23 Jul 2013

South Island iwi were prepared for quake

10:02 am on 23 July 2013

Iwi at the top of the South Island say they have weathered Sunday's earthquake extremely well.

Chair of Ngati Tama ki te Tau Ihu, Fred Te Miha, says the iwi has learnt a lot since the Canterbury earthquakes in 2011 and was well prepared.

The iwi has signed a Deed of Settlement with the government, which is expected to be passed into law by the end of this year.

Chair Fred Te Miha, says the iwi and its structures weathered Sunday's earthquake well and it did not have to implement the emergency plan.

He says the Christchurch earthquakes in 2011 taught many South Island iwi about the importance of being prepared for a natural disaster.

Mr Te Miha says the eight iwi in the top of the South Island have agreed to work together, and with Civil Defence, should a major earthquake hit.

He says each marae has its own emergency plan and hapu are well aware of what to do in a disaster.

Mr Te Miha says it is the iwi's intention to put more resources into disaster preparations should the Treaty settlement pass through parliament.

Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Maui chair Glenice Paine says its marae is in good shape and it did not have to implement its emergency plan.

She says Te Atiawa marae hosted refugees from the Christchurch earthquakes so uri or members are well aware of what can happen following a disaster.

Ms Paine says preparedness is something it strongly promotes and there is a civil defence office at the marae.