The Tairāwhiti Emergency Management Office (TEMO) is the lead in bringing together a response for the region in time of strife – that could include after an earthquake or during a weather event or health response like COVID-19.

TEMO covers the four 'R's' – Reduction, Readiness, Response and Recover – and works alongside other organisations and stakeholders both in and out of the region. That includes Central Government, local iwi, the Police, FENZ and many others.

In ‘peacetime’ the TEMO team train others to ensure the region has readiness across its many communities and sets up hubs so those who are isolated can be self-sufficient during an emergency.