Helping communities in times of need
In a crisis, every helping hand counts.
In an emergency, there are lots of ways to get involved. You might start by supporting your whānau and neighbours, volunteering through a community group or first responder organisation, or responding to one-off opportunities listed on the Volunteering Waikato website.
Another way to make a difference is by supporting Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) behind the scenes. These roles involve helping to coordinate emergency responses – not just during a crisis, but also in the planning and readiness stages.
Volunteering with Civil Defence
The Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management team need reliable volunteers to support their team before, during, and after emergencies.
This kind of volunteering is perfect for people who enjoy structure, practical tasks, and being part of a coordinated team effort that really makes an impact when it matters most. Volunteering with Civil Defence isn’t about being out in the field, it’s about supporting the response from behind the scenes.
To volunteer with CDEM, you’ll need to complete some training in advance so when the time comes, you’re ready to step in and support where it’s needed most.
What You Might Be Doing
As a trained emergency volunteer, you could support:
- Response coordination – Helping manage welfare and logistics during emergencies.
- Office admin – Data entry, updating emergency plans and standard procedures.
- IT & comms – Supporting radios, hazard information, and tech systems.
- Creative support – Helping with photos, newsletters, events and visual content.
- Training prep – Assisting with training materials and joining emergency exercises.
What’s Required
To join the CDEM volunteer team, you’ll need:
- A clean Criminal History Check
- Must be 18+ years and live in the Waikato.
- To complete Foundation & Intermediate CDEM training (this is provided)
- A willingness to join training, exercises and support tasks throughout the year
You’ll build strong working relationships with the CDEM team and gain valuable insight into how emergency responses work.
Sound Like You?
If you’re calm under pressure, organised, and enjoy helping in a structured way this could be a great way to give back. Please register your interest and we will be in touch shortly.