
And just before Christmas, earthquakes in Christchurch again.
No one was lost, but it did frighten a few locals.
Let's hope the natural disasters will settle down in the new year.
Te Hemara Rauhihi, Te Karere.