** MEDIA RELEASE **

10 September 2026

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE COMING TO GREYMOUTH

Emergency management professionals, community leaders, iwi representatives, government agencies and resilience specialists will be in Greymouth later this month for the 2026 South Island Emergency Management Conference.

Th 30 September-1 October event, focused on the theme Preparing People and Places, will be the first time for many years West Coast Emergency Management (WCEM) has hosted the biennial conference.

Regional Manager West Coast Emergency Management Claire Brown says holding the conference on the Coast provides an opportunity to showcase the region and bring together diverse perspectives.

"Attending is a great opportunity to network and hear from a range of agencies and practitioners from around the country.

"We're expecting a wide range of attendees, all of whom play an important role in emergency management and helping communities prepare for and respond to emergencies."

Conference speakers include:

· Brad Olsen, Principal Economist at Infometrics, presenting A shift in economic focus amid uncertainty.

· Lucy Pink, one of the co-founders of Contented, exploring the opportunities and challenges AI presents for organisations and communities.

· Callum McKirdy, discussing When loud and clear doesn't work: communicating with those who think differently, an increasingly important topic for those working with diverse audiences.

· Dave Gawn of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with an update about national emergency management priorities and developments.

· Dr Douglas Sutherland and Janelle Mackie exploring how the sector can better support those on the frontline of emergency response.

The conference will also celebrate a major milestone for New Zealand's resilience sector, marking 10 years of Project AF8, the multi-agency programme established to improve preparedness for a future Alpine Fault earthquake.

If you're interested in attending there's more information on the conference website: https://au.entegy.events/siemc2026

–Ends–

Contact:

Claire Brown, Regional Manager WCEM 027 836 3975

GREY & BULLER DISTRICTS the MetService have issued a Orange heavy rain warning.

Situation
Northwest gales affect parts of the Canterbury High Country today. A large trough then moves onto central New Zealand tomorrow and early Monday, bringing heavy rain to many places, and possible snow to the mountain passes of the upper South Island. Please keep up to date with the latest forecasts.

Heavy Rain Warning - Orange

Area: The Grey and Buller Districts
Period: 21hrs from 6:00am Sunday to 3:00am Monday
Forecast: Expect 140 to 200 mm of rain about the ranges, and 60 to 90 mm of rain about the coast. Peak intensities of 15 to 20 mm/h Sunday afternoon and evening.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Issued: 9:18am Saturday, 5th September 2026
Next Update: 9:00pm Saturday, 5th September 2026

Hi West Coasters,
The MetService have issued a wave warning for Jacksons Bay to Karamea. This coincides with high tides of greater than 3m so care should be taken in coastal areas especially whitebaiters who may be unfamiliar with conditions around river mouths.
Rain that is passing up the coast also has a number of rivers at elevated levels. Please take care.