Ruapehu civil defence has been given $115,000 to build the capability and capacity of Ruapehu marae to self-manage and support the community in emergency events.
The funding from the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Resilience Fund Grant will be used to deliver a programme of NZQA accredited training aimed at enhancing the ability for marae to support emergency response efforts.
Ruapehu Emergency Management Officer Andy Chambers said that the marae resilience programme was developed with Fire Rescue First Response Ltd (FRFR) a specialist emergency management training company who operate the Civil Defence Training Centre in Taumarunui.
"The training will initially benefit 25 marae across Ruapehu that were identified following discussions with local iwi and hapū after Cyclone Gabrielle," he said.
"Our discussions looked at what marae were best placed to operate as civil defence welfare centres along with what was needed to lift the ability of iwi and hapū to support the community in a large-scale emergency event.
Together we identified the need for emergency response training covering the four stages of civil defence preparedness of reduction, readiness, response, and recovery.
By lifting the skills of iwi and hapū the training programme will provide a solid foundation for marae to have a greater role in emergency response planning and response."
Mr Chambers noted that the move to develop marae as welfare centers was influenced by a review of emergency management practices that identified the need to have designated, fully prepared facilities for such purposes.
"Many marae are ideal as welfare centres in rural areas due to their strategic locations and already being set-up for large groups of people.
These attributes enable them to effectively support emergency response and recovery efforts, providing a source of shelter, food, advice, and information within their communities," he said.
Horizons Manager Emergency Management Chay Hook said that the funding for the marae resilience training programme will help lift emergency response capability at a regional level.
"By developing the ability of marae to be welfare centers, we add depth to our regional emergency response infrastructure, ensuring a more resilient and prepared community.
Strengthening Māori skills and resources in this way fortifies the entire civil defence and emergency response system, benefiting all communities across the region," he said.
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