$5.2m set aside for fly-in rapid response teams

Disasters such as the Port Hills fires and Kaiko¯ ura earthquake have led the Government to dish out $5.2 million for fly-in ‘‘rapid response teams’’ to support communities in emergencies.

Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi said the ministerial technical advisory group’s review of the country’s emergency response since the 2016-17 disasters had highlighted the need for better public warning and communications.

He said at Wellington’s National Crisis Management Centre yesterday that people needed to be able to rely on a system that would support them in any emergency or disaster.

However, Faafoi did not throw his weight behind the group’s recommendation to set up a new emergency management agency – instead, he said $1 million had been put aside to progress the business case for one and he awaited further analysis as to its value in coming months.

‘‘It’s early days yet. I think it’s probably a little bit too hasty of us to decide, in a short amount of time, that we do need a new agency. A lot more work needs to be done before we get to that.’’

He said there were concerns over accountability and capacity of emergency responses on the ground. Changes to the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act would ensure standards were lifted.

But there was still a question mark over who monitored it all.

Changes would mean the term ‘‘civil defence’’ could be dropped.

Environment Canterbury chief executive Bill Bayfield said fly-in teams worked well in Kaiko¯ ura, and the minister’s moves would give clarity to the roles and responsibilities between the different levels of local Government: that is city councils, district councils and regional councils.

The fly-in teams are expected to be up and running within 12 months.