Community Hubs

Rural Isolated Hubs

Tararua District Council secured $250,000 in funding to strengthen resilience across eight of the district’s most isolated communities: Weber, Herbertville, Akitio, Te Uri, Pongaroa, Kumeroa, Alfredton, and Makuri. The initiative focused on enhancing self-sufficiency by upgrading local halls and equipping them with essential resources to function as community hubs during emergencies or adverse weather events.

Each hub received tailored support in the form of Civil Defence equipment, generators, and critical hall repairs or upgrades to ensure the venues could serve as safe, functional gathering points in times of crisis. Deliveries of key items including resilience boxes, chainsaws, and communication tools such as detailed local maps were made to each community Civil Defence group, strengthening their ability to act quickly and independently if external support is delayed.
The project placed a strong emphasis on community involvement and local economic benefit. Where possible, materials and services were sourced locally, supporting district businesses and ensuring local familiarity with the equipment stationed in each community.

Recognising that equipment alone isn’t enough, training and capability-building were integral to the project’s success. In February, formal training sessions were delivered to each Civil Defence group. One representative from each of the eight communities completed a fully funded one-day chainsaw safety and usage course, a key priority identified during earlier needs assessments. The course covered both theory and practical application, with each participant receiving a new STIHL chainsaw and a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in their community. On-farm first aid courses were also provided to strengthen practical response capability.

These upgrades and training initiatives ensure isolated communities in the Tararua District are better positioned to manage future emergencies, maintain access routes, and support one another in times of need. By investing in both infrastructure and people, the project has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to local resilience and preparedness.

Urban Hubs

As part of its ongoing commitment to building community resilience, Tararua District Council has established five urban community hubs across Eketāhuna, Pahiatua, Woodville, Ormondville, and Norsewood. Supported by a $150,000 funding variation from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), the project equipped each site to operate as a Civil Defence welfare centre in the event of an emergency.

Each hub has been outfitted with critical infrastructure and supplies to support their community during a crisis. Generators have been installed at all five sites to ensure power continuity during outages. Complementary preparedness items—including cooking and heating equipment, fuel containers, AEDs, battery clamps, and portable aerials for Civil Defence radio communications—were also provided.

To support effective coordination and welfare operations, administrative supplies and stationery were delivered to each hub, ensuring local responders and volunteers can operate efficiently when normal systems are disrupted.

This investment strengthens the district’s ability to respond quickly and effectively in emergencies, reducing reliance on external assistance and empowering communities to care for themselves and each other. By embedding capability within each township, Council is ensuring people have access to power, communication, medical response tools, and coordinated support—right within their own communities. These hubs will play a critical role in future emergency responses, helping to keep people safe, informed, and connected when it matters most.