Zarra, Emergency Management Officer

Meet Zarra: From Army to Emergency Management.  

When disaster strikes, Palmerston North wants someone calm, steady, and unflappable at the helm. Luckily, the city has exactly that in Zarra, Palmerston North City Council’s Emergency Management Officer – a wahine whose career has already taken her from Army barracks to international peacekeeping missions, and now to building resilience right here at home.   

It’s been just a couple of years since Zarra joined the Council, but she’s already made her mark. Her background as an Army Logistics Captain gives her an enviable ability to plan, organise, and adapt under pressure – the kind of skills most of us hope never to have to use, but are very glad someone like her has.   

From NZ to the Middle East – a career of service   

Zarra joined the New Zealand Army at 19, beginning a career that would span continents and take her into some of the world’s most complex environments.   

In 2018, she deployed to Iraq as part of the Australia-New Zealand taskforce working alongside the US-led mission. There, she ran the logistics company in support of the taskforce that was training the Iraqi Defence Force – high-intensity, high-pressure work that demanded clear thinking, strong teamwork, and meticulous coordination.   

Then came one of the most impressive chapters in her career: a year in Israel serving with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO). As a military observer and team leader of a multinational group, Zarra helped monitor the decades-old treaty between the two countries. The role required diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, and a steady presence in regions where tensions can shift quickly.   

In 2023, she was part of the first all-female leadership team deployed by UNTSO – a  milestone that made headlines in Australia and New Zealand.    

“It taught me a lot about people,” she says. “When you’re working in high-stakes environments, trust and relationships matter just as much as planning.”   

Bringing global experience back to Palmy 

 These days, instead of leading multinational teams, Zarra is helping lead Palmerston North’s emergency preparedness – everything from earthquakes to floods to major storms.   

“Emergency management and military operations have many similar principles,” she explains. “You’re trained to deal with high-intensity situations, to operate under pressure, and to understand what’s needed. And that absolutely includes building relationships.”   

Those skills were on display last November, when Council joined regional partners for a large simulated emergency exercise. The scenario: a “pretty decent” earthquake hitting the city. Zarra helped guide how Council would respond and coordinate across agencies – the exact kind of work she once did on a global scale.   

Her message to residents is clear: everyone has a role to play. “In a disaster, it may be days before help can arrive. Get to know your neighbours so you can help each other. Think about how your community might support itself. And if you can, have emergency supplies ready — including a grab bag in case you need to leave quickly.”   

More than the job   

You might expect someone with Zarra’s background to be all intensity, but she brings warmth, humour, and a genuine love of people to the job.   

Outside of work, she’s studying politics and international relations, and immersing herself in te reo Māori – all while staying as active as ever. But she makes time for simple pleasures. “Palmy's café scene is pretty good,” she laughs. “I love a good brunch!”

Watch: Simulated earthquake emergency exercise