Maungaraki Community Centre at 8:30 pm on Thursday 16th of October 2025

Following a major event, such as an earthquake, the first thought of most of us will be “I’m OK but is my family OK?” and we will reach for the phone to find out. Unfortunately a quarter of a million other Wellingtonians will have had exactly the same thought at exactly the same time so, even if the cell system is undamaged, it will still be overloaded and not available.

This communications void can be bridged with an encrypted text messaging system, with GPS, called Meshtastic. The hardware is commercially available at low (compared to a cellphone) cost, and it is free to use. If you would be interested in joining an alternative way of communicating with family, friends, and community in Maungaraki please bring your family to a public meeting at 8:30 pm on Thursday 16th of October 2025 in the large hall in the Maungaraki Community Centre.