Opinion – Is your business prepared?
Kylie Cornelius | Executive Officer | Marlborough Chamber of Commerce
‘as published in the Weekend Express, September 13, 2025’
This month, we changed up our usual ‘Coffee & Catch-Up’ at the Chamber, to invite a guest speaker to tell us a bit about their mahi.
Gary Spence from Marlborough Emergency Management, came to chat with members about what his team do before, during and after an emergency event.
When we talk about emergency preparedness in Marlborough, the conversation typically turns to earthquakes, floods, or extreme weather events. These are risks we know well, and our local response teams are world-class in managing them. But what surprised those in the room was the risk of a major solar flare event.
Initially, this sounds like science fiction, but it’s very real and the Marlborough Emergency Response Team is wisely taking it seriously. Recent briefings and scenario planning exercises have included the risk of a geomagnetic solar storm, and for good reason. A solar flare, or more specifically, a coronal mass ejection could severely disrupt GPS systems, satellite communications, and even knock out power grids for extended periods. Gary told us these events are typically cyclic and occur every 11-12 years - which is about now.
In a region like Marlborough, where industries such as viticulture, aquaculture, tourism, manufacturing and logistics depend heavily on connectivity and reliable power, this, and indeed any other emergency event, could present a serious challenge. Businesses could find themselves suddenly offline, in the dark, and cut off – not just from customers, but from supply chains, markets, and critical information.
So, just like the usual threats we unfortunately know too well, this is another timely reminder for Marlborough businesses to consider their business continuity plan.
It’s easy to find help online for Business Continuity Planning, but as a start, we’re encouraging all local businesses to:
· Assess your reliance on digital systems; what happens if the internet or GPS goes down?
· Develop continuity plans that account for extended power outages; Can you still operate without the cloud, EFTPOS, or refrigeration? Can you still pay your staff?
· Explore backup solutions; whether it's generators, solar-plus-storage systems, or analogue processes that can temporarily stand in.
· Connect with others in your industry; collaboration in times of crisis is a strength, not a luxury.
The goal here is not to alarm, but to anticipate. Solar storms are rare, but like earthquakes, they don’t need to be frequent to be devastating.
The good news is, Marlborough Emergency Management are ready to respond… are you?