March 20, 2023
Māori no seat at civil defence table.
Māori do not get a say in the civil defence management plan of Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Floods until the Emergency Management Bill is passed later this year.
The decades old system was overhauled five years ago by former Civil Defence Minister Kris Fa’afoi. He replaced it with NEMA – (National Emergency Management Agency), and the Emergency bill gives NEMA its legislative grunt.
The Emergency Bill gives Mana Whenua a seat at local civil defence groups, but until the bill is passed – Iwi may have to wait.
Ngāti Kahungunu Chair Baden Barber says the Iwi reached out to NEMA on two separate occasions to discuss a co-ordinated response plan. However, their approaches have been met with silence.
NEMA has been criticized by Māori in cyclone affected areas for its lack of information, its delay in delivering aid and in some cases delivering empty storage containers. As a result Marae have taken response measures into their own hands, supplying kai, clothing and shelter for any whānau in need and without the assistance of NEMA.
The Minister of Emergency Response Kieran McAnulty said, NEMA supports the local civil defence emergency groups.
“They are the point of contact on the ground and they don’t tend to have communication links outside of the civil defence, so they (NEMA) may well be following proper process.” said Minister McAnulty.
“But if people are contacting NEMA and asking for a response, I would like to think that they would get back to them. So I’ll follow that up” he added.
Marae, Iwi and community groups assisting whānau in affected areas can now apply to the $15million community support fund announced by NEMA last week.