February 2025 Newsletter

Kia ora,

A happy new year to you all, we hope you and your family have had time to have a break and are now getting into swing of what 2025 will bring us.

The the new year brings the opportunity for us to look ahead and to look back and reflect.

In this issue we will be looking back and reflecting on the two year anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle, and looking ahead to our March campaign around Community Emergency Hubs.

We will also answer the question no one wants to ask; where do I go to the toilet after a large earthquake?!

Don't forget to check out our upcoming events in the next few months at the bottom of the page, we would love to see you there!

Cyclone Gabrielle: Two-Year Anniversary

This February marks the two-year anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused widespread devastation across the motu, including parts of the Wairarapa in our region.

Over the course of the 12th-14th February, Cyclone Gabrielle hit the North Island and on the 14th of February, a National State of Emergency was declared.

Eastern and coastal communities in the Wairarapa were affected, with some experiencing severe flooding and slips, stock losses, and damage to farm equipment, pastures and fencing.

The anniversary is an opportunity to acknowledge the cyclone’s lasting impacts, those who lost loved ones, and the incredible resilience and kindness shown by our communities.

Neighbours, emergency services, iwi and marae, local councils, government agencies, small businesses, infrastructure companies, NGOs and community groups all came together to help each other.

Emergencies of this scale have long-reaching impacts and it has been a challenging two years for many people across the motu.

Our aroha goes out to those still affected and we want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported our impacted whānau.

A roading repair image that shows the innovative Ecoreef system that not only repairs roads but makes them more resilient for the future.

The solar energy system being installed at Whareama Hall. Wairarapa Recovery Office and councils supported the funding for the installation of these systems at three community facilities in the region from MBIE’s Community Renewable Energy Fund.

Crews clearing fallen trees following the cyclones.

Do you know your local Community Emergency Hub?

This March, we are encouraging everyone to get to know their local Community Emergency Hub!

In a disaster such as a big earthquake, there is likely to be widespread damage to power lines, water pipes, buildings, roads, and phone networks. Emergency services will be dealing with the most urgent matters, so the people you live nearest to will be your most immediate, and ongoing, source of support.

A Community Emergency Hub is a place where you and your neighbours can gather and help each other in a major emergency.

There are 127 Hubs across the Wellington Region. They are located at well-known community facilities and some schools.

Hubs are run by communities, for communities (not by council/WREMO/Civil Defence). Hubs are there for people to help match community needs and offers, using the skills and resources you already have in your neighbourhood.

Community Emergency Hubs are a way for people to work together to solve problems locally while still coordinating with the council response about really big problems. When people can help each other as best as they can, it helps the council fill the gaps and prioritise support to where it’s needed most.

Everyone can help at a Hub! Whether you're a DIY-er, first-aider, great party planner, or make a mean cup of tea, you have many of the skills and resources needed to solve problems in your neighbourhood and help your community.

Take our Hub Personality Quiz and find out what role you could play! >> Personality Quiz - What's your Hub role?

You can find the location of your nearest Community Emergency Hub or our website, wremo.nz/hubs.

Throughout March, our Community Resilience and Recovery team will be out and about running a variety of events from Emergency Response Practices to quiz nights, movie nights, and board game days.

Come along to a fun, free event at a Hub near you!

Johnsonville Boardgames Day
Date: Sunday 16 March
Time: 11am-4pm
Register here: Wellington City Board Games Day - Wellington - Eventfinda

Strathmore Quiz Night
Date: Thursday 27 March
Time: 6pm-8.30pm
Register a team here: Wellington City 'Hub' Quiz - Wellington - Eventfinda

Maungaraki Quiz Night
Date: Saturday 22 March
Time: 6pm– 9pm
Register a team here: Lower Hutt 'Hub' Quiz - Lower Hutt - Eventfinda

Upper Hutt Quiz Night
Date: Thursday 13 March
Time: 6pm– 9pm
Register a team here: Upper Hutt 'Hub' Quiz - Upper Hutt - Eventfinda

Pāuatahanui Movie Night and Hub visit (sold out!)
Date: Friday 7 March
Time: 5pm

Kāpiti Movie Afternoon: Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
Date: Saturday 15 March
Time: From 1.30pm
Register here: Kāpiti Movie Afternoon: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Paraparaumu - Eventfinda

Masterton Movie Night: Bee Movie
Date: Friday 21 March
Time: From 6pm `
Register here: Wairarapa Movie Night: Bee Movie - Masterton - Eventfinda

Attend an Emergency Response Practice: Calendar of Events

Find out more about Community Emergency Hubs on our website: Community Emergency Hubs

What to do if you can't use your loo!

After a large earthquake, don’t flush! ❌🚽

The pipes that take away your wee and poo may be broken.

A large earthquake on the Wellington Fault would result in considerable damage and lengthy outages to the wastewater system in the region.

This means that for at least 30 days, households will need to manage their own wee and poo while wastewater pipes are getting fixed.

An emergency sanitation plan was collaboratively developed by our region’s nine councils, Massey University, WREMO, Wellington Water, Health and Disability representatives, Ngāti Toa, and solid waste managers. The plan came up with two options for the Wellington region to manage their waste following an earthquake.

𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭: 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘁 🍃
If you have an outdoor area where you can dig a hole up to 1m deep, the best solution is to dig a long drop.

Keep the hole covered after each time you use it.

𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮: 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝟮-𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘁 🪣🪣
A 2-bucket system: one bucket for wee and one for poo. It is important you keep your wee separate from your poo as it will help keep the smell down and make it more hygienic.

If you have a garden, and can dig a 50cm hole, you can dispose of your waste there. If you can’t dig a 50cm hole or have no garden space, line your poo bucket with a rubbish bin liner before use. When you're done, tie up the bag and dispose of it in a storage bin with a lid.

𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯: 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
We understand that for some of our whānau, the long drop or two-bucket emergency toilet is just not feasible. There are a few alternate options available on our website for this whānau 👉 http://wremo.nz/emergency-toilets

Remember, get poo-pared and plan what to do if you can’t use your loo! 💩

Upcoming Events

Waikanae East: Emergency Response Practice - March 2nd 2025

Naenae: Household Earthquake Planning Workshop - March 3rd 2025

Epuni: Emergency Response Practice - March 5th 2025

Pāuatahanui: Emergency Response Practice - March 8th 2025

Karori West: Emergency Response Practice - March 9th 2025

Wairarapa: Continity Planning for Community Groups - March 12th 2025

Plimmerton: Emergency Response Practice - March 15th 2025

Seatoun: Emergency Response Practice - March 15th 2025

Cannons Creek: Emergency Response Practice - March 21st 2025

Ranui: Emergency Response Practice - March 22nd 2025

Days Bay: Emergency Response Practice - March 23rd 2025

Northland: Emergency Response Practice - March 25th 2025

Taitā: Emergency Response Practice - March 25th 2025

Wairarapa: Early Childhood Education Emergency Planning Workshop - March 27th 2025

Tītahi Bay: Emergency Response Practice - March 29th 2025

Khandallah: Emergency Response Practice - April 6th 2025

See our website for futher information: Calendar of Events

Don’t see your area in our upcoming events, no problem!

You can come along to any of our Emergency Response Practices or better yet, let us know if your community is keen to have a go at your local Community Emergency Hub.

It’s free, it’s fun and best of all anyone can do it!