Marlborough Marine Radio

Marine Radio's network will relay news of any emergency to Civil Defence HQ in Blenheim and provide Civil Defence with a means to communicate information updates to the Kenepuru population during an emergency.

It's part of Marlborough District Council's work with the Kenepuru and Central Pelorus Sounds community to ensure maximum preparedness in an emergency.

The rural fire forces in this area have agreed to work in with Civil Defence, both to communicate information and to provide a skilled response team in a crisis, and new VHF radios have been installed at Te Mahia and the Waitaria Bay School to create a link from there to the Civil Defence emergency operations centre in Blenheim. A third radio will be installed at Clova Bay.

In an emergency, residents can tune in to Radio New Zealand National (567 AM) which, as the most widely received radio frequency in the area, will be sent regular situation updates.

• An emergency planning guide with local emergency contacts has been sent to all addresses within the Kenepuru and Central Sounds. Further copies are available from the Council in Picton and Blenheim or on the Council website, www/Marlborough.govt.nz/services/emergency management/civil defence.