NZDF visits Kāpiti Emergency Operations Centre

The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO), in conjunction with Kāpiti Coast District Council and the local New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Civil Defence Response Group (CDRG), recently ran a joint Civil Defence Emergency Management planning session at the Kāpiti Coast District Council Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

This initiative saw members of the WREMO Operational Readiness Team and around 50 members of the local reserve force battalion, 5/7 RNZIR, engage in information sharing and a flood-based scenario exercise.

“Getting together prior to an emergency to better understand each other’s response arrangements and respective capabilities will result in a more coordinated and effective response should a real emergency happen,” said WREMO Operational Readiness (Kāpiti) Advisor Mark Duncan.

Soldiers from the NZDF Civil Defence Response Group were given a tour of the purpose-built Emergency Operations Centre, as well as a brief on the local and regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Response arrangements. An exercise scenario was then issued, which required members of the NZDF Civil Defence Group to develop plans to support the Kāpiti community in the event of a significant flood.

“It’s great to see the local NZDF Civil Defence Response Group committing the training time to ensure they’re well placed to provide support to the Kāpiti Coast community in the event of an emergency,” said Mr Duncan.

“Training will continue on a regular basis in order to continue to develop planning and strengthen relationships. This represents a significant increase in capability for the wider Kāpiti Coast Civil Defence Emergency Management Team.”