City of Auckland

06/18/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 16:42

Auckland Council removing barriers for disabled people before and during emergencies

Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) is kicking off work to break down the barriers faced by disabled people in emergency situations, as part of readiness planning in Tāmaki Makaurau.

On 17 June the council's Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Committee received an update from AEM staff about AEM's Disability Sector Inclusion (DSI) programme.

Councillor Sharon Stewart, chair of the CDEM committee says it's important the needs of all Aucklanders are planned for so that no one is disadvantaged when an emergency or natural disaster hits the region.

"International research shows disabled people are disproportionately impacted by disasters.

"I'm pleased that Auckland Council is making progress to address issues facing disabled people in emergency situations as part of our readiness planning in the region."

A number of actions are being undertaken by AEM through the DSI programme to help alleviate difficulties faced by people who live with a disability during an emergency, as Adam Maggs, General Manager of Auckland Emergency Management outlines.

"AEM values Auckland's disability communities and we received advice and recommendations from the council's Disability Advisory Panel about enhancing emergency readiness for this group.

"We are working through implementing the recommendations, including assessing the accessibility of buildings used for civil defence centres; producing accessible formats to improve AEM's public education; scoping potential emergency relief facilities that could be managed by disability organisations; and building relationships with disability groups to improve readiness information and planning.

"It's important that emergency response agencies including AEM continue to work together, so no one is left behind during an emergency," Mr Maggs says.

New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency adopted a National Disaster Resilience Strategy (NDRS) in 2019. It identified a number of difficulties experienced during an emergency by people who live with a disability.

Barry de Geest KSO, co-chair of the council's Disability Advisory panel, says members of the region's disability community had healthy discussions with AEM about emergency preparedness during a hui last November.

"Agencies can do better for the Tāmaki Makaurau disability community during the next emergency event, and the disabled community needs to have our voice heard about improvements in this space."

"Our community is entitled to the dignity of determining and communicating what we need before and during emergencies, and we deserve to be involved in decision-making and planning every step of the way, whether at a grass-roots level or working with official agencies.

"I'm pleased tangible steps are being made by Auckland Emergency Management to improve our safety and experiences during emergency events," says Mr de Geest.

Useful resources

For information on emergency preparedness for disabled people please visit the Get Ready website.

More information about getting ready for an emergency in the Auckland region is available on the Auckland Emergency Management website.

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