Get to know your neighbours at community emergency hubs
Waiamakariri District Council media release: 27th January 2025
Our Civil Defence Emergency Management team continues to strengthen Waimakariri’s emergency readiness, with four new community emergency hubs opening in February.
Sefton Hall, Kaiapoi North School, Kaiapoi Borough School, and Te Matauru School have been added to the list as gathering points for neighbours to help each other in a major civil defence emergency.
Civil Defence Emergency Management Advisor Dean Eades says during an event like a big earthquake, emergency services will be tied up dealing with the most urgent matters.
“So, there will be a period when neighbours will need to work together to support each other and offer resources locally.”
Each hub has a small amount of equipment including a Hub Guide, a VHF radio, stationery and maps. The Hub Guide gives step by step instructions on how to open up and run a hub, and the roles that can be allocated to people for as long as the community emergency hub is needed.
Each of the four locations will be officially marked as community emergency hubs with a joint emergency services event. Locals will have the chance to talk with people from Civil Defence, NZRT-12, Hato Hone St John, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), and Neighbourhood Support North Canterbury. Rural Support Trust will be at the event in Sefton.
North Canterbury Neighbourhood Support Manager Dalice Stewart, who has been supporting the establishment of hubs in recent months, emphasizes the importance of getting to know your neighbours.
“Your neighbours should be the first people you check on during an event. So, we’re all about making sure you know your neighbours before an event happens – they’re the ones who are generally there to help you first before the crews can come in.”
FENZ Community Readiness Advisor Kerri Pring says that with the increase of adverse events such as wildfires, people need to be really prepared for these events.
“We can obviously help people prepare but when it comes down to it, people need to look after themselves and get themselves to somewhere safe. That’s what the community hubs are set up for.”
The first event is on Sunday 2nd February at Sefton Hall and will include a fire engine, CPR demonstrations, and a “shaky house” earthquake simulator where people can test their ‘drop, cover, hold’ technique.
Details of Emergency community hub events
- Sunday 2nd February: Sefton Hall (1 to 3pm);
- Tuesday 4th February: Kaiapoi North School (3 to 5pm);
- Friday 14th February: Kaiapoi Borough School (10am to noon);
- Friday 21st February: Te Matauru School (5 to 6.30pm).