Disaster Waste Workshop

Moea tō Poi, moea tō taiaha 

(sleep with your poi, sleep with your taiaha)

This whakatauki is about being prepared for the unexpected. With climate change expected to increase extreme weather events and natural disasters it is even more important for us all to be prepared. Is your council prepared to tackle the aftermath of a disaster, especially in the face of climate change and the increasing frequency of natural disasters in New Zealand? Our recent survey shows that only a handful of councils have either developed a waste management plan or are in the process of developing one.

Climate change is driving a rise in the frequency and severity of natural disasters across New Zealand. Our workshop, tailored for councils across New Zealand and anyone else involved in managing waste, aims to equip you with the expertise to develop an effective disaster waste management plan that will ensure you can jump into action if disaster strikes.

During this workshop, you will hear from speakers with first-hand experience of managing waste after a disaster:

• Hinemoa Katene, Wellington Region Emergency Management - When disaster strikes it’s too late to pick up the phone: building a relationship with mana whenua
• Cameron Burton, PDP - The essentials of disaster waste management planning: 4 key things
  
• Sarah Le Claire, Auckland Council - Auckland Council’s work-in-progress Disaster Waste management plan and reflections from other councils on barriers / roadblocks
• Angela Atkins, Hastings District Council - Lessons learnt from Cyclone Gabrielle
• Greg Slaughter, Waste Management - A waste collector's perspective on dealing with disaster waste
• Sarah Newall, HAIL Environmental - What is a concern when it comes to contaminated soil?

We will then look at the tools available to aid in disaster waste management planning.

The workshop will end with an interactive session, where councils will be invited to work together in regional groups to determine what needs to be done to get regional and local disaster waste management plans written and ready to be tested.

Don't wait until disaster strikes! Arm your council with the tools and expertise necessary to mitigate the impact of crises and protect your community's future in the era of increased natural disasters driven by climate change. Let's work together to make New Zealand safer, more prepared, and more resilient in the face of an ever-changing climate landscape.