Disaster response shake-up
Funding of $5.2m for specialist rapid-response Fly-In Teams
Crack units of disaster response experts will be created as part of a multi-million-dollar shake-up of New Zealand’s civil defence emergency response system.
Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi has released the Government’s response to the report by a ministerial Technical Advisory Group (TAG) launched after the devastating 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and the 2017 Port Hills fires.
The report calls for improvement on how New Zealand responds to natural disasters and other emergencies across five areas.
It includes putting the “safety and wellbeing of people at the heart of our emergency response system”, more consistent and stronger national leadership, and making it clear who is responsible for what, nationally and regionally, and for all local authorities to be “fully engaged”.
The report, released at 1pm yesterday, also says New Zealand needs to build the capability and capacity of the emergency management workforce, with particular focus on development of emergency event controllers, and in improving the information and intelligence system that supports decision making in emergencies.
Faafoi says the Government’s response needed to be robust and specific to ensure lessons were learned from the disasters and its people and communities protected.
“This Government is committed to ensuring all New Zealanders can rely on a system and a response that will support them in any emergency or disaster,” he said.
Funding of $5.2 million has been announced for specialist rapid-response teams, known as Fly-In Teams, to support communities in an emergency.
Four specialist nine-person squads will be comprised of experienced experts, including reprioritising and refocusing efforts. There are areas that would need significant investment and require further work, such as consideration of a new national emergency management agency and a better national emergency management facility. That work will happen over the coming months.”
Last November, an investigation concluded that a lack of co-operation between fire agencies and decisions made on the ground contributed to the Port Hills fires raging out of control. The then New Zealand Fire Service and National Rural Fire Authority commissioned an independent review of the event to learn from their response.