One of the Hastings district's smallest communities will celebrate the first birthday of its emergency management group this weekend.
The Maraekakaho Civil Defence emergency group has been in place for just over 12 months and now has more than 30 volunteers.
Over half of the group have been trained to staff the emergency centre and are also proficient in administering first aid. A further 10 volunteers have completed a certificate in managing an emergency centre.
The Maraekakaho emergency group also covers the nearby areas of Kereru, Raukawa, Torran and Te Onepu and complements the rural fire group which was formed in 2008.
Hastings district councillor Mick Lester, who lives in the Maraekakaho district, said without the commitment of civil defence volunteers, services to the wider community in the event of an emergency would be "severely restricted".