An Auckland man has been facing an "extraordinarily rough time" coming to grips with losing four family members and one close family friend in nine weeks during New Zealand's first lockdown.
The man, who asked not to be named, has opened up about the emotional toll the deaths have taken as alert level 4 restrictions through March and April prevented him from attending most of the funerals or visit with relatives to grieve.
The 46-year-old lost his uncle, brother-in-law, his other brother-in-law's dad, his grand aunt and a close family friend.
"A couple of days into the lockdown my uncle, who's been living in this neighbourhood for almost 55 years, died," he told Newshub. "I couldn't attend his funeral or see my aunty at that level 4 stage, so, yeah, that was quite rough."
Another "unexpected and traumatic" death followed soon after when his brother-in-law died suddenly a couple of weeks later.
"He was almost 45 and he left three young kids behind," he said. "Because he lives alone, I think that (COVID-19) exacerbated whatever underlying serious issue that he had. In my books, he's kind of a COVID casualty to be honest, even though it had nothing per se to do with the virus.
"So we buried him and then my other brother-in-law's dad died two days later."
Subsequently, his mother's aunty and his close family friend passed away.
Living alone over lockdown, one of the only things that consoled him was visiting the grove of native trees 50 metres from his door.
"There were bubble restrictions so I didn't have too much personal interaction at that level 4 time and then obviously there were a lot of traumatic experiences that went down for us which were unpleasant at the best of times." he said.
The area offered him a place of solace while trying to move forward, so he was absolutely gutted to find out that the death of his family had been followed by the death of over half of his precious trees in July, with the other half facing felling soon.
"It was an extraordinarily rough time in my life and I came to this group of trees cause it was all intact at that stage. It would centre me. They were all unexpected deaths, so those trees really were a lifeline to me," he said.
"They helped me get through some really hard times and I'm just so, so grateful that I had the opportunity to enjoy them, to rely on them and lean on them at that time. A lot of the time I would go twice a day.
"They were like a light to me in a dark period of my life. It's a real green oasis, it's a zone of calm and it's just quite a beautiful grove of native trees that I appreciate daily."
Despite ongoing protests at the Canal Road grove, which is situated on the private property in Avondale that has been sold for development, the remaining trees are still under threat of felling.
He said that he wasn't sure how he would feel about staying in this neighbourhood if the trees go.
"I'd lose a part of myself," he said. "It would be tough to see four or five storeys of how many apartments up here in its place. I don't know if I could handle that. I'd very possibly move out."
Although it has been heartbreaking seeing the trees cut down, he has found it "exceptional" how the community has come together to fight against the developers.
"The vast majority of us aren't activists. We're just normal citizens, community members.
"I've forged so many relationships with so many diverse people that I've got to know a lot of the community through people I would never have met before; I'm sure I'll have some lifelong friends from here."
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
