Emergency Response Kits (ERK)
 
Fiji 2016
Emergency Response Kits (ERK’s) were first introduced to New Zealand in 1983 as Emergency Boxes by the Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt, and enthusiastically endorsed by then District Governor, and now Past RI World President Bill Boyd.
 
ERKs are used as first-response survival kits in emergencies in the South Pacific Islands, can be carried by hand and provide essential items for immediate basic needs for people to be able to camp in their damaged homes whilst they get on with cleaning up and re-establishing themselves.
 
Each ERK contains essential household cooking, eating and cleaning items, clothing, tools and basic carpentry items, tarpaulin, mosquito net, fish hooks, water purification tablets and a birthing kit. The single NZ standardised filled plastic ERK can be used to hold up to 75 litres of water or food once the contents have been taken out.
 
Prepositioned stocks of ERKs are held in readiness by Rotary Clubs in Samoa, Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tonga for immediate distribution when needed, with backup and replenishment stocks of ERK’s held in Auckland ready to be air lifted or freighted by the NZ Government through NZ AID to any disaster areas in the South Pacific Islands. Deployment is handled through the local Rotary club(s) on the affected islands. In February 2016 over 1,000 ERK’s were distributed after Cyclone Winston devastated Fiji.
 
Emergency Response Kits are valued at $600 each.
 
Donations may be made online via RNZWCS at www.rnzwcs.org or for internet banking to RNZWCS Ltd account no: 03 1702 0192208 01. Place your name or Rotary club’s name in the transaction reference field. Cheques for payment or donations should be marked “Non Transferable” made out to “RNZWCS Ltd (Dist 9940 ERK)” and posted to, “RNZWCS Ltd, PO Box 20 309, Christchurch 8543”. Please also include your name and address details so that RNZWCS Ltd can send you a Registered Charities receipt for Income Tax rebate purposes.
 
on the RNZWCS page
 
Three demonstration ERKs are available for clubs to use for promotional and fundraising purposes at club and community events/festivals, etc. Please book an ERK through your nearest location:
 
Feilding: Nigel Ramsden
 
Inglewood: Mel Cook
 
Wanganui: Tony Hodge
 
Wellington: Nick Hurley