Latest news
Nationwide earthquake campaign
1 million people doing an earthquake drill? You can too! At 9:26am on 26 September (9:26-26:9) New Zealand ShakeOut aims to have 1 million people in New Zealand do a “Drop, Cover and Hold” earthquake drill. It will be the first ShakeOut earthquake drill held nationwide in the world and will be the biggest earthquake public education campaign ever staged in New Zealand.
The Government's Get Thru website is where people, businesses and other organisations can receive a range of information on earthquakes, preparedness and the Drop, Cover and Hold drill, and register for New Zealand ShakeOut.
New Zealand ShakeOut is for everyone in New Zealand. We need to know what to do in an earthquake, and practice it as our nationwide earthquake drill. Drop, Cover and Hold is the right action to take in an earthquake.
New Waikato Civil Defence Draft Plan adopted
A new five-year plan to enhance the capability of the Waikato region to respond to disasters has been formally adopted by the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group.
To read more click here.
About us
Creating a resilient community
If a disaster happened now, would you be ready and know what to do?
The Waikato Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group’s website brings together all the information you need to prepare yourself and your family to get ready for and get through a disaster.
You will also find the latest information on the hazards and risks facing the Waikato region.
Important information
Christchurch earthquake evacuees
If you are a Christchurch self-evacuee who has arrived in the Waikato region, we have information here on agencies able to assist with accommodation, health, finance, employment, schooling or someone to talk to.
You will also find all our media releases relating to the region's response to the devastating earthquake on this page.
Media releases
You can keep up-to-date with the latest warnings and news from the Waikato Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group by reading our latest media releases.
Joint Committee agendas and minutes
The Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is a consortia of local authorities, emergency services, lifeline utilities, welfare organisations, government departments and non-government organisations.
The role of the group is to work in partnership with communities to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of emergency management within the Waikato region.
The Joint Committee is a local government committee with one elected representative from each council. The role of the joint committee is to provide political oversight and governance to ensure that the functions and obligations of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group are fulfilled. You can read the committee's agendas and minutes here.