Articles tagged with Emergency
Showing 15 of 82 articles
New Zealand and Japan Strengthen Disaster Resilience Through New Cooperation Agreement
08 Sep 2026 | 1 day ago | 49 viewsNew Zealand and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to enhance disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and resilience by sharing expertise and best practices, reflecting their shared commitment to support communities affected by disasters. Both countries face similar natural hazards and have a history of partnership, with Japan recognized for its advanced disaster management systems, providing a valuable opportunity for mutual learning. This agreement strengthens regional collaboration in the Asia-Pacific and aligns with New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency's broader international efforts alongside other countries.
Tags: Mitchell New Zealand Japan National Emergency Management Agency NEMA Great East Japan Earthquake Christchurch earthquake Australia Fiji South KoreaNew Zealand Passes New Emergency Management Law to Strengthen National Response
28 Aug 2026 | 1 week ago | 197 viewsNew Zealand has passed new legislation replacing the 24-year-old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 to create a modern legal framework addressing increasingly complex emergencies with clearer roles, improved powers, and stronger community and iwi Māori involvement. The Bill enhances national consistency, animal welfare during emergencies, and incorporates improvements from past inquiries, while most provisions will commence shortly after Royal assent with some delayed to allow phased implementation. This legislation supports a comprehensive, devolved approach across risk reduction, readiness, response, and recovery, and is part of a broader effort including funding for advanced operational technology and a forthcoming review of the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan.
Tags: Mark Mitchell New Zealand Emergency Management Civil Defence Iwi Māori Budget 2026 Cabinet District Controllers Recovery ManagersNew Emergency Management Laws Empower Authorities to Protect Communities Early
20 Aug 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 238 viewsLegislative amendments in the Emergency Management Bill will empower emergency authorities to take precautionary actions, such as clearing debris and opening river mouths, before a state of emergency is declared. The Director-General of Emergency Management will have the authority to direct local emergency bodies if necessary to protect lives and property amid increasing severe weather events. These changes aim to support local emergency teams while ensuring national intervention remains a last resort when communities face significant risks.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Emergency Management Emergency Management Bill Emergency Management Committees Precautionary Action Storms Floods Landslides National Emergency Management AgencyNew Zealand Invests $8.5M to Boost Rural Health Workforce and Emergency Care
30 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 372 viewsThe New Zealand government is investing over $8.5 million in three initiatives to strengthen the rural health workforce and improve local access to care. These include funding for Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training, expanded and subsidized Primary Response in Medical Emergencies (PRIME) training, and a $6 million boost to the National Rural Recruitment and Locum Support Service to attract a broader range of health professionals. These efforts aim to equip rural clinicians with better skills and support, ensuring timely, quality healthcare for rural communities and reducing reliance on distant hospital care.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand rural health POCUS PRIME training rural clinicians healthcare access National Rural Recruitment locum support emergency careNew Zealand Government Responds to COVID-19 Inquiry with 63 Accepted Recommendations
28 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 332 viewsThe Government has accepted all 63 recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19, aiming to provide timely, targeted support and release key pandemic advice within five working days in future crises. It acknowledges past mistakes, including prolonged restrictions and misallocated funds, and commits to restoring fiscal discipline while reviewing the Health Act to balance public health, the economy, and individual rights. Emphasizing transparency and trust, the Government has proactively released all COVID-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group advice and pledges to strengthen New Zealand’s resilience to future shocks.
Tags: Simeon Brown Royal Commission New Zealand Ministry of Health Labour Government CV TAG Health Act Emergency supportGovernment Contributes $50,000 to Support Kaikōura Flood Relief Efforts
23 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 421 viewsThe Government is contributing $50,000 to the Kaikōura Mayoral Relief Fund to assist with recovery from severe flooding and landslides that caused widespread damage in July. This funding, requested by the Kaikōura District Council, will support community needs like residential waste disposal and replacing uninsurable items, supplementing an earlier $50,000 grant to local farmers. Mayoral Relief Funds provide rapid, targeted aid to fill immediate gaps after emergencies, complementing other support from agencies without replacing insurance or other funding sources.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Kaikōura Government Mayoral Relief Fund Emergency Management Flooding Farmers Adverse Events Trust Federated Farmers Kaikōura District Council Ministry of Social DevelopmentHealth NZ to Offer 1800 Graduate Nurse Roles Nationwide in 2024
22 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 377 viewsHealth New Zealand plans to offer around 1800 graduate nurse roles in the coming year to strengthen the nursing workforce with locally trained professionals. Last year, 1716 offers were made, resulting in 1845 graduate nurses employed across various health sectors, including hospitals, primary care, and community services. Recruitment will continue nationwide throughout the year, covering diverse specialties and supporting nurses into frontline, primary, and community care roles.
Tags: Health New Zealand Simeon Brown graduate nurse roles nursing workforce registered nurses enrolled nurses primary care community services emergency departments mental health servicesGisborne Opens New Crisis Recovery Café for Mental Health Support
08 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 533 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey officially opened Gisborne’s new Crisis Recovery Café, a safe, non-clinical space where people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges can receive peer support and connect with community services without a referral. The café, run by Te Kupenga Net Trust, operates weekdays and aims to provide an alternative to emergency departments, emphasizing the importance of wraparound support and peer workers who understand lived experiences. This initiative is part of a broader rollout of eight Crisis Recovery Cafés nationwide to improve mental health support through trusted community organizations.
Tags: Matt Doocey Te Kupenga Net Trust Gisborne Crisis Recovery Café Te Kāuta café Mental Health Minister Tairāwhiti peer support emergency departments addiction challengesSafetyNet Launches to Enhance New Zealand’s Emergency Communications and Safety
30 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 535 viewsNew Zealand has launched SafetyNet Critical Communications, a new independent Crown company replacing Next Generation Critical Communications to enhance emergency preparedness and response across the country. SafetyNet will provide reliable, shared emergency communication services to public safety organizations on a commercial basis, supporting a modern, secure communications ecosystem. The company is led by a board including Rob Fyfe as Chair and CEO Steve Ferguson, with expert advice from key emergency service leaders.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Rob Fyfe Deborah Battel Glen Sowry Greg Lowe TJ Kennedy Steve Ferguson Hato Hone St John New Zealand Police Fire and Emergency New ZealandNew Zealand Expands Mental Health Co-Response Teams to Six More Regions
29 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 540 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced six new locations for mental health co-response teams, expanding New Zealand's crisis response to prioritize mental health support over criminal justice intervention. Funded by Budget 2025, this expansion will triple the number of teams from five to fifteen, with a focus on serving both urban and rural communities based on data-driven need. The government aims to ensure faster, tailored mental health support nationwide, addressing previous funding cuts and building on positive outcomes from existing teams.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister New Zealand Budget 2025 rural communities crisis response emergency services Mental Health Act Wellington evaluationTaranaki Base Hospital New East Wing Opens, Boosting Patient Care and Capacity
24 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 548 viewsThe New East Wing of Taranaki Base Hospital has officially opened, marking a major milestone in the $462.6 million redevelopment to modernize healthcare services in the region. This new facility significantly expands capacity by 57%, integrating emergency, intensive care, maternity, diagnostics, and an Acute Assessment Unit to improve patient flow and treatment speed. The redevelopment also includes enhanced infrastructure like a rooftop helipad and an Integrated Operations Centre, ensuring better coordination and future-proofing healthcare delivery for Taranaki residents.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey Taranaki Base Hospital New East Wing healthcare redevelopment emergency department maternity services neonatal unit Acute Assessment Unit hospital expansionNew Zealand Health System Improves with Faster Treatment and Shorter Waits
23 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 478 viewsNew Zealand's health system has shown continuous improvement across all five Government health targets, with more people receiving timely treatments and shorter wait times for elective procedures, specialist assessments, and cancer care. Key metrics such as childhood immunisation rates, emergency department stays, and volumes of care delivered have all increased compared to the previous year, reflecting steady progress in planned care, cancer services, and prevention. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes that these results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Government’s focus on accountability and patient-centered care, signaling positive momentum toward a better and faster health system for New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand Health Minister elective treatment specialist assessment childhood immunisation emergency departments cancer treatment health targets government health systemMinister Brooke van Velden Calls for Review of Fire and Emergency NZ Funding Model
16 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 536 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden has requested the Department of Internal Affairs to review the current insurance levy system funding Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), as 95% of its income comes from property insurance levies established in 1975. Given FENZ's expanded role beyond fire-related incidents to include medical emergencies and disasters, and the fact that only 59% of recent incidents were fire-related, there are concerns about the fairness and suitability of the existing funding model. The review will explore potential improvements and alternatives, considering issues like free-riding and implementation feasibility, without affecting the new levy rates set from July 2026.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Fire and Emergency New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Fire Service levy Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 insurance levy FENZ fire incidents levy payersPharmac to Fund Ambulance Medicines from July for Better Patient Care in NZ
08 Jun 2026 | 3 months ago | 643 viewsAssociate Health Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac’s new responsibility to fund ambulance medicines from July 1, aiming to provide consistent access to emergency medicines nationwide while achieving cost savings. Following public consultation, Pharmac added seven commonly used ambulance medicines to the funded list to better reflect practical needs and improve patient outcomes. This change integrates ambulance medicines management with hospital medicines, enhancing system efficiency, value for taxpayers, and seamless care transitions between ambulance and hospital services.
Tags: David Seymour Pharmac Health New Zealand ACC ambulance services emergency medicines patient outcomes public consultation health budget New ZealandParamedics to Gain Prescribing Authority to Boost Community Healthcare Access
05 Jun 2026 | 3 months ago | 1461 viewsParamedics in New Zealand will be authorized to prescribe certain medicines, enabling more community-based care and reducing pressure on emergency departments, especially benefiting rural and remote areas. This change reflects the evolving role of paramedics beyond emergency response, supported by new training programs and regulatory adjustments under the Medicines Act 1981. The Ministry of Health is consulting on the specific medicines paramedics may prescribe and developing the necessary regulations and scope of practice to implement this policy.
Tags: Simeon Brown paramedics Medicines Act 1981 Ministry of Health Paramedic Council emergency departments prescribing authority healthcare access New Zealand government Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977