A 2 AM phone call: When disaster strikes, a better-together approach is the only approach
May 27, 2026
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In a natural disaster, it’s about welfare and people. The decisions made during those events have lasting impacts.
They must be right.
In August 2022, the Nelson-Tasman region in Aotearoa New Zealand suffered hundreds of landslides and intense flooding. The Nelson Tasman Civil Defence asked our team to organise and lead a geotechnical response unit to support the disaster and recovery.
In this setting, understanding geotechnical responses and following best practice engineering are crucial. It supports the safety and longevity of public infrastructure like bridges, tunnels, and roads.
But it’s about more than just that.
“If you don’t have relationships, things fall apart,” says Alec Louverdis. He has dual roles at the Nelson City Council and with Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Alec and Grant Maxwell, our growth leader for infrastructure resilience, talk about the process they use during natural disasters. How it’s built on trust. And what positive outcomes look like.
