(Picture caption: Fire and Emergency New Zealand has been in the Cook Islands and Niue promoting fire safety, community readiness and recovery.)
Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s strong ties to Pacific aiga has allowed them to take their knowledge of fire safety, community readiness and recovery to the Cook Islands and Niue.
Fire and Emergency Community Readiness and Recovery (CRR) advisors – Mirren Allan and Nick Linton – returned from the Cook Islands last month after supporting efforts to upskill firefighters in planning and implementing their own Cook Islands Community Readiness initiatives.
Their work focused on training the trainers at local brigades, delivering the Cook Islands Fire Safety Education Programme to schools, and sharing fire safety advice with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and people with disabilities.
The team delivered fire safety presentations alongside local firefighters to the Cook Islands National Disability Council, with Nick interpreting key messaging into sign language.
Nick also installed Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) alarms at the homes of community members who are profoundly deaf and trained local firefighters to install and maintain these alarms.
Mirren and Nick then spent some time training local firefighters in preparation for the Cook Islands Fire Safety Education Programme, starting in schools the following week.
This train the trainers session was delivered at Puaikura Fire Station to firefighters from Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade, Teimurimotia Volunteer Fire Brigade and Cook Islands Rescue Fire Service.
The Cook Islands Fire Safety Education programme for schools is based on Fire and Emergency’s Years 1 and 2 Get Firewise school programme.
Working alongside local firefighters, the team adapted the programme to include risks unique to the Cook Islands way of life – such as mosquito coil and outdoor fires, while also incorporating the Cook Islands Māori language.
Over the following days, Mirren and Nick helped local firefighters put the evolved Cook Islands Fire Safety Education Programme into action at six local schools.
At Takitumu School, firefighters from all three brigades worked together to present the programme in full without Fire Emergency New Zealand’s assistance.
Mirren says by the end of the week, local firefighters were delivering the school programme which they had made their own, with confidence.
“They took ownership of the programme and spoke Cook Island Māori to deliver key messages to the students, it was awesome,” Mirren adds.
“We are sure the brigades will do a great job continuing delivering the programme to the remaining schools on the island.
"Meitaki ma'ata to the local chiefs and firefighters for their huge efforts in bringing these initiatives to the community and hosting our CRR team.
"The programme would not have been the success it was without your commitment and dedication."