Setting New Standards in Emergency Response
After enduring several extreme weather events in recent years, the Tairāwhiti Emergency Management Office (TEMO) has developed a leading emergency response facility. Their approach is setting new standards in Aotearoa.
TEMO’s emergency response facility, which opened last year, is designed to IL4 seismic standards. This ensures resilience against significant earthquake events. It features multiple communication modes, backup energy supplies, and strict data security measures, making it fully self-sufficient.
Empowering our communities
Led by Ben Green, TEMO’s Group Manager, the team has taken a proactive approach. They focus on community empowerment and strong partnerships.
“Here in Tairāwhiti, we have 42 communities spread across our 52,000 population,” says Ben. “That’s why it makes sense for us to focus on empowering people within our communities to lead their own emergency response efforts.”
The Strategy: Community Clusters
A key part of TEMO’s strategy is establishing “community clusters.” Each cluster is equipped with the specialist gear needed to survive an extreme event.
Everything has been thought of. The clusters include emergency water generation, shelter, off-the-grid energy, communications, and first aid supplies. Local people receive specialist training so they know exactly how to use this equipment when it matters most.
The Challenge: Storing Vital Equipment
For Ben and the TEMO team, a major challenge was figuring out how to store and protect this vital gear. That’s where Container Space came in.
As specialised shipping container partners, TEMO leaned on us to help create secure, resilient storage spaces for each community hub.
“What Container Space gave us turned out to be much more than just shipping containers,” says Ben. “We needed a storage solution, sure. But we also needed a partner who could help us identify where best to place the containers to ensure they are accessible.”
A truly humbling spacemaking experience
Container Space Director Nick Walker says that being part of such a choice and innovative community initiative was an immense privilege.
“We’re absolutely blown away by the incredible work that Ben and the TEMO team does,” says Nick. “It’s humbling to partner with people and organisations who dedicate 100% of their time and energy to protecting the people in their communities. Having seen the immense commitment and work that’s going into this project, we believe the Tairāwhiti community should be extremely proud of the what’s being achieved here.”
Award-winning data capabilities
TEMO’s commitment to enhancing emergency response systems recently earned them a prestigious national award – the inaugural Member’s Choice Award at the Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards for their Common Operating Picture (COP) intelligence dashboard. This tool integrates real-time data with geospatial mapping to enhance situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies.
“In an emergency, managing the influx of data is crucial to understanding what is essential,” Ben said. “If community leaders have access to the right data, they can make responsive and informed decisions.”
Strengthening Aotearoa’s resilience through shared experiences
As Ben Green and his dedicated team continue to innovate and improve their emergency management systems, they set a standard for resilience and community empowerment that other regions eagerly follow. The lessons learned and partnerships formed through TEMO’s efforts provide a blueprint for effective emergency management in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
“We often share our experiences and knowledge gained from the many events we have dealt with,” says Ben. “We’ve certainly had more opportunities to put our learnings into practice, and we’re happy to share our knowledge with other regions looking to strengthen their systems.”
Need space for your community project?
If you’re looking for unique shipping container storage advice and solutions for your community, get in touch with our spacemakers, and we’ll make it happen.
If you’d like to learn more about the incredible mahi that Ben and the team at TEMO do, then we encourage you to connect with Ben on LinkedIn and follow TEMO on Facebook.