Govt extends NZ’s state of national emergency during COVID-19 crisis

Wellington

New Zealand’s government has extended the country’s state of national emergency for a further seven days as the country’s case total climbed to 1160. The announcement was made via the National Emergency Management Agency’s Twitter yesterday.

“The state of national emergency to support the COVID-19 response will be extended a second time, for a further seven days,” Civil Defence said in a statement.

“This is an extension to the state of national emergency only and does not change the Alert Level 4 lockdown.”

The government first declared a state of national emergency on March 25. Although the state of national emergency lasts for just seven days, it can be extended as many times as the government considers necessary. The declaration provides authorities with increased power to be used “when necessary”.

Henare and the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart Black declared the state of emergency under the Civil Defence Emergency Act 2002. “The state of national emergency has been declared because of unprecedented nature of this global pandemic and to ensure the Government has the powers it needs to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce its impact,” Stuart-Black said at the time.

The declaration allow Stuart-Black to direct and co-ordinate personnel, material and other resources to ensure they can be made available during the crisis.

“It also provides access to powers that would not normally be available, but would be needed to support the delivery and timely response to COVID-19,” she said.