Nelson Tasman Emergency Management seeks strong partnership with iwi

Thursday, 29 July 2021

Flooding this week affected Higgins Rd, near Brightwater.

Iwi will be invited to nominate a representative to attend meetings of the Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Group (CDEM).

Group members agreed to the move at a meeting this week.

The Nelson Tasman CDEM group is a partnership between Nelson City and Tasman District councils as well as key agencies including police, Fire and Emergency NZ, St John, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board and the Ministry of Social Development.

CDEM manager of emergency management Joe Kennedy said a partnership with iwi was sought at governance, strategic and operational levels.

Nelson Tasman CDEM manager of emergency management Joe Kennedy says good progress has been made towards building strong and genuine partnerships with iwi.

A section of Waimea West Rd was closed this week, due to flooding.

The swollen Motueka River rose to heights in July 2021 that local residents had not seen in years. Video first published in July 2021.

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“We would like iwi involved as partners right from the start,” Kennedy said.

In a report on the matter, Kennedy says that following a commitment to progress the recommendations arising from the Covid-19 debrief hui in October 2020, “we are pleased to advise that the Emergency Management Office has made good progress and continues to work towards building strong and genuine partnerships with iwi”.

“At the time of writing, Emergency Management Office staff have commenced meetings with iwi general managers and intend to visit all regional marae prior to the end of December 2021,” Kennedy says in the report.

“Discussions have also been held with the kaihautū (leader) at both councils regarding a cultural review of Nelson Tasman Emergency Management.”

In 2019, the multi-agency response to the Tasman fires won a Service Excellence Award in the Public Service Commission’s Spirit of Service Awards. The citation for the award says the response to the fires “transformed relationships between eight Te Tau Ihu (top of the south) iwi, councils, and government agencies in the region, and changed the way iwi are included in emergency centre operations and decision-making across New Zealand”.

The Nelson Tasman CDEM team partially activated on July 17-18 when heavy rain fell across the region.