Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management hosts major exercise to test regional readiness

A major programme of civil defence emergency management exercises concluded last week, with Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management (HBEM) hosting the final in a month-long series designed to test how well the region can activate and coordinate its emergency response.

Exercise Activate ran across Hawke’s Bay’s four city and district councils during August and September, culminating in the final exercise at the Group’s Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) in Hastings last Thursday.

Based on a region-wide severe weather scenario, the tabletop exercise tested how local Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) and the regional ECC would activate, establish situational awareness, and coordinate response actions in the crucial first 24 hours of an emergency.

Shane Briggs, Director of Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management, says Exercise Activate marks an important step in strengthening the region’s preparedness:

“Every emergency is different, but we know that strong systems, clear roles, and competent people make all the difference when we need to respond quickly.

“Exercise Activate gave our councils and staff the opportunity to practise those first crucial steps of activation and coordination.

For many participants, it was their first time in an exercise setting, and it has been a valuable chance to embed training, build confidence, test processes, and identify areas for improvement.

“I want to thank everyone who has contributed. We had great support from council staff and their leadership teams who all recognise the importance of building Hawke’s Bay’s response capability through ongoing training and exercises,” Shane Briggs said.

Almost 90 people took part in Thursday’s ECC exercise — primarily trained Hawke’s Bay Regional Council staff, alongside HBEM personnel, and partner agencies. Across the series, more than 240 staff from Hawke’s Bay’s councils participated.

The exercise programme forms part of the Hawke’s Bay CDEM Group Transformation Strategy, which commits to ongoing training, exercising, and investment in people to strengthen resilience across the region.

“We’re committed to learning, adapting, and improving how we work together across councils, mana whenua, agencies, and communities to keep people safe,” Shane Briggs said.

“Exercises like this are about more than a single day’s activity – they’re about building a culture of readiness so our communities can have confidence that we are prepared for future emergencies,” Shane Briggs said.

Exercise Activate is the first series of exercises in a staged programme supporting the Hawke’s Bay CDEM Group Transformation Strategy. Lessons identified will inform future training and operational improvements, and the next phase of exercising in 2026.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Tabletop exercise: This is a facilitated discussion where staff work through a scenario, talk about actions, make decisions, and identify strengths and areas for improvement. It’s a safe, low-pressure way to test roles, practise problem-solving, and build coordination in a team setting. Tabletop exercises are commonly used by CDEM and partner agencies to strengthen preparedness and inter-agency coordination.

Functional exercises: The next stage of exercises, to be rolled out in 2026, will involve functional exercises — hands-on activities where participants practise their actual roles in a simulated emergency, using the systems, processes, and tools they would rely on in a real event. These will also include community-focused activities, such as setting up Community Emergency Hubs or Civil Defence Centres.

23 September 2025

Back to News