On 20 August, representatives from marae, mana whenua, councils, and partner agencies gathered at Hongoeka Marae to celebrate the launch of the Marae Emergency Planning Toolkit.

What began as conversations over cups of tea evolved into workshops, co-design sessions, countless drafts and, ultimately, a practical toolkit to support marae emergency preparedness. The result reflects the collective effort of marae, mana whenua, councils, emergency management practitioners and partner agencies working together toward a shared goal.

The launch was a potent reminder that while plans and frameworks are important, resilience is truly built through relationships and communities supporting one another. Throughout the day, attendees shared reflections, celebrated achievements and discussed the opportunities ahead for building marae preparedness across the region.

While the launch marks a significant milestone, this is only the beginning. We look forwards to building on this momentum and support the rollout of the toolkit to more marae in the years ahead.