Civil defence centres

The Emergency Operations Centre is our civil defence headquarters in an emergency, with Council staff and representatives from emergency services and support agencies. There are also civil defence welfare centres at community halls and schools throughout the city.

During a large scale emergency the EOC is where decisions are made based on what information is currently available and resources are allocated where they can do the most good. During an emergency the EOC is only open to those agencies that have a role in assisting with the emergency.

The Palmerston North emergency management committee meets in the Emergency Operations Centre. The members are:

  • Palmerston North City Council
  • New Zealand Police
  • New Zealand Fire Service
  • St Johns
  • New Zealand Defence
  • Child Youth & Family
  • Manawatū Prison
  • MidCentral Health
  • Massey University
  • Neighbourhood Support
  • Victim Support
  • PN International Airport
  • WorkSafe
  • Red Cross
  • Salvation Army
  • Housing New Zealand

Civil defence welfare centres

The civil defence welfare centres are facilities located throughout our community and can be used during an emergency to temporarily shelter people evacuated from their homes. They are a place where registration of evacuees can be conducted and provide initial support.

As they are community facilities they are not staffed by civil defence on a routine basis. If one of the centres is opened for an emergency, its name and location will be advised over local radio.

Aokautere Community Hall
169 Fitzherbert East Road
Palmerston North

Ashhurst Village Valley Centre
21 Guildford Street
Ashhurst 

IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute
57 Aokautere Drive
Palmerston North 

Bunnythorpe School
5 Baring Street
Bunnythorpe

Life Church
590 Featherston St
Palmerston North

Linton Country School
77 Akers Road
Linton 

Longburn School
8 Carey Street
Palmerston North

Seventh-Day Adventist Church
257 Ferguson Street
Palmerston North

St. Michael's Church
70 Ellesmere Crescent
Palmerston North

Tuturu Pumau Marae, Tanenuiarangi Manawatū Inc
140 Maxwells Line
Palmerston North

In addition to the above facilities, others such as City Council community centres, PN Conference and Function Centre and Central Energy Trust Arena can also be temporarily opened as welfare centres.

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