31 February 2023 – Update
Te Whare Maire o Tapu Whānau Ora: 25 EPODs Delivered Across the Wairoa Region
We are proud to announce the successful delivery of 25 EPODs for Te Whare Maire o Tapu Whānau Ora across the Wairoa region. Thanks to funding from Te Puni Kōkiri, this significant deployment was completed just days before Cyclone Gabrielle devastated Hawke’s Bay, with the Wairoa district being particularly hard hit.
Our emergency and disaster pods, developed by co-founder and manager Harry McPhail, are designed to provide communities with the essential resources, tools, and support they need to become self-sufficient in the critical first days following a disaster. The EPODs delivered to the Wairoa region are now playing a crucial role in helping the community recover and rebuild after the severe impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Te Whare Maire o Tapu Whānau Ora’s proactive approach to disaster readiness has been vital in mitigating the effects of the cyclone. Each EPOD is equipped with essential items, including communication tools, generators, medical supplies, emergency food and water, bedding, and practical tools, ensuring that the Wairoa region’s communities can transform local marae and community centres into effective hubs of safety and care during natural disasters.
“EPOD has provided exceptional customer service from concept to on-time delivery of 20 x Resilience Emergency Pods for the Wairoa district. The communities will benefit enormously from this initiative for years to follow as our area is prone to climate change and isolation in the event of a natural disaster that unfortunately eventuated recently with Cyclone Gabrielle.” – Rangi Manuel of Te Whare Maire o Tapuwae Wairoa
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to support Te Whare Maire o Tapu Whānau Ora in their mission to safeguard and empower their communities. This deployment, completed in the nick of time, highlights the critical importance of preparedness and the positive impact of our EPODs in times of crisis.
For more details on our work and the impact of our EPODs, please stay tuned for upcoming updates and stories from the Wairoa region. At FIRST72, we remain dedicated to building stronger, more prepared communities ready to face any challenge.