Civil Defence

Te Rakau Whakamarumaru

Civil Defence is about keeping people safe before, during, and after emergencies.

The Waikato District Council works with emergency services, the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group, community groups, and national agencies to help our community get ready for things like storms, floods, earthquakes, and other hazards. We plan ahead, support and lead emergency responses, and support communities to recover.

Emergencies can happen anywhere, but the types of risks we face depend on where we live. In the Waikato District, we’re exposed to a range of hazards - from flooding and severe storms to human pandemics, earthquakes and fires. Understanding these risks is the first step in getting prepared.

Coastal communities may be more affected by storms and erosion, while low-lying areas face a greater chance of flooding. By knowing the hazards that could impact you, your family, or your business, you can take steps to stay safe and recover faster following an emergency. Below, we’ll take a closer look at some of the key hazards we face in the Waikato District and how they can affect us. For a comprehensive summary of hazards and their consequences, please refer to the Waikato CDEM Group Hazard Summaries document.

Severe weather can happen any time of the year. It can bring strong winds, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, tornadoes and rough seas. This can result in coastal erosion, flooding (river and surface water) and landslides. As the climate changes, our district will face more frequent and intense severe weather events.

MetService is the best source of information regarding severe weather. To understand your risk of flooding at the property level, check out the Waikato Regional Council Hazard Portal.

All of New Zealand is at risk of earthquakes, including the Waikato District. There are many known faults that could cause significant damage in the district, such as the Kerepehi Fault and faults further away like the Hikurangi Subduction Zone (offshore from the east coast of New Zealand). Earthquake shaking can cause other hazards, including tsunami, liquefaction, landslides and rockfall. Remember, in an earthquake: Stop, Drop and Cover.

Earthquake reports on GeoNet are measured using the Mercalli scale - this tells us how an earthquake may affect people and buildings. Faults and liquefaction mapping can be viewed through the Waikato Regional Council Hazard Portal.

All of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami. A tsunami is a series of powerful waves with strong current. They can be caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide or even a meteorite impact. They can travel many thousands of km's across the oceans at speeds of up to 800km/hour. Knowing the warning signs and the right action to take can help save lives. Remember: If it's long OR strong, Get Gone. Don't wait for an official message. Get to high ground or move inland.

All of our District can be affected by tsunami. To view tsunami inundation zones and safe zones please visit the Waikato Regional Council Hazard Portal.

The Waikato District has a large rural sector including farming (e.g. dairy and poultry farming), forestry and horticulture. An animal pest or disease outbreak is when a virus or pest spreads throughout an animal population across a large region.

Many of the major animal diseases are not present in New Zealand due to its strict biosecurity. However, in recent times the dairy industry has dealt with M-Bovis outbreaks in cattle and there have been several other minor outbreaks since 2000 (Parrot Pox (birds), Brucella suis (Pigs) and Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (pigs)). More information about animal disease can be found on the The Ministry for Primary Industries website.

A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region. The most recent pandemic to impact New Zealand is COVID-19. Several other events have impacted New Zealand in the past, including the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic.

Now we know our risk, let's make a plan to get through the next emergency.

Tsunami Hiikoi

A Tsunami Hīkoi is a practice walk along your tsunami evacuation route, helping you learn the safest and quickest way to reach higher ground. It’s especially important for coastal communities to know their route before a real emergency happens. Walking your route with whaanau, school groups, or workmates builds confidence and could save lives.

Don’t wait for the warning — know where to go! Plan your route and join your community in the next Tsunami Hiikoi.

Shakeout

ShakeOut is New Zealand’s national earthquake drill, held every year to help us all practice what to do when an earthquake hits. Drop, Cover, and Hold. It’s a simple action that can make a big difference in staying safe during an earthquake. Schools, businesses, households, and organisations across the country take part every year.

In an emergency, your strongest support often comes from those nearby. Building connections with your neighbours helps everyone stay safer, respond faster, and recover together when the unexpected happens. Here are some easy ways to connect:

Know your neighbours

Strong relationships with your community and neighbours become essential when faced with an emergency. Neighbours who know and trust each other can quickly share resources, check on vulnerable individuals and coordinate support. These connections create a resilient network that can act fast, communicate effectively, and provide mutual aid, helping everyone stay safer and recover faster. A connected community is a stronger, more prepared one. Connect into your local neighbourhood support group, join a local sports team or club, and become more connected today.

Community response groups

Community Response Groups (CRGs) are local groups made up of volunteers who support their community before, during, and after an emergency event. Their actions during an emergency event are guided by their Community Response Plan (CRP). Community Response Groups are most commonly defined by geographic areas, such as a townships and settlements. Although CRGs are community-led, they receive specialist advice, development and support from the Waikato District Council (WDC) Emergency Management team. There are currently CRGs in; Eureka, Gordonton/Whitikahu, Naike/Glen Murray, Wairamarama, Onewhero, Pookeno, Pukekawa, Port Waikato, Raglan, Tamahere, Te Kauwhata, Te Kowhai / Whatawhata, and Tuakau.

View the Community Response Group Framework to learn more about what's involved, and contact civildefence@waidc.govt.nz to start or join a CRG today.

Marae resilience

We're working collaboratively with marae and the agencies who support communities during emergencies to coordinate a framework that will allow whaanau to build capacity, increase preparedness and improve resources. The approach is whaanau-centred, community-led and government-enabled kaupapa.

Learn more and connect into marae resilience mahi.

In an emergency

Get the latest information in an emergency fromthis website and our Facebook page. A list of radio frequencies to tune into can also be found here.

Community support agencies

Here to help u’ is a community-led solution that makes getting the right help, at the right time, easy. The website enables you to access a wide range of free support by simply submitting one help request online. It’s quick. It’s convenient. It’s help made easy...no judgement, no barriers, and no unnecessary complexity. Visit www.heretohelpu.nz.
Citizens Advice Bureau have created a directory of over 35,000 local services and organisations. You can search the directory by typing what you are looking for in the search box and can filter the search results to services and organisations from a particular area, e.g. health support Huntly. Visit www.cab.org.nz to learn more.
Helpline services are available right now in New Zealand that offer support, information and help for you and your parents, family, whaanau and friends. All the services listed on www.mentalhealth.org.nz are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless otherwise specified.