Partnership, engagement, training and adequate resourcing are needed for Te Arawa marae to shift their emergency preparedness response from reactive to proactive, a study has found.

New research by brothers Haukapuanui and Sonny Vercoe (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Whakaue), and supported by Te Arawa Lakes Trust, has analysed the ability of 16 Te Arawa marae to deal with natural disasters including flooding, tsunami, earthquakes, eruptions and landslides.

The project found marae in the region are 'moderately resilient, with mild gaps across infrastructure and resourcing”.

Sonny Vercoe says the study highlights that inclusion and collaboration with Civil Defence will help develop marae emergency management processes and mitigate the effects of future natural hazard events.

'We hope to see increased interaction between emergency management agencies, whānau, hapū and iwi; and Te Arawa marae apply for the resourcing and training opportunities available to them.”

Results from the study show that while about two-thirds have on-site water storage, 94 per cent of marae are lacking in backup forms of power (solar, wind, generator).

It also shows marae are capable of hosting between 70 and 300 people, with more than half confident they could accommodate more in a crisis, and often become spontaneous communal safety epicentres during natural hazard events.

Despite this, only two Te Arawa marae are civil defence centres, more than 80 per cent are unaware of the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Plan for their region, and none of the marae receive emergency safety resources from government.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust Climate Change Co-ordinator Lani Kereopa says the findings come in a time of climate change to help advise and support whānau, hapū and iwi with adaption / mitigation planning and resilience building.

'Hapū and iwi need local and central government funding, resourcing and support including open access to all climate-related data, information and mapping to be able to urgently undertake more iwi-specific climate change research of this kind to help inform decision-making.

'This study also provides essential knowledge for informing policy, funding allocation, and local and central government decision-making.”

Haukapuanui Vercoe says he and his brother were inspired by the opportunity to use their final year research project to help iwi.

'This topic was initiated by the Resilience to Nature's Challenges National Science Challenge, whose mission is to accelerate Aotearoa New Zealand's resilience to natural hazards through innovative, collaborative research.

'Given the time constraints, we narrowed the scope of our study to Te Arawa given most of our whānau connections are in this rohe. However, in the future we hope that this research is expanded to all regions of Aotearoa.”