Community Emergency Hub
During an emergency response, first responder agencies, like Police, St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and Auckland Emergency Management won’t be the only ones who can help.
Communities are filled with people who have different skills and can work together to solve local problems. This guide provides information to help your community set up and run a Community Emergency Hub (which could be at a religious centre, sports club or community hall).
Community Emergency Hubs are a place where the community can meet, support and help each other and make decisions together about how to best ensure the safety and comfort of everyone in their community during an emergency.
Laws still apply during an emergency and community members have no legal powers to requisition resources, however, people are often generous and willing to help and provide resources if they’re asked.
Your Community Emergency Hub also has another vital role to play. You can provide local, on the ground information back to Auckland Emergency Management’s Emergency Coordination Centre, where trained staff will be coordinating the official response to the emergency.
AECN is inviting local sports clubs and churches to volunteer their building as a Community Emergency Hub.
The presentation made at our 30-April-2025 Network Meeting on this topic is HERE.
We have AECN members who are leading this effort, as examples of Community Emergency Hubs:
- Barfoot & Thompson Stadium (East City Community Trust) - sports veneue
- St Heliers Church & Community Centre - Community Centre
You can find the map of all the Civil Defence Centres or Community Emergency Hubs through dedicated Google Maps.
Any group who owns/controls a building that is neither Council-owned nor iwi-owned is welcome to read our “Invitation to Volunteer” and get started on the process with us.
For more information:
- Ōrākei Emergency Readiness & Response Plan- Ōrākei Emergency Readiness & Response Plan Summary Sheet
- Auckland Emergency Management’s Community Emergency Hub Guide
