Media Release
13 January 2011

Planning begins for second NZ Response Team

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement last night that New Zealand could provide a second civil defence Response Team to Queensland, planning has begun for the selection and formation of that team.

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management director John Hamilton said today the objective is to have a second team available to replace the 15-member deployed team that is due to return to New Zealand on 22 January.

“It is likely that Team 2 will be deployed to a different area given the priorities set by the Queensland authorities and the difficulty moving around the state due to road closures,” John Hamilton said.

Like the initial deployment, Team 2 will be a composite team of 15, selected from across New Zealand's existing civil defence emergency management Response Teams. These Response Teams are established by local government organisations around New Zealand and are made up of volunteers. The civil defence Response Team is separate from the NZ Fire Service deployment also announced yesterday by the Prime Minister.

The second team should be ready to deploy in the middle of next week depending on availability of flights and emergency response requirements in Queensland.

“Team 1 remains based in Miles which is now isolated by flood waters,” Mr Hamilton said. “The team is working with local response personnel to help residents of Miles to clean properties inundated by flood waters.”

ENDS

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