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 families. Volunteers worked through the night, converting prayer halls into sleeping areas while the community kitchen—already equipped to feed large gatherings—churned out hot meals around the clock. As dawn broke, a hand-painted sign appeared at the entrance: “All Welcome – Food, Shelter, Information Here.”

What Is a Community Emergency Hub?

Think of Community Emergency Hubs as the neighborhood’s first response when disaster strikes. Unlike Civil Defence Centres run by Auckland Emergency Management with government resources, these hubs are opened and operated by local people who know their community best. They spring up in the crucial first 24-36 hours after an emergency, often before official help arrives.

According to Auckland’s emergency plans, these hubs are “pre-identified, community-led places that support local residents to coordinate efforts and help each other during and after an emergency.” They operate on a simple principle: after checking on your household and neighbors, many problems can be solved at the community level before needing official assistance.

Locations & Roles: Your Local Lifelines

In the Papakura area, several locations stand ready to become emergency hubs. The Ngāti Tamaoho Trust on Hingaia Road draws on generations of manaakitanga, offering both practical support and cultural guidance. The Red Hill Community Centre, perched on Dominion Road, serves as a natural gathering point for surrounding neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Drury Hall on Tui Street has reinforced its role through regular community events, making it a familiar refuge in uncertain times.

Walk into any activated hub and you’ll find an organized system. The Community Emergency Hub Guide identifies specific volunteer roles: a Hub Supervisor oversees operations and liaises with Auckland Emergency Management, an Information Coordinator gathers and verifies what’s happening locally, while a Reception team welcomes arrivals and directs them to appropriate services. A well-marked Public Information Board displays verified updates, while the Needs and Offers boards match community resources with requests for help.

Running a Hub in the First 36 Hours

The first 36 hours are critical. According to the hub guide, volunteers should focus on three key objectives: providing trusted information so everyone understands what’s happening and how to stay safe, solving problems using locally available resources, and gathering information about community conditions to pass to the Emergency Coordination Centre.

The hub operates through organized teamwork. The Information Coordinator maintains a Situation Board tracking incidents by time, location, what’s happening, the hub’s response, and priority level. This information feeds into status reports sent to Auckland Emergency Management at least daily, focusing on major impacts like power outages, blocked roads, or building damage.

Communication flows both ways—the Communications role monitors multiple channels (radio, social media, direct contact) while also maintaining contact with any teams safely gathering information in the field. Every outgoing team has a communication plan specifying how they’ll stay in touch, check-in frequency, and expected return time.

Training & Activation: Preparing Before Disaster

The Papakura Community Resilience Network (CRN) plays a vital role in emergency preparedness. As a “community-led initiative working to ensure Papakura, Drury and Takaanini are prepared for disasters,” they offer training opportunities and resources through their website at nspapakura.co.nz/papakura-resilience.

Auckland Emergency Management provides comprehensive training for communities wanting to establish emergency hubs. The Community Emergency Hub Guide serves as both a training tool and operational manual, covering everything from building safety checks to volunteer role descriptions. Communities practice using tabletop exercises, walking through scenarios and identifying potential challenges before real emergencies strike.

When phones fail, hubs employ creative communication methods. The guide emphasizes having backup systems ready—CB radios for local coordination, runners between locations, megaphones for announcements, and pre-printed signs in multiple languages stating “Help Available Here.”

Inclusive Support: Nobody Left Behind

True community hubs embrace everyone. The hub guide stresses that one in five New Zealanders has some form of impairment—hearing, vision, physical, mobility, or cognitive. All signage must be clear and easy to read, spaces must accommodate mobility challenges, and volunteers should be prepared to assist in various ways.

The Community Space role focuses on providing comfort and maintaining dignity for those affected. Following Ministry of Health guidelines, volunteers listen without judgment, help people feel in control by letting them make their own decisions, and connect them with practical support. Cultural considerations matter too—the guide emphasizes understanding diverse community needs and ensuring everyone feels welcomed.

Even pets get consideration. The Building Maintenance role includes setting up safe, fenced areas for animals, recognizing that many people won’t evacuate without their companions.

Strengthen the Chain: Your Turn to Help

Community Emergency Hubs work because ordinary people step up. The hub guide makes clear that volunteers need no special powers—laws still apply during emergencies, and hubs operate through community generosity and cooperation.

Start by familiarizing yourself with the Community Emergency Hub Guide and connecting with your local hub organizers through the Papakura Community Resilience Network. Got questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Consider which volunteer role might suit you—the guide includes a personality test matching skills to positions.

To receive hub training, contact Auckland Emergency Management at [email protected]. Sessions cover practical skills from setting up information boards to maintaining communication systems.

Even without formal training, you strengthen community resilience by knowing your nearest hub locations, understanding the “check on your household, then neighbors, then community” approach, and spreading awareness. When the next emergency hits, these hubs will activate within hours—ready because people like you chose to prepare.