Introducing Ian Connon - Emergency Manager

17 April 2015

He's been an alternate recovery manager, a teacher, head of our parks and reserves team and a rural firefighter volunteer - and now new emergency manager Ian Connon is ready to tackle his most challenging role yet.

Ian, 47, starts his new job on Monday and replaces outgoing emergency manager Phil Parker, who retired this month.

Having already been with the council for eight years, Ian knows a lot of people in the community and is keen to connect with them about Civil Defence.

"I look at this as an educational role - helping the community improve its awareness of Civil Defence and the environment we live in," he says. "I've always been interested in Civil Defence and am thrilled I will be able to expand on that."

As a teenager, Ian spent time volunteering for Search and Rescue and has spent the last six years volunteering for the Taupo Volunteer Rural Fire Authority.

Last year he took on the role of council's alternate recovery manager, which involved learning about Civil Defence planning and strategy. He has played a part in previous emergencies including helping with logistics during the snow event on Napier-Taupo Road in 2009 and cleaning up after storm and flooding events in the district.

He first wanted to join Civil Defence as a volunteer six years ago, but as the team was then at full capacity with volunteers, he went with Rural Fire. Today, however, Civil Defence is in need of volunteers and Ian will lead the charge to recruit them over the next few months.

Ian was a teacher in Wellington before working as a parks and reserves manager in the same region. Since he moved to Taupo to take up the parks and reserves role in our district, he hasn't looked back.

"What I love about Taupo is that we get to live in a holiday destination all year round - there is so much to do," he says. "I hope I can further contribute to this amazing community through my work in Civil Defence. I can't wait."