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Civil Defence stories

Ohakune residents demand answers after reservoir runs dry
Civil Defence

Ohakune residents demand answers after reservoir runs dry

Residents were warned too late as Ohakune's reservoir emptied, leaving businesses and households without water on a busy winter weekend.

By Moana Ellis • 5 min read • Wed, 12th Aug 2026
TUANZ calls for connectivity to be essential infrastructure
Broadband

TUANZ calls for connectivity to be essential infrastructure

Gaps in access and affordability are leaving one in 10 New Zealand households offline, prompting calls for stronger public investment and resilience.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Thu, 23rd Jul 2026
Catalyst urges New Zealand to back local tech in procurement
Data sovereignty

Catalyst urges New Zealand to back local tech in procurement

New procurement rules could keep critical emergency and health systems in local hands, as Catalyst warns reliance on offshore vendors raises costs and risks.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 3rd Jun 2026
Project STRIM warns of Golden Bay telecoms resilience gap
EFTPOS

Project STRIM warns of Golden Bay telecoms resilience gap

Remote residents in Golden Bay face repeated blackouts because the government says it cannot compel operators to add backup telecoms links.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Mon, 18th May 2026
Emergency management reforms could further burden councils
Northland

Emergency management reforms could further burden councils

Councils could face fresh funding pressure after Wellington backed wider emergency management reforms and minimum national standards.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Wed, 23rd Oct 2024
National disaster coordination system still on ice
Civil Defence

National disaster coordination system still on ice

Despite 20 years of attempts, New Zealand still lacks an effective disaster coordination system. Locals fear they remain unprepared for the next Cyclone Gabrielle.

By Phil Pennington • 5 min read • Tue, 30th Jul 2024
Councils mulling options after plug pulled on Three Waters Reform
Auckland Council

Councils mulling options after plug pulled on Three Waters Reform

Councils must decide whether to keep water services in-house or form regional CCOs, as new laws could reshape debt and rates bills.

By Staff Writer • 10 min read • Fri, 23rd Feb 2024
The year that was leaves a legacy
Supply Chain

The year that was leaves a legacy

Severe weather, Covid and inflation are worsening New Zealand’s infrastructure, emergency readiness and cost of living, with repairs set to take years.

By Staff Writer • 6 min read • Mon, 24th Apr 2023
Celebrating civil construction excellence
Disaster Recovery

Celebrating civil construction excellence

Projects that kept ferries running, roads safer and power supply secure were among the winners at Civil Contractors New Zealand’s awards in Wellington.

By Staff Writer • 7 min read • Sun, 1st Aug 2021
Earthquake-prone buildings explained
Physical Security

Earthquake-prone buildings explained

Owners of unsafe buildings can face deadlines of 7.5 or 15 years to strengthen or demolish them, with council support available.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Fri, 5th Mar 2021

Global Stories

Civil Defence stories

Oracle expands defence ecosystem with 10 new firms
Robotics

Oracle expands defence ecosystem with 10 new firms

Defence buyers could gain faster access to AI, robotics and secure communications as Oracle broadens its programme with 10 more start-ups.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 25th Jun 2026
SYOS SA200 drone ready for serial build after trials
Surveillance

SYOS SA200 drone ready for serial build after trials

SYOS's SA200 heavy-lift drone completes moving-platform autonomy trials, clearing the ship-ready uncrewed helicopter for serial production.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Fri, 13th Mar 2026
Belluno fire brigade deploys gas & radiation monitors
Internet of Things

Belluno fire brigade deploys gas & radiation monitors

Belluno fire brigade adopts connected gas and radiation monitors to bolster venue safety ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Sat, 21st Feb 2026
Kacific enhances disaster resilience with CommsBox Ultra launch
Civil Defence

Kacific enhances disaster resilience with CommsBox Ultra launch

Kacific Broadband Satellites Group bolsters disaster resilience with the launch of CommsBox Ultra, an upgraded device ensuring rapid, reliable communications in diverse disaster settings.

By Kaleah Salmon • 3 min read • Tue, 16th Jan 2024

Stories from Other Regions

Civil Defence stories

B.C. startup drone swarm tech wants to target wildfires faster
Robotics

B.C. startup drone swarm tech wants to target wildfires faster

From fire-ravaged British Columbia to NATO defence, FireSwarm is betting ultra-heavy drone swarms can transform fires and frontline rescues.

By Jake MacAndrew • 5 min read • Thu, 5th Mar 2026
Singapore aids civil defence with AI and smart glasses
Unified Communications

Singapore aids civil defence with AI and smart glasses

The project, underpinned by 5G technology, will be test-bedded in SCDF's Smart Fire Station on its latest-generation fire emergency vehicles.

By Gaurav Sharma • 4 min read • Fri, 15th Sep 2023
OutSystems platform chosen as part of ADF contract
Application Performance Monitoring

OutSystems platform chosen as part of ADF contract

OutSystems' low-code development platform has been chosen for the AUD$299m JP2060 Phase 4 contract awarded to Leidos Australia by the Australian Defence Force.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Thu, 30th Jun 2022