Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management celebrates recruitment success during National Volunteer Week

This National Volunteer Week, Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (HB CDEM) is celebrating 21 new volunteers joining their Response and Support teams, says Shane Briggs, Director - Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management.

HB CDEM’s 2025 recruitment drive has also helped bolster the numbers of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) team with eight new members.

Shane Briggs said the new volunteers have joined a broader team of trained volunteers who play an important role in enhancing the region's emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

“It’s great to be able to welcome our new volunteers and acknowledge their commitment to their community against the backdrop of National Volunteer Week,” Shane Briggs said.

“Having a team of trained, skilled volunteers drawn from our own communities here in Hawke’s Bay enhances the preparedness of our whole region.

“Our new volunteers will gain new skills and develop relationships that will help them support the wider Hawke’s Bay community during an emergency. 

“Their dedication helps us continue to build a more resilient Hawke’s Bay,” Shane Briggs said.

The new members of the Response, Support, and AREC teams were brought together for the first time last week during a combined training exercise at Hastings Boys’ High, where volunteers practised setting up HB CDEM’s multipurpose habitation unit (MHU) tent.

Shane Briggs said it is also important to celebrate and acknowledge all the volunteers who contribute to civil defence emergency management in Hawke’s Bay.

“National Volunteer Week offers a moment to reflect on and celebrate the collective effort and mahi of all volunteers who help their communities, as well as the sacrifices made by their whānau who support them,” Shane Briggs said.

“Whether you are in a team of trained CDEM volunteers, involved with a Community Emergency Hub, or a member of the public who has offered your service on the spur of the moment, the work you do is so incredibly important and hugely appreciated,” Shane Briggs said.

While HB CDEM’s trained volunteer teams are currently at capacity, you can visit their website for more information and to complete a registration of interest form: https://www.hbemergency.govt.nz/community/helping-others/

19 June 2025

Back to News