28/05/2026
Meet our awesome Emily!
Meet Emily: horse-lover, senior emergency management advisor and an all-round lovely lady!
This is Emily in Taupō, Season 1 😍
🐴 What is your role and how did you get started with your career?
I started at Taupō District Council in the Compliance team. While I really enjoyed working with animals, I knew I was ready for a new challenge and I was successful in gaining a role in the Resource Consents team.
Throughout my time in both Compliance and Resource Consents, I was involved in Civil Defence training and activations, and I quickly realised it was an area I was really passionate about. I am now about six months into my current role, and I am absolutely loving it. There is still so much to learn, but that is also one of the things I enjoy most about it.
🐴 What do you like about your current role and how does it fit into the team?
I love that my role feels like it makes a positive difference for the community. In my previous roles, I was often the person delivering difficult news or enforcing rules, whereas in this role I get to help people, teams and the wider organisation become more prepared and resilient.
I also really enjoy working across different parts of Council and with community groups and partner agencies. Emergency management is very much a team effort, so my role fits into the wider organisation by helping build capability, strengthen relationships, and support people before, during and after emergencies.
🐴 What would you like other people to understand about your job?
I would like people to know that Civil Defence is not only busy during an emergency! A huge amount of the work happens during ‘peace-time’, through planning, training, relationship-building, exercises, community readiness work and making sure we are as prepared as possible.
Anyone in the district could be affected at any time, so it’s important to be prepared. We have heaps of information on our website to help at www.taupo.govt.nz/civil-defence
It's also a good idea to follow our page for information, important alerts or simply have a good chat, at www.facebook.com/CivilDefenceTaupo
🐴 What are you most proud of at Taupō District Council?
I am most proud of the way people across Council step up when they are needed. During emergency responses, exercises or even busy day-to-day work, I have seen people from many different teams come together, support each other and genuinely care about doing the best thing for the community.
I am also proud to work for an organisation that has given me opportunities to grow and move into different areas. I started in one part of Council, moved into another, and have now found a role that I am really passionate about.
🐴 How long have you lived in Taupō?
My family moved to Taupō from Invercargill when I was about 8. Other than a brief stint studying in Hamilton, and a couple of years of insanity living back down in Invercargill, I have been here ever since. And not looked back!
🐴 What gets you up in the morning?
I am lucky that I genuinely love my job, my team and the fact that every day is different. Coming to work does not feel like a chore, which makes it much easier to get up in the morning.
My horses are also a huge motivator for me, and probably the main reason I will never be able to afford to stop working!
🐴 What do you like to get up to outside of work?
I am not very good at having spare time, and I like to stay busy. I have four horses and compete in long-distance endurance riding. My biggest achievement so far was coming first in the 120km class at the Distance Riding NZ Championship race this year.
I am also finishing off a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Management, and I have two naughty dogs who require a lot of attention and walks. With whatever is left of my very limited spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my husband.
🐴 What’s your favourite film?
Oooh tough one – I am more into TV series and currently rewatching Criminal Minds and House.
🐴 And finally…
Fun fact about me - I have a small Uno obsession and currently have approximately 12 variations of Uno, and growing!
But also if anyone ever wants to talk about Civil Defence, dogs, or horses (or come for a ride) I am always happy to chat.
