Wairoa presence on new emergency committee

The Fire and Emergency board appointed a Wairoa councillor to its first seven-member local advisory committee in Hawke’s Bay.

The committee will give the board independent advice to inform local emergency planning.

The committee includes Wairoa District Councillor Jeremy Harker as chairman, with community safety coordinator Debbie Northe as the deputy chair.

Harker was part of a 2018 pilot of the concept, which he said convinced him of the potential for the model.

“I’m passionate about ensuring the community I live in is a great place to live, work and grow up in,” Harker said.

“Local advisory committees can help Fire and Emergency to better understand the unique circumstances of each community and how their needs can best be met so that expectations and capabilities are matched.”

It’s a sentiment Northe agrees with. “While the past two months have been unsettling, it’s shown how resilient our communities are. We have a diverse area with no two communities the same.

“I am looking forward to working with Fire and Emergency NZ to build strong relationships across our region.”

Fire and Emergency Board chairman Paul Swain, who will be involved in the induction of the new committee, said the skills, experience and networks shown by appointees gave the board confidence the committee would fulfil its intended purpose.

“Hawke’s Bay, like every New Zealand community, faces its own diverse combination of factors influencing emergency preparedness,” Swain said.

“That’s why it’s important to have a local advisory committee that can help us tap into local knowledge and networks, as well as ensure Hawke’s Bay residents are safer, and more prepared when emergencies happen.”