National Media in Town to Connect

Spirited discussion and plenty of learnings were the order of the day when 30-odd people from all over the country converged on the Tairāwhiti Emergency Coordination Centre for the National Public Information Management (PIM) hui.

Included in the attendees were representatives from Radio New Zealand, the Radio Broadcasters Association, NZME, MediaWorks, the National Emergency Management Agency, journalists, producers, comms specialists and others from neighbouring Civil Defence organisations.

There’s something quite special about getting likeminded people kanohi te kanohi (face to face) around a table. It’s where the relationships are formed and strengthened, smoothing the way for when a region is in crisis.

PIMs are the kaiwhakawhitiwhiti korero – the communicators – during emergencies and the hui was a chance for manuhiri to hear about how Tairāwhiti Emergency Management Office (TEMO) operates and see first-hand the heart of their regional operations.

The region has become a hot spot for international delegations, ministers of parliament and other emergency organisations to look and learn from the award-winning team in Tairāwhiti. Group manager Ben Green provided a  behind the scenes review of disaster response operations and critical role that the PIM and media have.

“The PIM function is one of the four critical CIMS functions within our operational framework that extends into our regional volunteer network known as ‘Community Links’,” said Ben.  

But the hui was also an opportunity for all to listen to representatives from RNZ, RBA and other organisations on how we can all work together to get information out to communities during a response.

More FM breakfast host Bevan Chapman, who had been a key player in keeping Tairāwhiti connected during Cyclone Gabrielle, spoke at the hui as did Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Radio Ngāti Porou manager Erana Reedy and Tairāwhiti lead PIM Diana Dobson.

Ben said the day had been of immense value for all given the number of difference media agencies that make up the National Public Information Management group and for them to get a perspective of regional operations.