Get your community readyMe rite tō hapori mō te ohotata
Help your friends, family and community get prepared for emergencies.
On this page
Get to know your neighbours
When you get to know your neighbours, you’re more likely to look out for each other, especially during and after an emergency, like a storm or a large earthquake.
Swap contact details so you can get in touch in an emergency.
Tell them about your emergency plan and ask about their plans.
Find out who can help you and who might need your help.
Join a Neighbourhood Support Group
Join or form a Neighbourhood Support Group. You and your neighbours can share skills and resources to help you get through in an emergency.
Neighbourhood Support Groups bring people together to create safe, supportive and connected communities.
Join a Neighbourhood Support Group on the Neighbourhood Support website or call 0800 463 444.
Become a Community Patroller
Join a Community Patrol. Get involved with community patrols and help make your community safer.
Community patrols work with New Zealand Police, local councils and their community. Including during an emergency event.
Local community volunteers organise and manage Community Patrols. Community Patrols serve the needs of their community and work with New Zealand Police and local councils.
Join a Community Patrol or start one in your community.
Hold a Neighbours’ Day
Neighbours’ Day Aotearoa is held every March. It encourages neighbours to get to know each other. It doesn't matter if you're an individual, group or organisation. Or if your neighbourhood consists of houses, flats, business or something else entirely. You can host an event tailored specifically to your neighbourhood.
Have a Neighbour's Day. Neighbour's Day is held every March. It encourages neighbours to get to know each other. It doesn't matter if you're an individual, group or organisation. Or if your neighbourhood is made up of houses, flats, business or something else entirely. You can host an event tailored specifically to your neighbourhood.
Make a community emergency plan
A community emergency plan can help your community understand how you can help each other in an emergency. Talking with other people in your community is one of the best ways to prepare for emergencies.
There will be some groups of people or networks already in your community. These could be:
- Civil Defence Emergency Management
- Neighbourhood Support
- Volunteer, church and sports groups
- Schools
- Marae, or
- Service organisations.
Make contact with them and find out what they are doing. In an emergency, they may help with basic supplies and coordinating support efforts.
Contact your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group to see if there is already a community emergency plan for your area. They can work with you to identify strengths, resources, risks and solutions to help your community get through an emergency.
Find your local Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group.
Get involved
Help keep your family, friends and community safe by getting involved in emergency preparedness.
