Civil Defence
Community Readiness
Pahiatua Civil Defence
In an emergency, the best thing you can do is be prepared to look after yourself and your household for at least 3 days to allow Civil Defence and other services to attend to those most in need.
Please remember in an emergency to TEXT not PHONE! This keeps the lines open for life-saving emergencies.
What you can do to help:
Make sure you have enough supplies at home to get through:
Water
At least 3 litres per person, per day
Store extra for pets
Food
Non-perishable food (canned, dry goods)
A way to open and prepare food without power
Power & Light
Torch and spare batteries
Portable phone charger or power bank
Other essentials
First aid kit and medications
Warm clothing and blankets
Hygiene supplies (toilet paper, hand sanitiser)
Battery radio for updates
Plan to stay at home if you can!
Know how to turn off power, water, and gas if needed
Keep emergency supplies in an easy-to-access place
Have a plan for children, pets, and anyone with additional needs
If you can’t stay at home
Think ahead about where you could go:
Friends or whānau nearby who could host you
If needed, a Welfare Centre will be set up at the Bush Multisport Stadium to support those who cannot stay elsewhere
Stay connected
Make a simple household emergency plan
Agree on how you’ll contact each other if separated (remember Text don’t Call)
Follow official updates via radio (92.2 More FM)
Businesses and Organisations
We'd love you to engage in planning to look after yourselves, and get in touch with how you can support the Community in an emergency!
Community support
We are exploring creating a vulnerable persons list, likely to be held at Pahiatua Pharmacy, to help ensure support reaches those who need it most. If you or someone you know may benefit, or if you want to learn more, please get in touch.
Planning for larger emergencies
The Civil Defence group is planning for all scenarios, including the most serious, where we may need to house and feed large numbers of people. This will involve working closely with local businesses and organisations, taking a community-wide, systems approach to ensure Pahiatua is well prepared.
Learn more
Pahiatua Civil Defence Plan here
New Zealand Civil Defence Emergency Management guidance at: https://getready.govt.nz
Vulnerable Persons Support Register
Supporting our community when it matters most
The Vulnerable Persons Support Register is a practical, community-based initiative designed to help ensure that people who may be more vulnerable during an emergency are not forgotten.
The register provides a way for people to voluntarily and confidentially identify themselves as someone who may benefit from a welfare check during an emergency or significant local disruption.
Who is it for?
The register may be particularly helpful for people who:
Live alone or may become isolated.
Have limited mobility or a disability.
Are elderly or have health-related support needs.
Have limited family or support networks nearby.
May have difficulty caring for themselves during an emergency.
Being on the register does not mean that a person is guaranteed rescue, transport, medical treatment or ongoing care. Its purpose is simply to help the community identify where a welfare check may be appropriate.
How it works
The register is:
Voluntary and opt-in — people choose whether to participate.
Privacy-focused — only information needed to support a welfare check is collected.
Securely held — information is restricted to authorised people.
Reviewed regularly — participants are encouraged to keep their details up to date, with an annual review.
For emergencies only — information is only used or shared when there is a significant welfare concern or emergency requiring a response.
The register is held securely by Pahiatua Pharmacy, with support from appropriate local Civil Defence and welfare volunteers when required.
Protecting dignity and privacy
Respect, dignity and privacy are central to the initiative.
Information will only be accessed by authorised people and, when necessary, shared with appropriate emergency, welfare or health responders. Only the minimum information necessary to support a welfare response will be provided.
The register is not a medical database and will not be used for marketing or unrelated purposes.
Community volunteers
During an emergency, trained or approved welfare volunteers may be asked to conduct welfare checks.
Their role is to:
Visit assigned addresses respectfully and safely.
Confirm that people are safe and have their immediate basic needs met.
Identify concerns that may require further assistance.
Report urgent concerns through the appropriate welfare or emergency response channels.
Maintain confidentiality at all times.
Volunteers are not medical responders and are not expected to provide medical care, enter homes without invitation, handle medication, or make promises about assistance that cannot be guaranteed.
For more information contact pahiatuaexplore@gmail.com
