We are thrilled to announce that EPOD has been featured in a recent Stuff article, highlighting our collaboration with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to deliver 22 EPODs to the South Island in preparation for the inevitable Alpine Fault Magnitude (AF8) event and other potential disasters.

Developed by our co-founder and manager Harry McPhail, EPODs are designed to build resilient communities by providing essential emergency and disaster readiness resources. Our partnership with Ngāi Tahu is a significant step towards ensuring that their communities and marae are well-equipped to handle large-scale emergencies.

“The pods have enough equipment, tools, resources, and support to really enable the communities to get through those first three to seven days after a disaster. It’s all about making sure these communities ‘get to grips’ with how to handle the first 72 hours after a disaster and feel confident to do so.” – Harry McPhail

Each EPOD is divided into three triage sections—red, orange, and green—addressing various stages of emergency response. From communication tools to generators, medical equipment, emergency food and water, bedding, and practical tools, EPODs are designed to support communities in transforming marae and other community centers into effective hubs of safety and care during natural disasters.

We are grateful to Stuff and the Southland Times for featuring our work and shining a spotlight on the importance of disaster preparedness and community resilience. This recognition underscores the value of our mission and the impact of our efforts. For more details, you can read the full article on Stuff’s website.

At FIRST72, we remain committed to building stronger, more prepared communities ready to face any challenge. Thank you to all who support and believe in our mission.