Wellington Network Summit on Flooding Response Collaboration.

On the 1st March 2023, Community Networks Aotearoa, Presbyterian Support Services and Citizens Advice Bureau hosted the Wellington Network Summit on Flooding Response Collaboration. This was an opportunity for National Community Organisations in Wellington to come together, and discuss the most meaningful and impactful ways to provide support to those worse affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.  

Representatives from the following organisations attended:

Community Networks Aotearoa

  Presbyterian Support Services

Citizens Advice Bureau 

NZ Association of Counsellors 

Match | Te Puna Taurite 

Ministry of Social Development 

Community Housing Aotearoa 

Community Waikato 

Department of Internal Affairs 

Alzheimers NZ 

Charities Services 

Volunteer Wellington 

Napier Family Centre 

Social Equity and Wellbeing Network 

Volunteer New Plymouth 

Social Service Providers Aotearoa 

SocialLink

Key Takeaways from the Kōrero  

• While this Summit looked specifically at how we can best respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle, we need to create a blueprint that we can use for future disasters, that outlines how we can most effectively collaborate to create the biggest impact. 
   
• There is a clear need for a call to Central Government for further support and funding. Kerry Henderson from Napier Family support said “Our resilience is dwindling” and they need urgent support from Government in order to properly help those in need. 
   
• There needs to be clear coordination of donations and support. When not coordinated properly, it can be more of a hinderance to communities than a help. 
   
• We need to support our supporters. The volunteers and those working in Community Organisations are overwhelmed. We need to fill their cups so they can fill continue to fill those around them. 
   
• We should expect an increase demand for counselling services. The traumas of these devasting weather events run deep within individuals, whānau and entire communities. 
   
• We need to look at needs of vulnerable groups. In a disaster, their special needs are amplified and we need to look at a) who should be providing the support and b) how best we can deliver it. 
   
• Volunteering New Zealand have a database of people that have signed up and are ready to respond, but how do we deploy volunteers affectively instead of create a management crisis? 
   
• We need better awareness and education around handling pets in disasters. Some community organisations reported that people have put themselves in unsafe situations in an attempt to save their animals, which they depend on for their wellbeing. 
   
• A need for multi-channel communication. When Wi-Fi and networks are down, how do we best reach those in need? How can we ensure public services are available to everyone, not just those online? 
   
• A solution for better connecting funders to community organisations: Please go to Te Puna Taurite for funding information.