New Southland Local Advisory Committee launched

23 Whiringa-ā-nuku 2024

Childhood memories of a welcoming brigade culture and its dedicated service to her town helped inspire Tracey Wright-Tawha be part of Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Southland Local Advisory Committee.

The Chief Executive of the Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust is Chair of the freshly minted Southland Local Advisory Committee, which earlier this month gathered with representatives from Fire and Emergency for a pōwhiri and induction on the wild and windswept South Coast.

The two-day hui took place at Takutai o Te Titi Marae, Tracey Wright-Tawha’s home marae at Colac Bay. It marked Fire and Emergency’s ongoing quest to connect more closely with communities.

The Southland committee is part of a national rollout. Sixteen local advisory committees will soon be in place around the country to provide local insights and advice to the Fire and Emergency Board, engage with their local communities and provide input into strategy and planning.

Tracey Wright-Tawha says the opportunity to kōrero with Fire and Emergency for an extended period helped set up the committee for success.

"Great relationships and valuable insights were cemented over this time. The two-day induction was top notch, informative and, as committee members, we were highly impressed with the calibre of the team delivering. Very professional. In understanding how brigades, volunteers and services work, we can reflect back community feedback to influence that strategy."

Keeping vulnerable people safe and protected is a big part of what motivates Tracey Wright-Tawha. Leading the Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust, she manages a network of health and social services in Southland.

"I have spent a career in health and social servicing, understanding the needs of people in deprivation, and inequity of approaches. I think that I can be a really good representative voice for people who need support to get their voice heard. I’m talking about people who are perhaps low-income earners, benefit-dependent, maybe isolated and living alone. I want to make sure that I can represent those needs.

"But I want to make sure always that I’m reflecting the voice of my community, not necessarily my own views. It’s nice being part of something that’s bigger than yourself, because that’s about service to community - and I love that."

She speaks persuasively about getting to the flax roots of important issues. Her own roots trace north of Colac Bay.

"I grew up as a kid in Te Anau and my Ngāi Tahu koro (grandfather), George Radford was the fire chief. As a kid growing up, I didn’t have any understanding of what they were talking about, but I’d go with my Nana to every meeting at the station, and we would roast the peanuts in the back kitchen and put out the sandwiches. It was great being a part of the community, knowing that the work they did was for the benefit of people’s wellbeing and safety. That’s what motivated me."

The experience of the nine Southland Local Advisory Committee members and their commitment to make their communities safer was evident during the recent hui. Joining Tracey Wright-Tawha on the Southland Local Advisory Committee are Gary Tong (Deputy Chair), Tracy Hicks, Beryl Wilcox, Alistair McKenzie, Himani Galbraith, Carla Harper, Chris Dillon and John Twidle.

"It’s great to get this kaupapa underway," Jules Tohiariki, Southland District Manager for Fire and Emergency says.

"We had a productive time together at the induction. For our leaders, it was an opportunity to understand how our new Southland Local Advisory Committee members can add value to our mahi. And I believe they came away with a helpful understanding of how we operate at a District level in Southland. The real value for us is the opportunity to understand our communities through the networks and experiences of our committee members. This will provide valuable insights for our District teams."

Mike Grant, Fire and Emergency’s Te Kei Region Manager, is delighted to have the new local advisory committee established. "This is going to be a very strong committee," he says. "I’m sure, when I look around the room, that we’re on a winner."

The Southland Local Advisory Committee will meet three times a year, beginning next February.