Public Information Management (PIM)
This information is adapted from Public Information Management: Information for the CDEM Sector. Go to the PIM Guidelines download page.
Key national PIM contact details
NCMC media and PIM telephone: 04 494 6951
NCMC e-mail: pim@ncmc.govt.nz
When NCMC has been activated, calls to the telephone number will be answered by a person not a voice mail system. If the call is not answered, the system automatically hunts for a free extension where the call can be taken. The shared PIM e-mail inbox is accessed by anyone carrying out the PIM role in NCMC. That helps avoid the problem of e-mails possibly being sent to a person who is not there or is busy on another task and is not clearing their e-mails as they come in.
Please note that these contacts are for when Ministry staff are working from the NCMC during an emergency. They are not day-to-day office contacts.
General definition
Public information management during an emergency involves collecting, analysing, and disseminating information to the public. It promotes effective leadership and decision-making, and enables the people affected by the emergency to understand what is happening and take the appropriate actions to protect themselves.
The goal of the PIM is to:
- to create strong public confidence in the emergency management response
- to support public safety with public information
- to positively influence public behaviour with public information
- to manage public expectations
- providing timely, accurate, and clear information to those who need it
- promoting effective information management between government agencies, CDEM Groups, emergency services, lifeline utilities, the media, and the public
In an emergency, as PIM Manager you are responsible for:
- dealing with the media
- issuing public information to the community and managing community relations
- managing the public information centre and team
- the public enquiry helpline
- visitor reception at the emergency operations centre
- site visits by VIPs and media
- plan, practise, and prepare for an emergency
- ensure you develop the necessary skills
Generic templates covering most major Civil Defence events can be downloaded and used as a basis for developing your own release. These are the templates that the Ministry uses for its first media release to be issued as soon as possible after an event occurs. The Ministry will issue further media releases during a response. We do not use templates for these subsequent releases.
You can open and edit these templates to customise them for your use. Once customised you can save these as templates into the default Word template directory on your computer. (Your computer will this automatically if you ensure that you select "Document template" when you "File-Save as") These files will then be available when you select "File-New" and choose "On my computer" in the New Document window.
Earthquake MM6 or greater
Volcanic activity
Tsunami – no threat to New Zealand
Tsunami – potential threat to New Zealand
Tsunami – threat to New Zealand
Related downloads
Writing a media release
Plain English writing guide
Broadcasting MOU templates
PIM Guidelines download page
Section 22: PIM of the Guide to the National CDEM Plan (pdf)