Community Preparedness
When emergencies happen, it’s often our neighbours, local groups and marae who are first on the scene to help. That’s why community preparedness is such a vital part of emergency management in the Tararua District.
Tararua District Council works with communities across the district to develop Community Response Plans. These are locally driven plans that outline:
- The risks specific to your area (like flooding, isolation, or power outages)
- Key people and local resources that could help in an emergency
- Safe meeting places and local support networks
- How to stay connected with Civil Defence during a response
These plans empower communities to act quickly and confidently while help is on the way. They’re living documents – updated regularly with input from the community.
Tararua District Council supports local Civil Defence community groups by:
- Helping set up or refresh plans
- Providing training and resources
- Sharing hazard and emergency information
- Staying connected during activations and recovery
Civil Defence Community Groups have been established in multiple urban and rural areas across Tararua, including Dannevirke, Woodville, Pahiatua, Eketāhuna, Norsewood, Pongaroa, Ākitio, Herbertville, Alfredton, Weber, Makuri, Te Uri, Ormondville and Kumeroa.
Each hub is equipped with welfare supplies and essential gear. Five of these groups were created in response to Cyclone Gabrielle, with strong support from our recovery team, who have worked hard to get them up and running.
In a disaster, your neighbours are your first line of support. A resilient community is one where people:
- Check in on each other
- Share resources and information
- Know who might need extra help
- Work together during and after emergencies
We encourage residents to build relationships with their neighbours and local groups now — it could make a big difference later.
New Zealand ShakeOut
Whakahaumaru Aotearoa
New Zealand ShakeOut is our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (evacuation). ShakeOut takes place across the world to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake.
You can start the drill in whatever way works for you. All you need to do is:
- Drop, Cover and Hold for 60 seconds; and
- practice your evacuation if you are in a tsunami evacuation zone.
ShakeOut 2025 is happening on Thursday 16 October.
Local Competition for 2025
We’re proud to announce that we have teamed up with Mitre 10 Dannevirke and Mitre 10 Pahiatua for this year’s ShakeOut, with both businesses sponsoring a three-day, two-person emergency survival kit valued at $300.
Did you know you can purchase everything you need to build your own emergency survival kit from Mitre 10? Just head into a store near you and have a chat with the team. ShakeOut is the perfect opportunity to check your household or workplace emergency supplies and make sure you’re prepared.
To enter the draw:
Record your workplace, whānau, or classroom practising “Drop, Cover and Hold” and either email it to info@tararuadc.govt.nz or share it on Facebook using #ShareYourShake2025 (or tag @Tararua District Council so your entry can be found).
Practising these skills helps keep you and your whānau (family) safe, and this competition is a great way for everyone to get involved in New Zealand’s national earthquake drill.
Entries close at midnight on Friday 31 October 2025, so there’s plenty of time to practise your ShakeOut (even if you can’t do it on the official day).
