New Emergency Management Laws Empower Authorities to Protect Communities Early

Legislative changes will give emergency management authorities the tools they need to keep their communities safe from an increasing number of emergencies, the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell says.

Giving emergency management authorities more powers to take precautionary actions before a state of emergency is declared will be included as an amendment in the Emergency Management Bill currently before Parliament.

It means that Emergency Management Committees, made up of the councils in each region, will be able to carry out essential works like clearing debris and opening river mouths, in the days leading up to severe weather events and other potential emergencies, says Mr Mitchell.

The Director-General of Emergency Management will also have the power to step in and direct local emergency management authorities if necessary to preserve life, prevent injury, or prevent serious property damage.

Precautionary action is more important than ever, with storms, floods and landslides becoming increasingly frequent and severe.

Too little, too late is simply not good enough when it comes to emergency works that could save lives and safeguard communities.

I have been with communities like Little River and Wairoa who have raised genuine concerns about the speed at which lakes or river mouths have been opened. These amendments help address those concerns.

The locally-led approach is fundamental to our emergency management system, and our local councils and emergency teams do an extraordinary job at managing challenging, adverse events – I’ve seen this first hand. These changes will support the work they do, not detract from it.

National direction will be a last resort, but ultimately the public would expect the National Emergency Management Agency to step in if lives and property are at risk.