The country’s emergency management system is set for a major overhaul after Parliament passed legislation replacing the 24-year-old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell said the new framework strengthens emergency powers, clarifies responsibilities and aims to provide greater consistency between regions as the country faces increasingly complex emergencies.
The legislation gives communities and iwi Māori greater involvement in emergency planning and committees, while introducing measures to improve animal welfare, including powers for authorised responders to enter properties to assist animals during emergencies.
It retains the existing all-hazards approach covering risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery, while giving central government additional tools to establish national expectations.
Most provisions will take effect following Royal assent, although measures covering compliance orders, resource coordination, regional planning and some emergency management appointments will be phased in later.
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