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Community Resilience Groups - local people, local support
Are you interested in helping your community in an emergency?
Quick links
About Community Resilience Groups
In a large-scale event, help will come but it may take time. Emergency teams will quickly mobilise, with their immediate priority being to save lives and stabilise critical infrastructure like roads, hospitals, power, and communications. Reaching everyone won’t happen right away, so the more prepared and self-sufficient we are, the better we can support ourselves and our communities.
That’s where Community Resilience Groups (CRGs) come in. These trained neighbourhood volunteers use local knowledge and plans to keep their communities connected, resourced, and ready to support one another. Their efforts ease pressure on emergency services and speed up recovery.
Emergency Management Otago and QLDC have been working with locals across the district to build a strong CRG network. There are currently 18 groups—some are well-established while others are just getting started. CRGs are a vital link between their communities and the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), where agencies come together to coordinate the wider response.
When CRGs ‘stand up’ in an emergency, their key responsibilities include:
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Setting up and running a Community Emergency Hub* — a safe, central place for the neighbourhood to get information, share resources and support each other. Starlink access may also be available to help you quickly check in with your key contacts.
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Coordinating local essentials like food, shelter, and communication.
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Sharing official updates with their community and passing on local information and needs to the Emergency Operations Centre.
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Linking up with other CRGs via established networks like Starlink or emergency radios and sharing intelligence, challenges and solutions.
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Using local knowledge, connections and resources to solve problems faster.
*If a hub can’t open or needs extra support, QLDC will step in to help establish Civil Defence Centres to help during emergencies. These centres connect emergency services with the local community to give support and information.
CRGs receive training and support from Emergency Management Otago, and they’re always happy to welcome new faces. No special skills are needed, just a willingness to help.
Connect with your Community Resilience Group
Most Community Resilience Groups have identified a location to set up their Community Emergency Hub in and, in some cases, an alternative site if the first is not available. Not all hubs will open in an emergency, and it’s possible that a hub location may be moved to another site if the building is deemed unsafe.
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CRG |
Community Emergency Hub location |
Connect |
More information |
|---|---|---|---|
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Arrowtown |
Arrowtown Community Centre, 12 Centennial Ave, Arrowtown |
WhatsApp: Arrowtown CRG |
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Arthurs Point |
Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park, 70 Arthurs Point Rd, Arthurs Point |
Arthurs Point CRG Facebook page WhatsApp: AP Civil Defence |
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Cardrona |
This group is in the early stages of forming. If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact Dave Grimes. |
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Central Queenstown |
This group is in the early stages of forming. If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact Craig Gibson. |
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Fernhill/Sunshine Bay |
Primary: Mercure Queenstown Resort, Sainsbury Rd, Fernhill Alternative: Heritage Queenstown, 91 Fernhill Rd, Fernhill |
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Frankton/Quail Rise |
TBD |
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Gibbston |
Primary: Kinross Winery and Cellar Door, 2300 Gibbston Highway Acting shelters: Mount Rosa Wines, 47 Gibbston Back Rd Kawarau Bungy Centre, Gibbston Valley Gibbston Valley Winery, 1820 State Highway 6 |
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Glenorchy |
Primary: The Headwaters Eco Lodge, 42 Oban St, Glenorchy Alternative: Glenorchy Hall, 31 Mull St, Glenorchy |
Glenorchy Country Radio 89.2 FM |
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Jack’s Point and Hanley’s Farm |
Jack’s Point Golf Course and Restaurant, McAdam Drive, Jack’s Point |
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Kelvin Peninsula |
Primary: Wakatipu Croquet Club, Jardine Park, Kelvin Heights Alternatives: Lakeland Park Christian Camp and Convention Centre, 496 Peninsula Rd, Kelvin Heights Queenstown Golf Club, 759 Peninsula Rd, Kelvin Heights |
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Kingston |
Kingston Golf Club, 32 Gloucester St, Kingston |
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Lake Hāwea/Hāwea Flat |
Hāwea Flat: Hāwea Flat School, 576 Camp Hill Rd OR Hawea Flat Hall, Cnr Kane & Camp Hill Rds Lake Hāwea: Lake Hāwea Community Centre, 28 Myra St, Lake Hāwea |
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Lake Hayes and Shotover Country |
Shotover Primary School, 57 Stalker Rd, Shotover Country |
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Luggate |
Luggate Memorial Centre / Whare Mahana |
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Makarora |
Makarora Primary School, 31 Rata Rd, OR QLDC Utility Building, 2 Kiwi St, OR Makarora Tourist Centre, 5944 Haast Pass-Makarora Rd |
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Maungawera Valley |
awg@xtra.co.nz |
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Wānaka |
Primary: Lake Wānaka Centre, 89 Ardmore St, Wānaka Alternatives: Wānaka Community Hub, 34 McDougall St, Wānaka The Wānaka Presbyterian Community Church, 94 Tenby St, Wānaka Wānaka Football Club, Kelly’s Flat Reserve, Aubrey Rd, Wānaka |
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West Queenstown (Bob’s Cove, Closeburn, Wilson’s Bay, Alpine Retreat area) |
This group is in the early stages of forming. If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact Craig Gibson. |