Mike Alexander joins me in this episode. Mike is a Muriwai resident who is based in Auckland city during the week. He is a partner in an Auckland law firm, Heimsath Alexander, which helped with the formation of a charitable trust to coordinate and distribute financial donations after Cyclone Gabrielle.

Mike explains the process of setting up this trust, receiving and administering funds, registering the trust, finding a chairperson and trustees, getting it approved as a charity with the IRD, communicating with the community, creating a website, identifying the people in need, creating a workable assessment model, distributing the funds, preserving funds, verifying people and bank accounts, criteria to be eligible for grants, working with other community leaders, and working with an accountant firm.

Mike describes the goals for this trust and where the trust is now 3 years on.

Precipice launched on July 20th 2026. 3 seasons will be released across 4 weeks and then the full series of 26 episodes will be available for you to listen to at your leisure.

Season 1: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai

Season 2: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration

Season 3: Community Initiatives after a Cyclone

Listen on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@precipicepodcast

Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/precipicepodcast

Hosted and produced by Mandy Jakich. Commissioned and funded by Muriwai Community Association, supported by the Auckland Council Recovery Office.