Source: Auckland Council
Do you live in South Auckland and want to help your community during an emergency response?
If so, we need your help!
Auckland Emergency Management is establishing a Response Team in the south and is looking for volunteers.
No prior experience is required. But you must be aged 18 years or over, be enthusiastic, have a good level of fitness, and a commitment to help.
What you’ll do:
- Assist in emergency events
- Be trained to be part of a skilled and dedicated team
- Be deployed to areas in need throughout the whole of Auckland, not only the south
- Make a real-world impact in times of need
Once you’re signed up and part of the response team you will be given thorough training by experts. The team will train once a week and there will usually be a once a month weekend training.
Training involves working around helicopters, 4WD vehicles, chainsaws and swift water.
Some of the tasks you could end up being involved in during an emergency response include providing welfare needs to the community; being involved in rescuing people affected by severe weather, transporting goods to isolated communities and intelligence and information gathering.
Response Team volunteers would also be involved in inter-agency training and exercises, attending community days and promoting emergency preparedness.
Councillor Sharon Stewart, Auckland Council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee chairperson encourages South Auckland residents to take up this volunteering opportunity.
“The Auckland community needs everyday people to be part of emergency planning, response and recovery efforts.
“The time you give will make a real and meaningful difference to help people in times of need across Tāmaki Makaurau.
“The severe weather events of early 2023 illustrated the need for more hands on deck in times of crisis and that’s why we’re creating a new pool of Response Team volunteers in the south.
“I urge anyone who wants to part of this important team, to sign up and become a volunteer.”
Our call for volunteers in South Auckland comes during Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu National Volunteer Week (16-22 June 2024).
The establishment of the Response Team in the south complements the existing response teams on the North Shore and in west Auckland.
Adam Maggs, General Manager of Auckland Emergency Management says volunteers are an integral part of any emergency response.
“Auckland’s level of emergency preparedness and our effectiveness in responding to emergency events depends in large part on volunteers.
“We would like to thank each-and-every volunteer for the valuable time and effort they give to the west and North Shore response teams. We are proud of you and the mahi you do.
“Having a response team in the south will be a huge boost for our ability to deal with an emergency response in Tāmaki Makaurau.”
If you want to become a volunteer for the South Auckland Response Team, click on this link for more information.
