The purpose of the Māori Partnership focus area is to design a transformed HBCDEM system that ensures a strong Māori perspective is integrated throughout.

Hui and kōrero will occur, starting in 2025, with Mana whenua from across the Hawke’s Bay to discuss the HBCDEM Transformation Strategy and how best to incorporate te ao Māori into the HBCDEM system, at all levels from governance, in reduction, to readiness and response and lastly in recovery.

The goal will be to deliver a HBCDEM system that connects with Mana whenua and responds to their perspectives and needs.

2025 will see Mana whenua formally included in all levels of Hawke’s Bay regional and local emergency management and governance.

The purpose of the Community Connections area of focus is the creation of a rebalanced and effective HBCDEM system built from the community up that places the community at the heart of the HBCDEM system. A number of initiatives will be delivered to achieve this.

Firstly, a structure that increases the staffing and readiness of each local Council CDEM capability and enhancing their ability to respond effectively will be created.

Secondly a regional structure will be formed that can support readiness and where required quickly and effectively scale up to respond to regional emergency events.

Thirdly a greater emphasis will be placed on volunteers, outside of Councils, to assist in the staffing of EOC and the continued increase in community hubs across the region, increasing from the 40+ the region current possesses. The goal will be to deliver to the Hawke’s Bay a CDEM system that supports empowered local voices, and enhances collaboration among residents, agencies, and organisations across the Hawke’s Bay whilst concurrently delivering tailored, local response capable of scaling up where and when require. 

In 2025 the Hawke’s Bay will have increased its professional emergency management workforce by 45%.

By 2027 the Hawke’s Bay will have increased its emergency management volunteers work force from 149 trained volunteers to 700 trained volunteers.

The purpose of the Infrastructure and Assets area of focus is to ensure that locally and regionally the Hawke’s Bay possesses an affordable, resilient and capable suite of CDEM infrastructure and assets that enables effective response.

A review of key local and regional CDEM infrastructure will occur, including, but not limited to, resilient emergency communication, warning systems, local emergency operation centres, digital hardware, software and vehicle fleet. As a result of the review, appropriate business cases will be produced and investment sought. The goal will be to see investment made, where required, in ensuring the Hawke’s Bay possesses resilient CDEM assets capable of responding to future emergency events.

2025 will see all HBCDEM infrastructure and assets reviewed, and business cases submitted for investment consultation as part of the 2027 Local Government Long Term Plan process.

The purpose of the training and exercising focus is two-fold.

Firstly, to train Council CDEM staff, Mana whenua and volunteers from around the Hawke’s Bay to develop the skills required to respond in an emergency event.

Secondly, develop and conduct a range of local and regional tabletop workshops and physical scenario-based exercises in emergency management.

The goal is for all Councils and partners to have sufficiently trained and exercised people, capable of sustaining a response over an extended period.

2025 will see 10 local emergency management exercises occur across the Hawke’s Bay with a major combined exercise involving all levels of the HBCDEM system from community to local and regional Council to emergency services.

The intent of the performance and assurance area of focus is to review, create, structure, monitor and report performance of each Council CDEM systems objectively.

Firstly, a review of the governance system will occur to ensure the Joint Committee and Co-ordinating Executive Groups, mandated by legislation, are supported effectively and are as tightly connected to the community and mana whenua as possible.

Secondly an assurance role will be created within the regional CDEM team and then more deliberate and regular monitoring, and evaluation activities will occur and reported on quarterly to the Co-ordinating Executives Group and Joint Committee.

The system will align with recently established NEMA assurance systems and processes. The goal will be to provide the public with assurance that the HBCDEM system is performing, and where it requires improvement signal that through regular engagement. The first assurance review will occur in 2025 and will focus on the HBCDEM Warning System. 

In 2025 the Hawke’s Bay will be one of the first in New Zealand to possess a regional assurance function. The role will provide objective measurement of the readiness of all local and regional CDEM capabilities.

The intent is to consult and deliver regional, local, hazard and reduction plans Each Council will be responsible for producing local emergency management plans.

The HBCDEM Group, through the Regional Council will be responsible for producing a regional emergency management plan (the Group Plan). In addition, the HBCDEM Group, on behalf of all Hawke’s Bay Councils will produce hazard and reduction plans. The goal will be to develop, consult and deliver a modern set of emergency management plans that support the HBCDEM system into the future. 

By 2027 the Hawke’s Bay region will possess up to date and modern local, regional, hazard and reduction emergency management plans.

The intent of the Service Level Agreement focus is to clarify and formalise the roles and responsibilities and service levels of each Council, locally and regionally as it relates to the CDEM system.

A draft Service Level Agreement will be produced for use in early 2025 before subsequent validation and formalisation in 2027.

The goal will be to see clarity between the functions and responsibilities of each Council, their respective CDEM teams, the Regional Council and Regional CDEM Group and other partners.

In 2025 DRAFT Service Level Agreements will provide clarity to the roles and responsibilities of each local and regional council and their CDEM teams.

In 2027 these agreements will be formalised after being tested and reviewed in 2025.