WATCH: Dutch tourist moved to tears after Te Araroa marae saves him from floods

What started as a holiday mishap quickly turned into something far more powerful for Dutch tourists Sjaak van Unnik and his wife Hessel Mulder.

After being rescued from their campsite in Te Araroa following the devastating floods that ripped through the region nearly two weeks ago, the couple were left with just a few bags.

Amid the devastating weather event, the pair were shown a huge amount of aroha from the nearby Hinerupe Marae - something Sjaak says he and his wife are extremely grateful for.

In an interview with Te Karere, Sjaak became emotional reflecting on the kindness during his time at the marae, calling it “a really good experience,” despite the terrifying circumstances.

“I couldn’t see anything, and the next morning, when there was light, the whole campsite had changed into a river,” he recalled.

It was the couple’s first time staying at a marae, and for Sjaak, it was a side of Aotearoa he’d never experienced before.

“I know Māori people, but never like this,” he said.

 The couple were quickly welcomed to the whānau, even gaining a few aunties along the way.

“We were treated like kings,” he shared. “We’re part of the family.”

Sjaak was proud to share that he had been given his Māori name - Hākopa - during their stay.

Kiwis have jumped in the comments of Te Karere’s Instagram post to praise the marae for their care and the couple for embracing their experience at Hinerupe.

“Aww, this is beautiful. Made me teary,” one person wrote. “This is my Nanny's marae. What a gift to see this story today and to see the care and kindness these guests got to experience.”

Another said: “They weren't treated ‘like kings’, they were treated like people who are cared for, they were treated like family, whānau.” Exactly the Aotearoa way.

“I love that he’s proud of his ingoa Māori [name] 💗,” added a third.

It’s just another great example of how, in the middle of chaos, showing up and sharing a bit of aroha goes a very long way.