As Aotearoa marks International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Save the Children New Zealand is calling for children to be placed at the centre of emergency preparedness, warning that tamariki must be recognised not only as vulnerable during disasters but also as important contributors to community resilience.
Jacqui Southey from Save the Children New Zealand says emergency planning must better reflect the needs, experiences and perspectives of children, particularly as communities face increasing risks from severe weather, flooding, earthquakes and other natural hazards.
The international awareness day, observed on October 13, highlights the importance of reducing disaster risks before emergencies occur rather than focusing solely on recovery.
Tamariki Among Those Most Affected
Children can be particularly vulnerable when disasters strike, with emergencies disrupting education, healthcare, housing and the stability of everyday family life.
The consequences can extend well beyond the immediate event, affecting children’s emotional wellbeing, sense of security and ability to return to normal routines.
For whānau already experiencing financial hardship or housing insecurity, the impact of a natural disaster can be especially difficult.
Save the Children is urging emergency planners to recognise these challenges and ensure the needs of tamariki are considered from the earliest stages of disaster preparation.
Children Can Be Part of the Solution
Southey is also challenging the assumption that children should be treated only as passive recipients of emergency assistance.
Save the Children believes tamariki can make meaningful contributions to disaster preparedness when they are given appropriate information, opportunities to participate and a voice in decisions affecting their safety.
That could include involving children in school emergency planning, teaching practical preparedness skills and encouraging them to identify risks in their homes and communities.
By helping children understand what to do during an emergency, communities can build confidence and strengthen their ability to respond when disasters occur.
Māori Communities and the Importance of Whānau Preparedness
For Māori communities, disaster preparedness is closely connected to the wellbeing of whānau, hapū, iwi and marae.
Recent severe weather events have demonstrated the importance of local knowledge, community networks and marae-based responses in supporting families during emergencies.
Marae have frequently provided shelter, food, information and practical assistance to people displaced by flooding and other natural disasters.
Ensuring tamariki Māori are included in preparedness conversations can help strengthen connections between generations while supporting the transfer of knowledge about local hazards, environmental changes and community safety.
It also reinforces the importance of culturally appropriate emergency planning that recognises the role of whānau and collective responsibility.
Preparing Before Disaster Strikes
Save the Children’s message comes as emergency management agencies continue to encourage households to develop plans for natural disasters.
Practical preparations include identifying safe meeting places, having emergency supplies available, understanding evacuation routes and ensuring children know who to contact if they become separated from their families.
Schools, early childhood centres and community organisations also have important roles in helping tamariki understand emergencies without creating unnecessary fear.
Southey’s call highlights the need for planning that considers children’s emotional wellbeing alongside their immediate physical safety.
Building a More Resilient Aotearoa
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction provides an opportunity to examine how well communities are preparing for future emergencies and whether the people most affected are being included in the decisions that shape those preparations.
For Save the Children, that means recognising children as participants in building safer and more resilient communities.
The organisation’s message is that protecting tamariki and empowering them to contribute are not competing priorities.
As Aotearoa faces the ongoing challenges of natural disasters and extreme weather, Save the Children is calling for a shift in thinking — from planning simply for children to planning with them, ensuring their voices help shape a safer future for everyone.
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