21 Jul 2014

Emergency role proposed for marae

7:24 pm on 21 July 2014

Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye is supporting Northland iwi in their plans to talk about marae being used as hubs in an emergency.

Te Tai Tokerau has been hit by widespread damage caused by flooding.

Iwi chairs are expected to meet next month to discuss which marae could be used as civil defence hubs, such as being used for a place to sleep or to shower.

The minister, Nikki Kaye, said there were already a number of marae across the country which were part of civil defence responses, and welcomed the move to use more.

She said it was important that iwi were part of the plans in what happened in an emergency.