Selwyn District Neighbourhood Support

Our Neighbourhood Support champions in Selwyn are our Community Response Team Volunteers. There are 32 teams spread throughout the district with just over 180 people involved.

They come from all walks of life but have a common passion to look after their local people in a civil defence emergency.

Selwyn Emergency Management is looking for passionate Selwyn people to join their Community Response Teams (CRT), especially in the Brookside/Irwell, Greenpark, Killinchy, Norwood, Weedons, Broadfield, Coalgate, Motukarara, Springston, and Windwhistle areas.

The role of a CRT is to check on the most vulnerable people, gather information about what has happened/is happening during an emergency, and open a drop-in centre if required. Volunteers are a friendly face to the public, treating people with compassion and respect in emergency situations.

Lakeside CRT team leader Raewyn McCloy says the role is very fulfilling and can be a lot of fun. “You can be as involved as you want to be, but it’s all about community. We’re there to check on everyone, make sure they’re okay, pass on any needs to the main team at the council and you have first-hand information to give people too.

“From personal experience, in the earthquakes in our area we had no communications and in some ways that was the scariest part, so it’s good to be able to help people and our people are phenomenal. We’ve had a few events and we train every year. During COVID, I was the person on call for taking people RAT tests and masks and things. We love being part of it. You really get to know your people and you’re looking after one another.”

If you’re available to attend annual training and complete a Police Vetting check, then we want to hear from you. Find out more at selwyn.govt.nz/civildefence or email cdem.team@selwyn.govt.nz

Neighbourhood Support aims to make our homes, streets, neighbourhoods and communities safer and more caring places in which to live.

We have a purpose-built Neighbourhood Support website, selwyn.getsready.net, and over 800 Neighbourhood Support groups already exist in Selwyn, with details securely stored in this database.

Would you like to join one?

Making Selwyn a safe place to live, work and play!

Content provided courtesy of the Selwyn District Council: www.selwyn.govt.nz.

Sue Jenkins

Selwyn District Council

Postal Address: P O Box 90, Rolleston 7643

Phone: 0800 735 996

Email: sue.jenkins@selwyn.govt.nz