11 May 2018

New Zealand Army Reservists To Work with Emergency Services in Civil Defence Exercise

New Zealand Army Reservists will gather with other emergency services on the Kapiti Coast and in Porirua this weekend to practise working together in a natural disaster.

The Reservists are from Wellington Company, 5/7 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR), and include Reserve engineers.

The Civil Defence training exercise will include ground-based rescue, medical evacuation, and reconnaissance of dozens of pieces of critical infrastructure in the region such as hospitals and air fields, gas substations, water reservoirs and cell phone towers.

It is the first time Army Reservists in Wellington have been involved in this type of training, and they will work alongside the local Civil Defence team, Red Cross, police, and the Porirua Emergency Response Team.

Officer Commanding of Wellington Company, Major Isaac Holliss, said the exercise would cover practical lessons, simulations, information on what each of the organisations do, and how they could work together.

“Much of the exercise will be simulated, but it will give our soldiers the opportunity to test our readiness and prepare for a Civil Defence emergency,” Major Holliss said.

“Despite working full-time, Wellington Reservists have consistently responded to emergencies after the Christchurch earthquake, after the Rena freight ship grounding, and more recently in the Edgecombe flooding. This weekend will help everyone to see the ‘big picture’ of how they can work together.

“Teams will be mixed, so that soldiers, Red Cross and Civil Defence personnel can get to know and work with each other.”

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