Celebrating our efforts at the Science New Zealand Awards

The It’s Our Fault project won an award at the NZ National Science Awards last night! This partnership between GNS Science and the Takapūwāhia Village Planning Committee has helped map our community’s exposure to natural hazards, with project outcomes already making a real difference in protecting people and property.

Through a ground-up approach, the GNS impact assessment team worked alongside community members to identify key areas of focus. This led to hazard mapping, a street survey, assessment of emergency supply sites, identification of buried river channels, planning for community gardens, and support for our most vulnerable whānau.

Thanks to this mahi, our community now has a clearer understanding of natural hazard risks and knows where to place emergency response containers.

We are very grateful to GNS Science for their patience, expertise, and for choosing Takapūwāhia Pā as a key focus in this important research.

Note for context: The Takapūwāhia Village Committee was established to lead community-focused projects and initiatives as part of Porirua City Council’s (PCC) Village Planning Programme. This programme, launched in 2003.

While the Village Planning Programme is no longer in place, the committee continues to meet sporadically to identify and lead community projects, with a recent focus on emergency preparedness.