NZRT-12 is our Waimakariri-based response team. This team trains weekly, and is highly specialised, with a variety of search and rescue skills in fields such as First Aid, Welfare, Communications, Storm Response, and Flood Response. Further information on the NZRT-12 can be found on the Civil Defence website or the NZRT-12 team's Facebook page.

There is one welfare team based in the Waimakariri District. The welfare team trains once a month to ensure a welfare centre can be established during an emergency to receive people from the community needing assistance of some kind. Welfare centres register people needing assistance, and can provide help with accommodation, clothing, food (catering), pets, information and other kinds of support.

The Operation Support Team gather information about local damage/ issues and provide physical assistance to those in need. They support the Community Hubs and other volunteer teams as needed.

Volunteers who show up during, and after a disaster has happened to offer help are largely used for tasks that don’t require training (such as other volunteer roles within the Civil Defence structure). During the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, volunteers assisted with tasks such as silt removal from private properties and delivering information brochures to residents.

In 2025, the two groups that make up the operational support and welfare teams will become one – Emergency Support Team (EST). This aligns the name of our group with that of our neighbouring districts. They will do all the things described in the two team descriptions (some will prefer to do more CDC activities and others will do more out and about roles).

There are many ways businesses can be involved with responding to an emergency. During past emergencies businesses have offered their skill, expertise and resources to help their community. If you are a business owner and wish to register your potential assistance for the future, contact Waimakariri Civil Defence on 03 311 8900.