A recent resilience session on the Kāpiti Coast brought together kaumātua from the local Toi Ora Kaumātua group together for a discussion on emergency preparedness.

Toi Ora Kaumātua Group by Hora Te Pai Health, June 2026

The event was hosted by Hora Te Pai Health, which provides regular culturally safe environments for Kaumātua to connect, celebrate wellbeing and participate in activities together. This session, sponsored by KCDC and supported by WREMO, focused on evacuating quickly in an emergency.

With heaters on full blast, there was lots of kōrero, kai, and shared knowledge. The session covered what to include in a grab bag, how to tailor it to individual needs, and the importance of having essential items ready to go, including taonga. There was also a focus on considerations for kaumātua, such as keeping a record of medications, planning for mobility needs, and staying connected with whānau.

Participants were shown three types of grab-and-go bags: a store-bought option, a simple bedside version, and a packed to the brim bag belonging to their WREMO emergency management advisor, Renee Santos.

Feedback from participants was really positive, Kaumātua said they left with a better understanding and were happy they could choose a few key items to begin building their own.