Cyclone Gabrielle response: Hastings gets $1.27m in funding for community disaster hubs

Richard Gaddum (right) never disbanded his Waimārama community disaster response group. Photo / NZME

The Hastings District Council securing $1.27 million of funding to build up community resilience during emergencies has been welcomed.

Waimārama resident Richard Gaddum made a presentation to the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (HBCDEM) in June, asking it to re-establish community emergency response hubs.

That wish has now been granted after the Hastings District Council secured Ministry for Primary Industries funding to resource as many as 15 community civil defence groups.

“I’m thrilled. Absolutely thrilled,” Gaddum said.

The new model will give community groups the equipment and resources to respond to emergencies such as Cyclone Gabrielle.

Hawke’s Bay established a regional emergency response model in 2011. Prior to that, groups in areas such as Waimārama provided the immediate community civil defence response.

Gaddum never actually disestablished his particular group or gave up the equipment they’d fundraised for, except for a satellite phone.

Without one, in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, he says Waimārama was effectively cut off from the world and, particularly, HBCDEM.

Now, Gaddum believes communication won’t be an issue in an emergency and community hubs will be able to co-ordinate their specific approach, in conjunction with the central response from the HBCDEM.

“We’ve turned the pyramid the other way so communities are up the top,” he said.

Gaddum says groups in Waimārama, Maraetōtora, Maraekākaho and Ocean Beach are now all equipped with satellite phones, and will meet with representatives from 11 other community civil defence hubs this week to discuss resourcing and emergency plans.

In announcing the initiative, the council indicated community groups will be able to obtain items such as generators, satellite mobile connectors, bulk catering kits, emergency toilets and showers, radios and hygiene kits with their estimated $100,000 each in funding.

Hastings Deputy Mayor Tania Kerr comforts HDC Rural Community Board deputy chairwoman Izzy Crawshaw as she recounts her decision to evacuate her young kids to family while her home was isolated after Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Paul Taylor

“This is the start and we hope to be able to support an increased number of community-led hubs depending on need, priority and any future funding becoming available,’’ Hastings Deputy Mayor Tania Kerr said.

“Integral to the success of these hubs will be community participation and leadership. This will be community-led future resilience planning for ongoing community prosperity and success.

“Essentially, they will be safe spaces people can go to that will have power and connectivity, with basic supplies as decided by that particular community.”

Gaddum is particularly appreciative of the efforts of Hastings District Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst in making the hubs a reality.

“Sandra really has been amazing. She kicked this off and has been pushing for this as well and it’s just fantastic.”

Now he wants to ensure all the hubs are prepared for whatever emergency might befall them.

“Communities haven’t got time. They need to be set up now, with their community hubs in place and with all the equipment they need to be able to cope in isolation for up to two weeks, because we never know what will happen,” Gaddum said.

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group manager Ian Macdonald said the organisation recognised the success of community-led hubs during the Cyclone Gabrielle response and had now further developed the community resilience strategy to include a community-led hub model.

“It is all about building community resilience and better supporting hubs to respond in any future emergency events,” Macdonald said,

“As part of this model, HBCDEM Group office staff are co-ordinating community emergency hub training with councils and communities which will be rolled out in late October.

“We are also finalising a Community Emergency Hub Guide for communities which will be published on our website later this month.”

Macdonald said any successful regional emergency response involved both the official response and community-led responses working together.

Hamish Bidwell joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2022 and works out of the Hastings newsroom.

* Correction: The first version of this story stated that Hastings District Council had abandoned a centralised Civil Defence model. HDC is still part of the HBCDEM Group, along with all councils in the region. The community resilience hubs are not a replacement for the Civil Defence model and they are intended to complement it.