Papakura Local Board has endorsed a draft disaster resilience plan.
The community-led plan was drafted after street activation and training projects funded by Auckland Council’s Resilient Tāmaki Makaurau.
Among the objectives are:
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understanding local hazards and the level of risk they pose
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effective ways of communicating for readiness and response
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preparing to cope in an emergency, especially for those who depend on others
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ensuring people know the warning signals to evacuate and where to go.
Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole acknowledged participants for their commitment and says a leadership group will be formed.
“The priorities will be to finalise and start implementing the plan, create a communications strategy, and to confirm and develop emergency hubs.
“The draft prioritises a community-led approach, Māori participation and partnership, and fostering stronger connections.”
He says disasters are not a matter of if, not when.
“We must reach a point where communities can help themselves. Council will play a part, but the first reaction is always going to be in our homes and streets. If you saw your neighbour in trouble, you wouldn’t call council, you’d rush to help them yourself.”
He says volunteers, neighbours, community groups and businesses and organisations have begun coming together, and plans were being put in place to widen those efforts.
“We have all seen that when disaster strikes, the community responds, and that can include faith-based organisations, volunteer groups, marae, neighbourhood support and sports clubs.
“Clearly emergency services co-ordinate activities but they can prioritise their response more effectively if communities can support themselves. We encourage people to come together to prepare for emergencies, and we’ll do everything we can to support the leadership group.”
Catchpole says Papakura Marae, Ngāti Tamaoho, and other iwi mana whenua have already taken an active role and were encouraging other groups to become involved.
“The plan can’t be the board’s or anyone else’s. It has to be owned by the community.”
The plan includes roles for those who can commit time or resources and seeks to embed community members into networks, with Auckland Emergency Management training offered.
Workshop sessions have already been held, with more than 60 people participating from a range of organisations. At the most recent session, moves were made to hand the plan over to people who expressed a willingness to take on a leadership role.
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