A small delegation from the Cook Islands emergency management team are heading out of the region buoyed by what they hope they can introduce to their country after visiting Tairāwhiti Civil Defence.

Technical coordinator Stephano Tou and planning and advisory coordinator Ella Napara had a whistle stop visit to Tairāwhiti as part of their NEMA (National Emergency Management Association) supported trip to New Zealand which also included stop-offs in Wellington and Palmerston North.

“I am already thinking about how we can replicate some of the systems Tairāwhiti has in place, using the tools we have available to us,” said Mr Tou. “We came here to see the ECC (Emergency Coordination Centre) design concept and the tools being used. We’ll be taking from it the things that are suitable for us.”

TEMO general manager Ben Green and readiness and operations manager Marcus Tibble showed the visitors the state of the art desalination units, the solar powered stations and a 50-litre water heater, as well as the award-winning COP (Common Operating Picture) among other things at the centre.

“Many of these are not things we have in the Cook Islands,” said Mr Tau, who loved the self-sustainability the equipment provided a community. “It is very relatable here in terms of the population and challenges faced.”

Mr Green had underlined the importance of not relying on a national system in times of crisis. “It is good Ben recognises that and plans with that in mind.”

Mr Tou had built an internationally award winning dashboard but wanted to take it to the next level based on what he had seen in Tairāwhiti.

Ben Green said the visit was a win-win.

“We gain just as much when hosting international groups given our dispersed communities as well as the region being subject to being cut off,” said Mr Green. “We often take for granted what resources and capabilities we have developed and imbedded here in Tairāwhiti, however and in context of the South Pacific, we actively collaborate with one another on the back of these events”

Ms Napara said it had been an amazing trip. “It is blowing my mind in a good way,” she said. “I like the systems here (in Tairāwhiti) – they are so impressive. Everything is there right at your fingertips. We want to build a system where all the data is collected and saved.”

The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands – 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation.

The visitors were hugely grateful to NEMA and the Cook Islands government for their support for the trip.

© Scoop Media