Three Clicks to Know Your Flood Risk: Auckland’s Flood Viewer Explained
Auckland Council's Flood Viewer helps locals understand flooding hazards in their neighbourhood — and take practical steps to prepare Papakura has been living with floods for generations. But...
Buying or Renting a Home in a Changing Climate
With housing development picking up pace and extreme weather becoming more common, many Papakura residents are asking: how safe is my home now, and how safe will it be in the future? This matters...
Q&A Drop-In Week 8: Turning Papakura greener and more leafy
She describes herself as being like a midwife, only her babies are trees. And just as babies need tender loving care, so do the trees Auckland Council Parks and Community Facilities project manager...
Q&A Drop-In Week 7: Supporting our diverse communities in disaster resilience & climate readiness
The changing face of Auckland makes disaster preparedness a challenge. Much of Auckland does not have English as a first language, something that has seen Auckland Council and other disaster...
Q&A Drop-In Week 6: Community Emergency Hubs—Places to gather when it matters
Papakura people know that when the weather turns severe or if a major disaster occurs, we can’t always rely on outside help arriving quickly. At the recent Community Resilience Network (CRN) pop-up...
Papakura Marae Energy Resilience Hui: Local Solutions for a Fairer and More Sustainable Energy Future
On Thursday 27 November, Papakura Marae hosted an inspiring Energy Resilience and Local Solutions Hui as a first step in building momentum for a community-led journey toward affordable, reliable,...
Q&A Drop-In Week 5: Why Every Business Needs a Resilience Strategy
A little bit of planning now might ensure your business survives a disaster. Town manager Neil Punja was at a recent Papakura Community Resilience Network drop-in session pushing a simple message....
Q&A Drop-In Week 4: A Game of TAG Could Be Life-Changing
Not too many board games can save your life, but TAG just might. The Adaptation Game – TAG – hails from across the Tasman, where it was developed in Victoria after devastating bushfires, yet another...
Q&A Drop-In Week 3: Kootuitui’s Practical Tips That Stick
Helping people turn their houses into ‘healthy homes’ is all in a day’s work for Kootuitui ki Papakura. Headed by Warm Dry Homes team leader Whiti Herewini, a Kootuitui team visits people and...
Repair Cafe Papakura Successfully Launches, Building Community Resilience One Fix at a Time
From Vision to Reality: Papakura Joins National Movement for Sustainable Living In case you missed it, Papakura officially joined the growing network of over 75 Repair Cafes across Aotearoa with a...
Q&A Drop-In Week 2: “Everybody Needs Good Neighbours”
Fancy a spot of time travel? Back to a time when neighbours were friends, vegetables appeared on the doorstep, school uniforms were passed from home to home, and there was a real sense of community....
Ask Papakura: Drop-in Q&A schedule (Oct–Dec 2025)
Saturdays, 10:00–12:00 • Papakura Museum (Living with Floods exhibition)No speeches, just friendly, practical conversations with local Resilience Guides. Bring your questions — leave with one action...
Ready Together Papakura: Why “Connected Self-Reliance” Beats Going It Alone
Self-reliant households. Connected neighbourhoods. That’s real resilience. The truth about “being resilient” When officials say “be resilient,” many of us hear “cope harder, alone.” That’s not how...
Harnessing AI to Help Papakura Prepare for Floods
When American Brian Collins swapped Seattle, Washington for Papakura he didn't know he’d one day harness the power of Artificial Intelligence to help prepare his friends and neighbours for disaster....
Papakura Flood Risk Profile: From Risk to Readiness
Papakura sits at the confluence of some of New Zealand's most challenging flood risks. While Auckland's wettest day on record---27 January 2023---made headlines across the region, it was communities...
Emergency Evacuation Planning in Papakura
When emergency strikes Papakura, your first instinct might be to evacuate immediately. However, Auckland Emergency Management's official advice is clear: "In most emergencies, it's best to stay in...
When Disaster Strikes, Community Emergency Hubs Spring Into Action
When Cyclone Gabrielle tore through Auckland in February 2023, the Takanini Gurudwara Temple transformed overnight. What started as a place of worship became a lifeline for hundreds of displaced...
5 Simple Steps Every Papakura Household Needs
Remember the January 2023 floods that left parts of Auckland underwater? While we can't predict when the next emergency will strike, we can prepare for it. The new Papakura Local Board Emergency...
Community Flood Resilience: Papakura’s Front-Footed Flood Response
If you live in Papakura, you probably remember exactly where you were during the January 2023 storms. The water came fast, and it came hard – leaving many of us dealing with flooded homes,...
Twin Parks Street Meet: Building Stronger Neighbourhoods in Papakura
There’s something special about neighbours coming together over a simple sausage sizzle—and on June 21st, 2025, the residents of Twin Parks in Papakura experienced exactly that. Their very first...
Disaster-Ready Church Workshop in Papakura
On a crisp winter morning, the Adventist Church on Alpha Street came alive with purpose and collaboration as it hosted an inspiring community resilience workshop focused on emergency readiness....
Papakura’s Amazing New Park Opens Next Week – And It Could Save Your Home From Flooding
Mark your calendars: Tuesday, June 10th from 3-5pm! Auckland Council is officially opening Ōpaheke Park in Papakura – and this isn't just any ordinary park. This clever 40-hectare space is designed...
Climate Change and Flooding: What’s the Connection?
In recent years, Auckland streets have turned into rivers during major storms. Homes have been damaged, and daily life has been disrupted by flooding. While flooding has always happened in New...
Inside the Nerve Centre of Emergency Response: CRN Visits Auckland Emergency Management
On a recent visit to the Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) headquarters, a delegation from the Community Resilience Network (CRN) Papakura was given an eye-opening behind-the-scenes look into how...
Psychological First Aid: Supporting One Another in Papakura During Emergencies
When floods, storms, or other crises hit Papakura, most of us instinctively check on physical safety first. Yet our minds need care just as urgently. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a simple,...
When Gadgets Go Up in Smoke: Why E-Waste Fires Are Serious Business
The recent massive fire at a recycling plant on Hillside Rd in Wairau Valley is a good reminder of the dangers e-waste fires pose to our community. Over the past three years Tāmaki Makaurau has...
Beyond the Big Ones: 9 Lesser-Known Disaster Risks
[This article was written using information obtained from an AEM presentation entitled “Lesser-known hazards of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland” during the first annual Community Civil Defence and...
How to Build a Personalised Grab Bag for You and Your Whānau
Emergencies don’t wait for a convenient time, and when disaster strikes, having a well-prepared grab bag can make all the difference. Whether it’s a flood, earthquake, power outage, or other...
Toxic Smoke Preparedness FAQs
Why is smoke from fires dangerous? Smoke contains hazardous chemicals that can be more harmful than flames. Inhaling it, even briefly, can cause severe health issues or death. Fires involving...
Unveiling the South Auckland Response Team: A Vital Volunteer Force for Our Community
On December 14th, 2025, members of the Papakura Community Resilience Network visited the South Auckland Response Team (NZRT-South) at their new headquarters at Ardmore Airport. Team Leader Daniel...
Papakura’s New Emergency Readiness Plan: A Community Call to Action
Emergencies can strike at any time, and being prepared is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your neighbourhood. The Papakura Local Board recently adopted the Papakura Emergency...
New Zealand Response Team FAQs
What is an NZRT? New Zealand Response Teams (NZRTs) are teams of skilled, qualified volunteer first responders who provide support to communities and Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups during...