Help your classrooms stay safe when it matters most
A Bay of Plenty initiative equipping schools with emergency preparedness resources for the first critical hours of a disaster. Our goal is to help 20,000 Bay of Plenty students be better prepared in an emergency

Kia Rite: Ready Together is a Bay of Plenty initiative, rolling out now, helping schools access emergency preparedness resources for their classrooms, so teachers and students are better supported during the first critical hours after natural disasters or major disruptions such as earthquakes, severe weather, flooding, or evacuations

We are currently confirming schools for the next phase of rollout. Spaces are limited as we coordinate funding and delivery.

Why classroom preparedness matters

In a natural disaster, schools may need to respond immediately with limited external support. The first critical hours often rely on what is already available onsite. They may need to shelter in place, manage a lockdown, or respond to an evacuation with little warning. In those first critical hours, having practical supplies in each classroom can make a real difference for both staff and students. Many schools have emergency plans in place, but not all classrooms have immediate access to the resources needed to support that plan on the day it matters most.

BAY OF PLENTY SCHOOLS, READY TOGETHER

This is a growing movement of schools across the Bay of Plenty choosing to be proactive, not reactive. Being part of Kia Rite – Ready Together means your school stands alongside others in the region, committed to protecting students and supporting each other when it counts. Knowing every classroom is prepared gives teachers the confidence to act and provides real peace of mind for families, that their children are safer at school no matter what happens.

What is Kia Rite?

Kia Rite: Ready Together is a regional initiative focused on helping schools across the Bay of Plenty improve classroom readiness through practical emergency preparedness resources. The programme is designed to make participation simple. We work with schools to understand classroom numbers, identify the right solution, and support funding conversations where possible.

Schools taking part in Kia Rite can access classroom emergency preparedness backpacks and resilience lockers designed to support teachers and students during emergencies such as earthquakes, severe weather, flooding, lockdowns, or evacuations.

Backpacks are designed for individual classrooms, providing immediate access to essential supplies, while resilience lockers offer a larger, centralised resource for staff and shared school use.

These resources align with emergency preparedness recommendations from the Ministry of Education and Civil Defence and give schools both on-the-spot response capability and broader backup support, helping staff respond quickly and confidently when it matters most.

PREPAREDNESS OPTIONS

Resources support the widely recommended approach from Civil Defence and the Ministry of Education of being self sufficient for at least 72 hours following a major natural disaster.
PREPAREDNESS BACKPACKS
RESILIENCE LOCKERS

How it works

Register your school

Tell us your school name, contact person, and how many classrooms you would ideally like equipped.

We assess the fit

We review your needs and talk through the best approach for your school.

Funding pathways explored

Where suitable, we help identify available funding options or rollout opportunities.

Delivery and briefing

If your school is included in a rollout, we coordinate supply and provide a run through of the resources.

Who this initiative is for

Kia Rite is suited to Bay of Plenty primary, intermediate, and secondary schools that want to strengthen classroom preparedness and improve access to practical emergency resources. Whether your school is just starting to review preparedness, or already has systems in place and wants to strengthen them, this initiative is designed to help.
We are actively coordinating funding pathways to support participating schools. This may include fully or partially funded rollout opportunities, depending on timing and availability. The first step is simply registering your school.

We are currently speaking with schools across the Bay of Plenty to confirm participation for the next phase of rollout.

If your school would like to be considered, register your interest now and our team will be in touch.

Register your school

When an emergency happens, teachers don’t get time to prepare. They have to respond immediately with whatever is in the room. The time to prepare is today.