Last updated:
Thursday, 30 August 2018
On 30 August 2018, the Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi released the Government’s response to a Technical Advisory Group’s report into how New Zealand responds to natural disasters and emergencies.
The Government’s response addresses the Technical Advisory Group’s findings and 42 recommendations, and sets out a multi-year work programme that will deliver extensive change to New Zealand’s emergency response system. This will improve how New Zealand responds to natural disasters and other emergencies in five key areas:
- Putting the safety and wellbeing of people at the heart of the emergency response system
- Strengthening the national leadership of the emergency management system
- Making it clear who is responsible for what, nationally and regionally
- Building the capability and capability of the emergency management workforce
- Improving the information and intelligence system that supports decision making in emergencies
"Emergency management system reform, fly-in teams funded to support communities" (Beehive Website)
On 18 January 2018, Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi released a report into how New Zealand responds to natural disasters and emergencies.
The report, the result of a Ministerial review, provides advice to the Minister on the most appropriate operational and legislative mechanisms to support effective responses to natural disasters and other emergencies in New Zealand.
Ministerial Review: Better Responses to Natural Disasters and other Emergencies in New Zealand
Media release: Report on response to natural disasters and emergencies released (Beehive website)
Technical Advisory Group
In June 2017, a Technical Advisory Group was established to carry out the review, and submissions were sought.
The members are:
- Roger Sowry (Chair)
- Benesia Smith MNZM, independent consultant
- Malcolm Alexander, Chief Executive, Local Government New Zealand
- Assistant Commissioner Mike Rusbatch, New Zealand Police
- Deputy National Commander Kerry Gregory, New Zealand Fire Service
- Major General Tim Gall, New Zealand Defence Force
- Sarah Stuart-Black, Director, National Emergency Management Agency
Terms of reference for the review
Media release: Terms of reference for Civil Defence review released (Beehive website)
Timeframe
- 2 June 2017 - Terms of reference released and submissions sought
- 7 July 2017 - Submissions closed
- July 2017 - Opportunity for submissions to be heard
- Late August 2017 - Technical Advisory Group provides an interim report to Minister of Civil Defence
- November 2017 - Technical Advisory Group provides final report to Minister of Civil Defence
- January 2018 - Technical Advisory Group's report and submissions published
- August 2018 - Government response to the Technical Advisory Group’s report published.
