Waipa District is part of a Waikato Region-wide Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, (EMG). Hamilton City Council staff administer this group with the main Group Emergency Operating Centre also based in Hamilton. For local control and co-ordination there is provision for a local Incident Control Point to be established in Te Awamutu and if necessary, Cambridge.
The Waikato EMG is responsible for all matters involving staff training, general Civil Defence public awareness and maintaining contact lists for schools, pre-schools, rest-homes and the like. Each Local Authority maintains its own contacts for local resources. As the administering authority, the Mayor of Hamilton City will declare a state of Civil Defence emergency for the Waipa District.
Waipa District is generally sheltered from most natural disasters, although there is an ever-present risk of flooding given its proximity to the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. Wind, is another danger for Waipa District with several isolated cyclones hitting the area in recent years. Generally Waipa has not experienced many of the major Civil Defence emergencies faced by other areas of New Zealand.
Should a Civil Defence emergency happen in Waipa District, Waipa District Council’s Civil Defence Officer will be responsible with the Controller for co-ordinating services such as fire, police and ambulance.
CIVIL DEFENCE LINKS
Ministry of Emergency Management and Civil Defence
Waikato Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group
New Zealand Red Cross
New Zealand Fire Service