Cyclone Vaianu - Prepare Message for Members

Due to the predicted risk and impact of this weather pattern, the UFBA is sharing FENZ comms to help keep our members across important updates to be prepared for your community response.

Friday 12 April 2026 - 1536hrs: Email from Megan Stiffler, FENZ Deputy National Commander

Kia Ora

Cyclone Vaianu is forecast to start impacting New Zealand tomorrow night. This will be a fast moving, life threatening and hard hitting storm that we expect to affect the whole of the North Island.

Our job is to support the all-of-government effort led by civil defence to keep our communities safe. We have been preparing for this all week, and our National Coordination Centre is fully activated to support our regions. Our Communications Centres are ready to handle the volume of 111 calls that we can expect to receive.

We are strategically pre-positioning specialist resources in consultation with region and district leaders, to support local brigades. This includes teams with enhanced rescue and water rescue capability.

I know that we are well connected to civil defence and the other emergency services at every level. Local relationships are key to working together successfully in any response and I trust those relationships you have developed will add value during this event.

We have another 24 hours to ensure that our own preparations are thorough and complete. To that end, it is my expectation that every brigade will have checked and tested equipment and systems so that we have fall-back for all eventualities. This includes:

• Ensuring that all vehicles are fully fuelled with any additional supplies topped up.
• Testing radios, satellite phones and starlinks

Above all, your safety is of the utmost importance. Please make sure you are well rested, well equipped and ready. Please do not respond outside of your training, equipment and PPE.

I will be thinking of you and your Whānau as you respond during what will be a challenging and severe event.