Supporting Schools to be Prepared

Given they house our children for six hours a day, schools are important places to foster preparedness for natural hazards.

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Kōrero about Tsunami Evacuations

When several large earthquakes occurred offshore of East Cape and near the Kermedec Islands on 5 March 2021, researchers at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, thought immediately about coastal kura of Te Tairāwhiti Gisborne and Waiāriki Bay of Plenty.

Social scientists Lucy Kaiser, Kelvin Tapuke, and David Johnston had been working with tamariki (children) in these exposed regions to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis.

In the wake of the earthquakes – which led to both natural and official tsunami warnings but thankfully only very small tsunamis – the researchers visited kura (schools) to talk about their experiences.

Overall, communities had evacuated effectively, had long-standing knowledge of earthquake and tsunami hazards, experience from past events, and a wide range of approaches to managing risk.

However, all kura were keen to work with the scientists to explore opportunities for improving their emergency preparedness.

Kelvin Tapuke (left) and Lucy Kaiser (right) with Principal Karla Kohatu (centre) on a visit to view recovery from the 2022 floods in Tokomaru Bay. Photo by David Johnston.

Kura as Preparedness Hubs

Tamariki may be some of the most vulnerable members of society when it comes to facing natural hazards, but they are also some of the most powerful because of their ability to learn and adapt and bring communities along with them.

Lucy explains,

“For very isolated, rural communities, kura act as central hubs with connections to the wider community. They are an important conduit for information because tamariki go home and talk about things with their whānau.”

Lucy Kaiser (GNS Science and the Joint Centre for Disaster Research at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University)

With funding from Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE, the researchers have been visiting seven kura and holding hui (meeting) with staff members to explore what science or resources would be useful for boosting preparedness.

They also aim to nurture curiosity and spark new interests with engaging, hands-on activities because, as Lucy says, “the tamariki in school now are going to be our future scientists and emergency responders.”

Joint initiatives include development of response plans, maps and signage to aid tsunami evacuation, creation of care kits with the children, and supporting school leaders in preparedness endeavours.

Taka, uhi, mau tonu (drop, cover, hold) being practised by tamariki at Te Kura ā-Iwi o Torere in the Bay of Plenty. Kelvin Tapuke, Wency Rewi, and Elsa Kupa oversee the earthquake preparedness exercise. Photo by David Johnston.

Whakawhanaungatanga in Research

As Māori researchers, Lucy (Ngāi Tahu-Ōraka-Aparima) and Kelvin Tapuke (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāi Tai, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau ā- Apanui, Te Aitanga a- Māhaki, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Toa Rangatira) put relationships at the centre of their work and they take the time necessary for collaborative approaches to evolve.

Kelvin’s childhood connections to Te Tairāwhiti and their previous work installing seismometers in schools have helped build trusting relationships with kaumātua (older adults) and leaders of Ngāti Porou.

Ngāti Porou have also been working extensively with the local Civil Defence and Emergency Management office. It is through such collaborations between iwi, scientists, and emergency managers that community resilience improves.

Lucy is also determined that the science must be at the service of the people,

“As researchers working with communities, we want to be told what to do rather than the other way around. We are working in a responsive, collaborative way by asking, ‘what help do you need from us’ instead of, ‘here’s what we’re planning to do, are you on board?’”

Lucy Kaiser

Te Ara Hikurangi, the mountain that is sacred to Ngāti Porou as one of their ancestors. Image provided.

Tikanga for Preparedness

Māori take a holistic approach to preparedness and disaster response. A bit like Te Whare Tapa Whā in which all aspects of health and wellbeing are considered – much of the kaupapa (work/topic) is about caring.

Lucy elucidates, “Manaakitanga – the practice of offering hospitality – is just what these communities do. It’s what naturally happens whenever there’s a crisis or funeral or flood. Marae and kura open their doors to look after each other.”

This has led to another school-based initiative in which the curriculum has been adapted to emphasize a caring approach to emergency situations rather than a fear-based approach.

Lucy Kaiser and Kelvin Tapuke visiting Tolaga Bay Area School as part of the earthquake and tsunami preparedness work. Image provided.

Resourcing for Resilient Communities

There are many strengths in these small, predominantly-Māori communities. They have the know-how, strategies, and skills to look after themselves.

But resources are stretched, and fatigue runs deep. With increasing extreme weather events, many inhabitants of Te Tairāwhiti are now living in a perpetual state of response and recovery.

The researchers are under no illusion – what these communities most need is not more people telling them what to do, but more resources for looking after their land and people.

Certainly, there’s a nationwide need for better resourcing of local communities to cope with hazard events.

In the meantime, these researchers will continue working with schools to offer what they can towards building resilient communities.

Our annual Request for Proposals (RfP) supports eighteen-month, Associate Investigator led research projects that complement the Coordinated Research Projects within the Disciplinary Themes (DT) and Inter-disciplinary Projects (IP) of QuakeCoRE's Research Programme.

The RfP includes Proposal Development Grants which enable early career researchers to develop strong contestable external research proposals.

The annual call for RfP Projects and Proposal Development Grants is held in September / October and is announced on the QuakeCoRE website and in our newsletter.