Get Ready, Get Set… Be Emergency Ready!
From 5–11 January 2026, MCHL is hosting Emergency Management Readiness Week a fun, hands-on week of activities to help kids and families get prepared! This collaborative event with the Manawatū District Council and Makino Aquatic Centre is packed with interactive experiences designed to teach children and their families how to stay safe and ready for anything life might throw their way.
The week launches on Monday 5 January with interactive posters at MCHL. Children can answer four questions relating to being prepared, add their sticky notes to the posters, and write their contact details on a separate piece of paper to enter the Emergency Management Prize Pack competition. This is a fun way to get families thinking about emergency preparedness right from the start.
On Thursday 8 January, Hannah Tokona, Emergency Management Officer, will lead Get Ready Kete, a craft session where children decorate their own emergency grab bags while exploring the “What’s the Plan, Stan?” activity book filled with fun preparedness exercises. Later that morning, families are invited to join an Emergency Management Scavenger Hunt, starting at MCHL and continuing across the Makino Aquatic Centre and the Manawatū District Council. Along the way, children will collect emergency items such as ponchos and whistles, answer questions, and learn practical tips about what to include in a grab bag, from food and water to first aid supplies.
On Friday 9 January, the excitement continues with the Rescue Ready! Emergency Activity Experience at Makino Aquatic Centre. Special prize packs are up for grabs for those participating.
Tokona says, “Readiness Week is a fun way for children and their whānau to learn, practice, and gain confidence in emergency preparedness. Being ready isn’t just about having the right gear it’s about knowing how to act and keeping your family safe.”
Families are encouraged to come along, get hands-on, and learn together because being prepared is not just smart, it’s fun.
For more information: Emergency Management | Manawatū District Council
These essentials and a quick checklist can help keep everyone safe when it matters most.