Disaster Innovation, Research and Training network Matariki Dinner 2025

At the heart of Ngā Ngaru Wakapuke is the idea that — through developing our knowledge of potential earthquake sequences — we can build our resilience to their impacts.

An important part of this is working closely with case study communities across the Transition Zone to explore what they already know about possible earthquake disruption in their rohe, and how they are planning and preparing accordingly. One of these case studies is Vogelmorn, a busy community based around an old bowling club in a south Wellington suburb.  

For the last year, a small group of local residents has been gathering monthly under the umbrella of DIRT — the Disaster Innovation, Research and Training network. This open, friendly and informal group aims to support each other to become better prepared for a significant earthquake, extreme weather or other disaster scenario. Sessions are hosted by members of the community or invited experts and alternate between hands-on learning, and discussion-based sessions.  

On the 29th June 2025, a team from Ngā Ngaru Wakapuke RA1: The Future and the DIRT network co-hosted a shared ‘foraged’ dinner at Vogelmorn, inspired by the gathering traditions of Matariki. Members of DIRT, their friends and neighbours were invited to come together to reflect on the DIRT story so far, and think about how they’d like to see the initiative develop into the future. The core aim was to deepen connections in the community, whilst lightly exploring some of the ideas and concerns people have about preparing for a large-scale emergency event.  

Over an outstanding table of food — much of it foraged or grown locally — members of the local community got to know each other and discussed their own ideas for becoming more ‘prepared’ for disasters. They thought about what items they’d like to see in a community ‘disaster relief’ storage container soon to be installed nearby and what else they’d like to learn about. Ideas included sessions on food-growing and foraging, community outreach, survival skills and home quake-proofing.

It was an extremely convivial evening that demonstrated a strong local appetite for coming together to talk and learn about disaster preparedness. We are looking forward to working with this community over the coming years, and learning together about what it takes to become more resilient.