It was a chilly morning high on Christchurch's Port Hills, but all around were reminders of when conditions were burning hot — charred earth, burnt bushes and, on a property, three blackened shipping containers, their contents turned to ash.
The property is home to John Joseph, a spritely 86-year-old determined to "keep looking forward". To look back would recall memories of how close he's come to losing it all, first in the fires of 2017 and again in mid-February 2024.
While his home was untouched on both occasions, three shipping containers, two of which he was using for storage and one as an occasional sleepout for his granddaughter, were burnt out, and most of the contents were destroyed.
When Taskforce Kiwi founder Richard Adams heard Joseph needed help to clean up in the fire's aftermath, he and his team swung into action.
Joseph was grateful to host them. "You need an organised team," he said.
Around a dozen volunteers gathered at the property to help clear the containers and remove burnt vegetation.
Many of the volunteers who turned up to help in the Port Hills currently work in emergency services, including an ambulance paramedic and a deputy chief fire officer.
Taskforce Kiwi was established in 2002 as a veteran-led disaster relief charity. Adams, who served with the British army, had seen similar teams in action worldwide and, in the aftermath of the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan, felt a desire to get stuck into helping where he could.
"I spent time in Afghanistan, and in 2021, when Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, it was a bit of a punch in the guts, really," explained Adams. "It was a grieving process... and I felt a bit of a failure."
In just two years, Adams has secured funding and sponsorship (although more is needed) and assembled a volunteer unit of 480 caring Kiwis who can respond quickly to disaster relief efforts domestically and worldwide.
Paul Hart is a Taskforce Kiwi volunteer from Naseby. Last year, Hart travelled to help in the aftermath of the devastating Nova Scotia wildfires, which burned through 20,000 hectares and destroyed 200 homes.
His work on the Port Hills was similar — sifting through burnt remains to find items of value for the homeowner.
"I just want to... help people," said Hart. "These people have had a pretty hard time lately."
Hart holds down a full-time job, as do most of the Taskforce Kiwi volunteers Seven Sharp approached.
Adams also works full-time beyond the demands of heading Taskforce Kiwi. "This is very much a very aggressive hobby, I suppose."
Volunteer Shane Turner, whose first Taskforce Kiwi deployment was at the Port Hills property, said if people have skills and an ability to serve, they should.
"Just get out there and help. If this man's smiling because you're here, that makes it all worth it."
Joseph smiled as he watched the volunteer army fill a skip with damaged household items and wheelbarrows full of ash.
"This is fantastic these people coming in," he said.
"I couldn't speak more highly of what they've already done."
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