What is Emergency Management?
Emergency Management, or Civil Defence in Aotearoa New Zealand is about being ready for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies – whether they’re natural disasters, pandemics, or man-made events. It follows a 4R framework:
- Reduction – identifying and reducing risks before they cause harm
- Readiness – planning and preparing communities and systems for emergencies
- Response – taking action during an emergency to protect lives, property and the environment
- Recovery – helping communities return to normal or a “new normal” after and emergency
New Zealand has a coordinated system for managing emergencies, involving local councils, emergency services, iwi, health providers, government agencies, utility companies and community groups.
Emergency Management in Tararua
In Tararua, Emergency Management is coordinated by the Tararua District Council in partnership with the Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) group, run by Horizons Regional Council.
Our local responsibilities include:
- Planning and preparing – for risks specific to our district, like flooding, earthquakes, severe weather and disease outbreaks
- Maintaining an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) – which is activated during large-scale emergencies
- Support – our communities, welfare networks, and responders during and after an event
- Education – running public education and preparedness campaigns
- Coordinating – with local emergency services, iwi, and national agencies
- Community response plans – maintaining response plans with rural and isolated communities
We aim to make sure the Tararua community is connected, informed, and resilient in the face of emergencies.
Who does what?
Emergency Management involves many people and organisations working together. Here’s a quick guide:
| Tararua District Council | Leads local readiness and response, runs the Emergency Operations Centre, supports welfare needs and helps communities recover |
| Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM Group | Provides regional coordination and resources for large-scale events across the region |
| Emergency Services | Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, and Ambulance services manage first response, rescue, and immediate safety |
| Iwi and Māori Organisation | Key partners in planning and response, providing local leadership, knowledge, and support networks |
| Health Services | Support public health and medical needs during an emergency |
| Utility Providers | Work to restore electricity, telecommunications and other critical infrastructure |
| Central Government | Support regionals and nation-scale emergencies through agencies like NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) |
| You - The Community | Play a crucial role in being prepared, staying informed, and helping neighbours during emergencies |
Council Staff in an Emergency
During an emergency, many Tararua District Council staff step into special roles as part of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). These roles help ensure a coordinated and effective response to keep our communities safe and informed. Many of these roles are filled by trained council staff who take part in regular emergency management exercises and training. In large-scale events, we also work closely with partner agencies, and sometimes are deployed to other areas of the country who need staff resource during an emergency.
Here are some of the key roles:
| Controller | The Controller is the lead decision-maker in the EOC. They oversee the entire response, set priorities, allocate resources, and ensure the response is aligned with Civil Defence legislation and best practice |
| Response Manager | The Response Manager's primary role is to oversee and manage the operational aspects of the response, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning of the EOC and its staff. They focus on task management, resource allocation, and maintaining effective communication and coordination during an emergency. They also provide expertise and support to the Controller and represent them in their absence |
| Operations | The Operations team is responsible for making things happen on the group. They coordinate response activities such as road closures, evacuations, welfare support and infrastructure repairs |
| Logistics | This team makes sure people have what they need to do their jobs – like equipment, vehicles, facilities, food and accommodation. They also manage resourcing and supply requests |
| Intelligence | The Intelligence team gathers, verifies, and analyses information. They track what’s happening, what might happen next, and help the Controller make informed decisions |
| Planning | The Planning team looks ahead. They develop action plans for upcoming shifts or phases of the response and keep everyone focused on what’s coming next |
| Welfare | The Welfare team ensures affected people get the support they need, such as food, shelter, medication, or psychosocial support. They work closely with agencies like MSD, iwi, government agencies and community groups |
| Public Information Management (PIM) | The PIM team is responsible for keeping the public informed. They create and share clear, timely information through social media, the TDC website, media releases and community updates |
| Recovery | The Recovery team leads and coordinates the recovery effort, working with agencies, iwi, and the community to restore wellbeing, services and infrastructure once the immediate emergency is over |
Declaring an Emergency
Declaring an Emergency
Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, a state of local emergency can be declared when a serious situation threatens people, property, or the environment — and it requires a coordinated response.
Only certain people have the legal authority to declare a state of local emergency:
- The Mayor or another elected representative of the council
- In some situations, the Minister for Emergency Management (formerly Minister of Civil Defence) can declare one if needed
Declaring a state of local emergency gives the Controller access to special legal powers. These powers help speed up the response and allow actions like:
- Ordering evacuations
- Closing roads
- Requisitioning property or resources
- Enforcing restrictions to protect public safety
A state of emergency can only be declared when:
- An event has happened or may happen, and
- It could cause loss of life, injury, illness, distress, or endanger the public or property, and
- It cannot be dealt with by emergency services alone, or it requires a significant, coordinated response
Before declaring a state of local emergency, the following steps are usually taken:
- The Controller consults with:
- Emergency services (Police, Fire and Emergency, Health etc.)
- Local authorities
- The National Emergency Management Agency (via the Regional Emergency Management Advisor)
- The Group Controller and possibly neighbouring CDEM groups
- If the Controller believes a declaration is necessary, they recommend it to the Mayor (or elected representative).
- If agreed, the Mayor signs the formal Declaration of a State of Local Emergency.
This must then be officially recorded and gazetted (publicly notified).
More information can be found here Factsheet-declaring-states-of-local-emergency.pdf
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA0
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is the Government lead for emergency management. NEMA works with central and local government, communities, iwi, and business to make sure responses to and recoveries from emergencies are effective and integrated.
Depending on the emergency, NEMA leads or supports the response and recovery. NEMA’s key functions are steward, operator and assurer of the emergency management system.
As steward, they provide strategic leadership for risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery activities, and build emergency management capability and capacity.
As operator, they lead or support the response to and recovery from emergencies while also supporting the operation of the emergency management system.
As assurer (a new function) they will provide assurance that the emergency management system is fit for purpose.
More information can be found here National Emergency Management Agency » National Emergency Management Agency
Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM Group
The Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM (Civil Defence Emergency Management) Group works together to reduce the potential effects of hazards; promote community and Council readiness (preparedness) to respond to emergencies; and help the community to recover after an event.
Horizons Regional Council facilitated the establishment of the CDEM Group in accordance with the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002.
As a member of the group their responsibilities include evaluating warning systems, implementing Civil Defence courses and operating as the Group Emergency Operation Centre. More information on the roles and responsibilities of Horizons and other agencies can be found in the CDEM Group Plan (PDF file, 110 MB).
The members of the CDEM group include:
- Horizons Regional Council;
- Our region’s city and district councils: Horowhenua, Tararua, Palmerston North, Manawatū, Rangītikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu;
- Fire and rural fire services;
- Police;
- Ambulance;
- District health boards;
- Public Health; and
- Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
The CDEM Group is supported by a Coordinating Executive Group (CEG), which meets approximately every six weeks to plan the work of the CDEM Group. This group is made up of senior staff from local authorities, emergency services and the district health board.