Wairarapa’s crisis response was further strengthened after Carterton District Council’s (CDC) Risk and Assurance Committee endorsed updates to its Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Risk Register at its meeting on Wednesday, 13 November.

A paper presented to the Committee recommended adjustments to the Council’s Register to enhance community resilience against disasters, including major earthquakes and severe weather events.

This endorsement followed recent findings from several key reviews and reinforced the ongoing cooperation between Carterton, Masterton, and South Wairarapa District Councils.

In April 2023, a regional CDEM review highlighted the growing public expectations, and the increasing risks posed by more frequent and complex emergencies, often driven by climate change. Of particular note was the 75% probability of an Alpine Fault earthquake within the next 50 years, underscoring the need for robust emergency preparedness.

Last week, organisations across the region, including the Wairarapa District Councils and Greater Wellington, participated in Exercise Rū Whenua a Rohe, a training event simulating the response to such an earthquake.

An After-Action Review of Cyclone Gabrielle, completed in June 2023, assessed the performance of the Wairarapa councils, commending their support for isolated communities and successful evacuation efforts. However, the review identified areas for improvement, such as the need for greater coordination and more robust recovery planning.

In response to these findings, the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) introduced a Continuous Improvement function in late 2023 to strengthen regional emergency management efforts.

In October, the initial assessment of the Emergency Management system rated the Wairarapa region’s capability at a “Basic” level. This self-assessment by the Wairarapa councils took a cautious view of current capabilities, being mindful of the impacts of recent weather events and heightened public expectations.

Simon Taylor, Wairarapa Emergency Management Controller, noted that the review highlighted community strengths, such as high levels of preparedness in some areas, as well as challenges like limited household water storage and emergency planning.

“The self-assessment underscored the need to refine our systems and processes,” Mr Taylor said.

“Updating Council risk registers to reflect the ‘four R’s’ of risk management—reduction, readiness, response, and recovery, and acknowledging the advice and expertise provided by  professional organisations such as Wairarapa Engineering Lifelines Association (WELA), was a priority.

“Completing or refreshing Council Crisis Management Plans will ensure clear response procedures and ongoing staff training.

“With recent events like Cyclone Gabrielle, both public and internal expectations of our emergency response capabilities have grown. This assessment provides a basis for advancing our readiness.”

In support of long-term resilience, Wellington Region councils, including CDC, committed to funding WREMO initiatives through their 2024-2034 Long Term Plans. These initiatives include developing workforce strategies, improving emergency communication tools, and implementing a Common Operating Picture for real-time decision-making.

Wairarapa’s Councils remain committed to working collaboratively with tāngata whenua, regional councils, and community partners to support wellbeing across social, cultural, environmental, and economic dimensions. By aligning efforts with Greater Wellington and other stakeholders, the councils aim to strengthen resilience across the Wairarapa and Wellington regions, ensuring a coordinated approach to emergency preparedness and response.

Wairarapa Emergency Management 2024 Annual Assessment [PDF]