A message from Anisha McPhee, Local Controller Waikato District Civil Defence
Recent severe weather across the Waikato region saw neighbouring districts including Ōtorohanga and Waipā declare States of Emergency. During this time, Waikato District Council deployed 35 trained staff to support both the Waikato regional coordination centre and the joint Ōtorohanga and Waipā Emergency Operations Centre, while maintaining readiness here at home.
Civil Defence is not a single district system. It operates as a coordinated regional and national network, designed to move skilled people to where they are needed most.
Our deployed staff filled specialist roles they are trained for, including:
- Welfare and community support
- Emergency planning and coordination
- Intelligence and situational awareness
- Logistics and resource coordination
- Public information and communications
- Operational response
- Building safety assessments
Deployments are carefully managed. Staff work in shifts, for defined periods, and there is depth in training so multiple people can step into key roles if required. Supporting neighbouring districts does not mean leaving our own communities unsupported.
At the same time, teams within Waikato District Council have been closely monitoring local conditions and working to protect essential infrastructure. This includes managing pressures on water supply, wastewater systems affected by flooding and downstream damage, access and impacts on our roads, ensuring our communities continue to receive safe and reliable services.
While council boundaries define our operational responsibilities, the impacts of severe weather are not confined by those lines. Many of our communities have deep connections to the Waikato and Waipaa Rivers and surrounding whenua. Flooding and land instability affect not only infrastructure, but the places, livelihoods and heritage that matter to whaanau.
Alongside council led operations, community and marae resilience plays a vital role. Across our district, 20 community groups have developed, or are developing, Community Response Plans to support neighbours during emergencies. Marae resilience planning is also in place across a number of marae, strengthening coordination with Civil Defence and partner agencies including Ministry of Social Development, Rural Support Trust and Here to Help U.
Across Maniapoto, Waipaa and throughout our own district, iwi and hapuu networks rallied in support of one another, reinforcing that resilience is grounded in community.
We’re always keen to work with more community groups and marae to support them to develop a plan for their community. To find out about whether a plan exists for your area, or to let us know that you’d like to lead a planning group, contact us via email info@waidc.govt.nz
For Waikato District, severe weather and flooding remain our most significant risks, particularly in low lying areas near rivers and locations vulnerable to surface flooding and land instability. Preparation and coordination matter.
When emergencies happen, you are not on your own. Councils, emergency services, agencies, communities and marae work together, and support flows across district boundaries to where it is needed most.
You can strengthen that response by:
- Downloading the MetService app and enabling weather notifications
- Having a household emergency plan and supplies for at least 72 hours
- Checking in on neighbours and sharing contact details in advance
Resilience is shared. When one district is hit, we all step up.
