Whanganui iwi to present emergency response template

Chris Kumeroa will present a Whanganui emergency response model at a Wellington summit this weekend. Photo/Stuart Munro

Whanganui will be represented at a Māori leaders' climate change summit in Wellington.

Chris Kumeroa of Nga Tangata Tiaki o Whanganui and Whanganui District Council emergency manager Tim Crowe will present the civil defence partnership plan that has been developed for the river city.

Mr Kumeroa said many lessons were learned during the 2015 Whanganui floods and the insights gained showed that Māori have a significant role to play in emergency response.

"Over the past two years, almost 40 people from three Whanganui iwi have completed civil defence training and four are now trained to intermediate level."

When the arrival of tropical cyclone Debbie prompted a state of emergency in Whanganui last year Te Oranganui Iwi Health in the Tupoho Complex became a community hub and Awa FM in the complex was broadcasting updates.

"It showed that we were able to mobilise quickly," said Mr Kumeroa who lives in Auckland but was in Whanganui within hours.

"We gather for tangi and when someone needs help so we are used to pulling together at short notice."

Mr Kumeroa will be a speaker at the summit which was conceived at Waitangi in February and he will be putting the Maori Civil Defence model proposal forward.

"There is a cross party Civil Defence ministerial review process happening and we would like to see the model included for consideration."

Mr Kumeroa said iwi hope to see support for the model from Whanganui MP Harete Hipango and Te Tai Hauāuru MP Adrian Rurawhe.

Other speakers at the summit will be meteorologist Erick Brenstrum on what is happening with the weather, Marcus Matchitt on surviving Edgecumbe, Earth scientist Dr James Renwick on climate change implications and timeline, journalist Rod Oram on economic impacts both global and local and Ngāi Tahu leader Sir Mark Solomon on response.

There will be a rangatahi/youth forum on Saturday evening and on Sunday, the summit will hear from public health medicine specialist Dr Rhys Jones, social scientist Wendy Saunders, sustainability and indigenous rights campaigner Tina Ngata and Greenpeace Aotearoa climate campaigner Mike Smith.

The Māori leaders' Climate Change Summit at Pipitea Marae & Function Centre in Thorndon, Wellington will begin with pōhiri and registration at 9.30am on Saturday, March 24 and conclude with a presentation to government ministers at 2pm on Sunday, March 25.