A new advisory group has been established in Southland to help Fire and Emergency NZ better prepare for an emergency in the province.

The Local Advisory Committee (LAC) includes Tracey Wright-Tawha (Chair), Gary Tong (Deputy Chair), Tracy Hicks, Beryl Wilcox, Alistair McKenzie, Himani Galbraith, Carla Harper, Chris Dillon and John Twidle.

Seven LAC's, from Northland to Otago and the Chatham Islands, are already in operation with a further four - including Southland - expected to be up and running by September.

They are mandated by Fire and Emergency’s Board to provide advice that helps their community to reduce risk, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and recover quickly when they happen.

Southland District Manager Julian Tohiariki says the newly appointed committee brought together people from across various communities and experiences.

"All LAC members are well respected and connected within their communities."

They represent a diverse range of interests and offer strong local knowledge and we look forward to working with them and the value they will bring.""

"The committee will provide a new voice for these communities, helping us get our emergency planning right and strengthening local relationships, as well as providing independent advice to our Board," Tohiariki said.

The committee’s first task would be to plan how to best engage and seek feedback from stakeholders across their community about local needs, and to build a shared understanding with the community about the service Fire and Emergency can and should be delivering.

"Engagement is expected to get underway in early 2025 so you’ll start hearing more about this committee in the coming months," Tohiariki said.