Pacific researchers and service providers of disaster and emergency response are in Wellington this week for the 2014 Australasian Fire and Emergency Service conference.
The 30 Pacific delegates join more than 1,000 of their counterparts from Asia, Australia and New Zealand to share experiences and exchange research under the theme 'Learning from Adversity'.
The Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's Disaster Risk Reduction programme, Mosese Sikivou, was one of three presenters on disaster management in the Pacific.
He says having stronger partnerships at all levels will help build the resilience of island nations to natural disasters.
"Reducing disaster risk is everybody's business governments cant do it alone they need to work with representatives of the community, they need to work with civil society, they need to work with the private sector, faith-based organisations. All of us have a role to play."
Photo: RNZI