Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe across Aotearoa.

Events like Cyclone Gabrielle showed how quickly communities can become isolated when roads, power and communications fail. In many places it was marae, community centres and local leaders who stepped forward to support whānau, opening their doors as welfare centres and coordinating local response. But many of these communities lacked the equipment, infrastructure and systems needed to sustain that support safely.

Crisis Bunker was created to help change that.

Crisis Bunker was founded in 2023 by Hamish Coulter (Ngāti Porou, Tainui, Maniapoto). After witnessing the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and the pressure placed on isolated communities, Hamish saw the need for practical systems that allow communities to support themselves when outside help may take time to arrive.

Drawing on his experience building organisations and leading large scale initiatives, he established Crisis Bunker to equip households, businesses and communities with the tools and infrastructure needed to respond safely and effectively when natural disasters strike.

Crisis Bunker is a kaupapa Māori enterprise grounded in the principles of:
Mana motuhake – supporting communities to stand strong and self determined.
Mana manaaki – caring for whānau and supporting others in times of need.
Kotahitanga – working together across communities and organisations.
Our role is not to replace emergency services, but to strengthen the ability of communities to respond locally in the critical early stages of an emergency.

Crisis Bunker works with whānau, schools, businesses, marae and community organisations across Aotearoa to strengthen disaster preparedness.

Our work includes:
• Community Resilience Hubs
• Emergency Response Trailers
• Resilience Lockers
• Workplace and school preparedness systems
• Household survival packs.

These systems provide power, communications, water, medical supplies and welfare resources so communities can remain operational during emergencies.

Our vision is an Aotearoa where every community has the tools, knowledge and infrastructure needed to respond when disaster strikes. When emergencies occur, communities are often the first to act, supporting whānau, neighbours and those most vulnerable in the critical early hours and days.

By strengthening community preparedness today, we help ensure that when disasters happen tomorrow, whānau are safer, communities are stronger, and recovery can begin sooner. Through practical systems, training pathways and locally led resilience initiatives, we support communities across Aotearoa to stand ready, support one another and recover together.

A stronger, more prepared Aotearoa starts with empowered communities.