This paper is informed by two research projects that focus on (i) improving fire services’ communication channels with new settlers and (ii) identifying factors that build post-disaster resilience. Findings show sufficient overlap between the principles of good communication and the attributes of resilience to suggest that fire services’ development of effective communication approaches for reaching new migrant groups could also help build their post-disaster resilience.
Fire services are aware that, as New Zealand becomes more culturally diverse, they need to find better ways to reach communities with a diversity of backgrounds, languages and experiences. Such communication is essential given the vulnerability of many new migrants (e.g., refugees, permanent and temporary workers, international students) to fire and other risk.
Interest in community resilience in the face of adverse events such as earthquakes, climate change, economic restructuring and bush fires has been heightened by New Zealand’s Canterbury earthquakes. Attributes of resilience have been identified to include: community participation; individual and collective confidence in community action; development of collective problem solving skills; knowledge of the collective resources of a community; effective local leadership; community trust in each other and in their institutions and leaders; and individual and community empowerment so that people feel able to draw on their own and others capabilities and resources.
This paper explores the relationship between these key elements of resilience and principles underlying communication best practice, which stress the value of relationship building, trust, interagency collaboration, working within and building on existing community processes; and aligning messages with community priorities and needs. It also discusses the importance of developing organisations’ cultural diversity so that they better reflect the cultural diversity of their communities.