Iwi Emergency Containers supports first responder role of marae

Iwi across the top of the South Island are now well-equipped to be part of the official emergency management response in the event of a disaster.

Containers filled with equipment for use in an emergency are now in place on four Marae in Marlborough: Tuamātene Marae in Grovetown, Omaka Marae in Blenheim, Waikawa Marae, and Hauhunga Marae in Spring Creek.

Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Charitable Trust (a collaboration of the eight mana whenua iwi in the top of the South Island) pouwhakahaere rauemi Dr Lorraine Eade said the containers, called Ipu Ohotata, were launched after more than a year of training and planning.

Dr Eade says Marae was already the first responder in a disaster, and the network of Ipu Ohotata solidified that role and took it one step further.

"Our marae is a safe haven, and we know that when disaster strikes, with one phone call, they will be there; Omaka Marae demonstrated this last year during the July floods when over 50 people were stranded on State Highway 1. They had opened the marae in half an hour, the heaters were on, beds were ready, and kai prepped. This is what our marae do, manaaki and care for people."

In the last six years, communities across Te Tauihu (the top of the South Island) have experienced a range of declaration events – from earthquakes, wildfires, and severe weather.

The journey began in 2019 when Te Puni Kōkiri, Civil Defence, the Territorial Local Authority and Marlborough Emergency Management started planning Emergency Operation Centre training for Māori and iwi in Marlborough.

Then in 2020, just before the first Covid-19 lockdown, iwi members participating in introductory workshops on the emergency operations centre became the first volunteers for the coronavirus welfare response.

"For all welfare inquiries, if whānau identified they were Māori, they were automatically transitioned to us, and we'd provide the welfare packages, whether it was firewood or accommodation or kai."

The Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust was established in February 2021 and given the mandate to produce a consistent emergency response across the Te Tauihu rohe (Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman), resulting in the Te Tauihu Emergency Management Strategy.

Eade said the containers were one part of the response - along with ongoing Coordination Incident Management System (CIMS) training.

"What we have found locally as iwi is that we're a bit more ahead of the game regarding our relationship and partnerships with our emergency management teams on each side of the hill."

The containers have different contents based on the community's needs, but both contain generators, first aid supplies, hand sanitizer, and other general items.

"Whenever there is a natural disaster, we have these containers with an emergency response team attached. So, if something happens in Waikawa, they have a team who can respond immediately and link into the local controller for that incident management response team."

The trust applied for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) funding to help produce the eight ipu ohotata, or emergency containers, geographically spread across Te Tauihu.

Rātā Foundation supported the project by contributing 50 percent of the costs.

Chief Executive Leighton Evans says this kaupapa is an excellent example of what can be achieved through collaboration. 

“This iwi-led project not only collaborates with key emergency response agencies but will provide essential support to Māori whānau and the wider community during times of crisis. It will improve well-being, physical health, and cultural connections to the respective Marae and the communities they serve.”