19 October 2018

Feedback sought on proposed National Disaster Resilience Strategy

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is encouraging New Zealanders to have their say about the future of disaster resilience in New Zealand.

Announcing the start of public consultation on New Zealand’s National Disaster Resilience Strategy, Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black said it was important people got involved because the strategy would set the vision and objectives for disaster resilience in New Zealand over the next ten years.

“The proposed strategy also moves us considerably forward because we have learned a lot about emergency management in the past 10 years,” Mrs Stuart-Black says.

“The proposed strategy is building a culture of resilience, and the actions we can all take – from individuals and families/whānau, communities and hapū, businesses and organisations, cities, districts and regions, and Government and national organisations – to contribute to a more resilient New Zealand.

“We want New Zealand to be a disaster resilient nation that acts proactively to manage risks and build resilience in a way that contributes to the wellbeing and prosperity of all New Zealanders.”

The proposed strategy has a greater emphasis on the importance of resilience at community, regional and national levels, Mrs Stuart-Black said, because resilient households and communities are better able to look after themselves in disasters while emergency management resources are diverted to the most urgent priorities.

“So this strategy is important for everyone who lives, works and visits New Zealand: it sets out what we expect in respect of a resilient New Zealand, and what we want to achieve in the long term. I strongly urge individuals, community organisations, and other groups to make their views known.”

Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, the Minister of Civil Defence is required to ensure there is at all times a national civil defence emergency management strategy. The current National Civil Defence Emergency Management Strategy expires on 9 April 2019.

The proposed strategy was developed after widespread stakeholder input and informed by international research on resilience. It builds on recent Government decisions made on the Technical Advisory Group’s report on better responses to natural disasters and other emergencies in New Zealand.

Consultation is open until Friday, 7 December 2018. The proposed strategy document and more information are available at www.civildefence.govt.nz

ENDS

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