Coasties, take note!

Auckland Council has been working hard to ensure our communities, including the Hibiscus Coast, are better prepared for future emergencies.

Following the extreme weather events of early 2023, which caused widespread flooding and devastation, the council has taken significant steps to improve its emergency response systems.

In response to these disasters, three independent reviews were commissioned to assess Auckland's emergency preparedness.

Auckland Council's Civil Defence and Emergency Management Chairperson, Councillor Sharon Stewart, emphasised the importance of learning from the events.

“The flooding and cyclone events in early 2023 had a devastating toll on Auckland, with many people losing their homes and, tragically, some losing loved ones,” Stewart said.

“It was clear we needed to be better prepared for future emergencies. I’m heartened by the progress made in implementing the recommendations from these reviews.”

Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) has already taken concrete steps based on these findings.

New Civil Defence centres have been identified across Auckland to improve geographic coverage, ensuring more communities can access resources in times of need.

Phil Wilson, Chief Executive of Auckland Council, highlighted the ongoing commitment to improving emergency preparedness.

“Last year was incredibly challenging for us all, but we’ve been honest in evaluating our response. While we’ve made progress, we can’t afford to slow down—every household needs a plan in place,” Wilson said.

To reinforce this, almost 400 council staff have completed foundational emergency management training.

Two large-scale emergency response exercises were also conducted in October 2023 and March 2024, putting procedures and staff through their paces.

John Cranfield, Acting General Manager of AEM, added that engaging local communities is a priority.

"A new team of community advisors is working directly with local boards to develop readiness and response plans," Cranfield said.

"We’re also enhancing communication, focusing on digital platforms and accessibility to ensure all Aucklanders can stay informed during emergencies."

For those looking to get ahead of the next emergency, Aucklanders can check their flood risk using the council’s Flood Viewer tool and prepare a family plan by visiting the Auckland Emergency Management website.

The Auditor-General's report, tabled today, concluded that Auckland Council is better prepared than it was before the 2023 events.

However, the report also noted there is still work to be done to fully implement all the recommendations from the reviews.