Regional Manager Appointed For Civil Defence

The Bay of Plenty’s Civil Defence Emergency Management Group has appointed its first full time Group Controller.

Clinton Naude was previously manager of the Group Emergency Management Office (GEMO) and now takes up the position of Regional Manager, Civil Defence Emergency Management which incorporates the role of Group Controller.

All councils in the Bay of Plenty – Regional Council, Tauranga City, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane, Kawerau, Opotiki and Rotorua – are members of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group. The Group is chaired by Opotiki Mayor John Forbes, who said the mayors and Regional Council Chair of the joint committee were pleased to appoint a Regional Manager.

The Group has a shared office (GEMO) that coordinates day-to-day planning and project work for the CDEM Group. During “peace time” when there are no emergencies, he manages the office in the role of Regional CDEM Manager, reporting to all the councils.

In an emergency the roles reverse and as Group Controller, he is in charge of managing all the councils’ response, co-ordinating people, information and resources during the emergency, and advising local controllers.

Mr Naude’s previous experience includes 22 years in policing in South Africa. He has been working in the GEMO based at Bay of Plenty Regional Council since April 2009, and has been involved in numerous emergency events, including being deployed to Christchurch following the 2011 earthquake and the response to the Rena grounding near Tauranga.

He said the new role represented an increased focus on preparedness for emergencies throughout the country, triggered by the Canterbury earthquakes and other emergencies, including the Rena grounding. Previously, civil defence controllers were only part time in their role.

“There is a greater awareness around the country, and all councils are reviewing how they prepare and respond to emergencies,” he said.

The new full-time role would clarify relationships and co-ordination both before and during an emergency.

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Director John Hamilton said the appointment was similar to other CDEM Groups, where the Controller also led development of civil defence emergency management processes during normal business.

“The ‘professionalisation’ of emergency management in this way supports raising the standard across New Zealand. The Bay of Plenty CDEM Group is to be commended for taking this route,” he said.

“I congratulate Clinton in his appointment, and I look forward to working with him to enhance arrangements in the Bay of Plenty.”

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