Public submissions are now open on the Emergency Management Bill (No 2).

In 2023 the Minister for Emergency Management established a Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island severe weather events. The inquiry found that New Zealand’s emergency management system was not fit for purpose and lacked the capacity and capability to deal with significant emergencies that affect multiple regions at once. You can find a link to the inquiry report below.

The bill would replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 and give effect to the Government’s response to the inquiry. It builds on the legislative framework established by the Act. The proposed changes seek to:

• strengthen the role of communities and iwi Māori in emergency management
• provide clear responsibilities at the national, regional, and local levels
• enable a higher minimum standard of emergency management
• minimise disruption to essential services
• ensure agencies have the tools to do their jobs effectively during an emergency.

Tell the Governance and Administration Committee what you think

Make a submission on the bill by midnight on 3 February 2026.

For more details about the bill:

• Read the full content of the bill
• Get more details about the bill
• What’s been said in Parliament about the bill?
• Read the final report of the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events

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