Recovery Toolkit
The Recovery Toolkit aims to help CDEM Groups and local authorities prepare and support their communities to recover after an emergency, meet their legislative duties and elevate recovery preparedness across New Zealand. This is a living toolkit and will evolve and be built on over time.
Making it easier for you to get on with recoveryThis Recovery Toolkit contains tactical resources for recovery, including templates, examples and links to guidance and more information. The resources can be scaled up for use at a Group level across districts.
The Toolkit includes guidance, templates and examples that have been drawn from a range of sources. The templates are plain documents in Word or Excel that you can easily modify for your own needs, for example to include your logo.
Note: many of these documents are not doctrine nor NEMA endorsed - ‘shared’ practice, rather than ‘best’ practice.
On this page
What is recovery?
Emergencies can affect individuals, communities, regions and nations. How well we recover from events will depend on how well we have prepared to recover.
Find more information about recovery
Useful templates and examples
Having your templates prepopulated and ready to go before an emergency will help you be prepared.
While the recovery will likely unfold and evolve overtime, without clear distinct phases, the following phases will help you find relevant templates in this toolkit.
Please note that the updated versions of these documents are still accessible below.
| Document ID # | Document Name | Last Updated | Next planned review date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
RRTRG_01 |
Response to Recovery Transition Report Template and Guide (.docx 292kb) |
7 Jul 2025 |
12 Nov 2025 |
|
RSG_01 |
7 Jul 2025 |
12 Nov 2025 |
|
|
RPMG_070225 |
7 Jul 2025 |
Mar 2026 |
|
|
PSRT_01 |
7 Jul 2025 |
Mar 2026 |
|
|
RESGToR_01 |
Recovery Environment Sector Groups' Terms of Reference Guide (.docx 265kb) |
7 Jul 2025 |
Mar 2026 |
|
RFF_01 |
National Recovery Coordination Group Central Government Funding Factsheet and Guide (.pdf 1016kb) |
12 Feb 2025 |
|
This section contains processes, procedures and protocols before an emergency for coordinated post-emergency recovery planning and implementation.
Under the CDEM Act 2002, CDEM Groups and each member must plan for recovery. This includes strategic planning for recovery, which involves people across all parts of the local authority (not just those with CDEM responsibilities), the community, iwi, business, organisations, as well as government.
Preparing for recovery by establishing processes, procedures and protocols before an emergency for coordinated post-emergency recovery planning and implementation greatly enhances the speed and success of recovery.
Local authorities and CDEM Groups may use these templates and examples in preparation for an emergency.
Information for Elected Officials
Find resources for elected officials.
Recovery Managers and Leaders
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guidance |
Recovery manager role map (.pdf 508kb) A Competency Framework Role Map for Recovery Managers |
NEMA |
All |
|
Example |
Leading in Disaster Recovery: Companion through the Chaos (resorgs.org.nz) A book by New Zealand Red Cross for leaders working in disaster recovery. The book shares hard-won wisdom, practical strategies and tools for people in leadership roles during an emergency. |
NZ Red Cross |
All |
|
Example |
Aotearoa NZ ReCap Guide (recoverycapitals.org.au) The ReCap framework uses seven capitals to help understand the ways that many elements interact and influence recovery in diverse disaster contexts, and how resources can be drawn upon to support wellbeing. This guide can be used in tandem with the four recovery environments described in the Recovery Preparedness and Management Director’s Guideline. |
ReCap |
All |
Stakeholder engagement
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
Stakeholder engagement list, map and contact database (.xlsx 296kb) Provides a template for mapping key stakeholders for recovery. |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Online engagement guidance from Department of Internal Affairs (dia.govt.nz) |
DIA |
All |
Social Recovery
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
The Human Face of Disaster Recovery: Information for Human Service Workers in disasters (.doc 42kb) This factsheet outlines how all workers involved in disaster can contribute to human recovery. It summarises changes likely to occur to communities and people during the recovery period, and offers suggestions for helping people in crisis. |
Victoria, Australia |
All |
|
Example |
Social Dimension of Recovery (.pdf 1.8mb) This paper presents a model of the social phenomena of emergency recovery and predicts the dynamics of affected communities that enable social recovery to be managed as the context for personal recovery. It is based on observations of Australian disasters and emergencies over the last twenty years and on research findings in the literature. |
Rob Gordon |
All |
|
Example |
Understanding Social Recovery (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) This report provides social recovery practitioners with strategies, activities and lessons learned by CERA’s social recovery leaders between 2011 and 2016. It describes the recovery context of greater Christchurch; the leadership challenges and opportunities and the skills and values necessary for social recovery leadership. It outlines the importance of recovery monitoring and evidence and the strategic activities that progress community resilience and housing recovery. |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
Continuous improvement
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
|
|
Example |
Funding the recovery: The CERA perspective (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
|
Guidance |
MBIE |
All |
|
|
Example |
A guide to local and regional recovery and reimagination (economicdevelopment.org.nz) |
Economic Development NZ |
Local, Group |
|
Example |
Natural environment recovery programme for greater Christchurch (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
Recovery function
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example |
Recovery Schedule Guide (.docx 200kb) This guide is designed to support Recovery Managers and their function staff to identify a schedule of actions and outcomes they may need to consider as they journey though the lifecycle of an event. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
| Example |
Recovery Environment Sector Groups' Terms of Reference Guide (.docx 265kb) This document provides a template Terms of Reference for Recovery Environment Sector Groups. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
| Example |
Recovery Programme Management Guide (.docx 493kb) This guide is designed to support the establishment of a Recovery Programme Management Service within a Recovery Office. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
Other guidance
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example |
Guidance note on recovery: pre-disaster recovery planning (undrr.org) This guidance note steps through examples of how scenario-based planning can assist in developing recovery plans. |
UNDRR | All |
|
Example |
Community Recovery Handbook (knowledge.aidr.org.au) This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to community recovery in Australia. It is intended for use by planners, managers and those involved in working with communities to design and deliver recovery processes, services, programs and activities. It provides valuable insights that are also relevant to New Zealand. |
AIDR |
All |
|
Example |
UC CEISMIC (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) UC CEISMIC is a comprehensive digital archive of video, audio, documents and images relating to the 2010-11 Canterbury Earthquakes, managed by the University of Canterbury. It brings together the collective learning from the Canterbury earthquakes that will help equip leaders and communities involved in disaster recovery and complex challenges. |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Training |
Takatū Introduction to Recovery e-learning course (takatu.civildefence.govt.nz) This Integrated Training Framework online course is an introduction level course to prepare staff to work in the Recovery function during and following a response to an emergency event. You will be required to login through Takatū using a RealMe identity. |
NEMA |
All |
|
Training |
Response and Recovery Leadership Programme The Response and Recovery Leadership Programme offered by Response & Recovery Aotearoa New Zealand (RRANZ) aims to support Controllers, Recovery Managers and Response Managers across the National Security System to develop their response and recovery management and leadership capabilities at local, regional and national levels. |
NEMA |
All |
This section contains actions taken immediately before, during or directly after an emergency to save lives and protect property, and help communities recover.
These templates may be used by the Recovery Manager during the response phase to assist in understanding the consequences of an emergency and begin recovery specific planning.
Recovery function
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
Recovery Schedule Guide (.docx 200kb) This guide is designed to support Recovery Managers and their function staff to identify a schedule of actions and outcomes they may need to consider as they journey though the lifecycle of an event. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Template |
Issues to consider about consequences of an emergency when planning and reporting (.xlsx 23kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Template |
Risks and Opportunities Register (.docx 32kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Example, Template |
Response to Recovery Transition Report Template and Guide (.docx 292kb) This Guide is an operational tool designed to help the development of a Response to Recovery Transition Report |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
Stakeholder engagement
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
Stakeholder engagement list, map and contact database (.xlsx 296kb) Provides a template for mapping key stakeholders for recovery. |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Online engagement guidance from Department of Internal Affairs (dia.govt.nz) |
DIA |
All |
These resources may be used by the Recovery Manager when moving from response into recovery.
Transition planning
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example, Template |
Response to Recovery Transition Report Template and Guide (.docx 292kb) This Guide is an operational tool designed to help the development of a Response to Recovery Transition Report |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
Response to Recovery Transition Report (.docx 69kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Example |
Auckland Emergency Management Response to Recovery Transition Report (.docx 1.8mb) |
Auckland Emergency Management |
Local, Group |
| Example |
Recovery Schedule Guide (.docx 200kb) This guide is designed to support Recovery Managers and their function staff to identify a schedule of actions and outcomes they may need to consider as they journey though the lifecycle of an event. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
Issues to consider about consequences of an emergency when planning and reporting (.xlsx 23kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Template |
Risks and Opportunities Register (.docx 32kb) |
NEMA |
All |
| Example |
Recovery Environment Sector Groups' Terms of Reference Guide (.docx 265kb) This document provides a template Terms of Reference for Recovery Environment Sector Groups. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
| Example |
Recovery Programme Management Guide (.docx 493kb) This guide is designed to support the establishment of a Recovery Programme Management Service within a Recovery Office. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
Recovery plans
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Example |
Uawa and Waipaoa communities recovery action plan (gdc.govt.nz) |
Gisborne District Council |
All |
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council recovery action plan (boprc.govt.nz) |
Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
All |
Information for elected officials
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guidance |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Guidance |
National Recovery Coordination Group Central Government Funding Factsheet and Guide (.pdf 1016kb) This guide is an iterative document that provides an overview of central government funding mechanisms that may be available in a recovery. |
NRCG |
All |
|
Guidance |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
Give notice, extend and terminate Local Transition Periods
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guidance |
Factsheet: Local transition periods (.pdf 390kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Guidance |
Quick Guide: Giving notice of a local transition period (.pdf 143kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
Local transition period forms (giving notice of, extending and terminating a local transition period) (.docx 22kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
Record and report powers used during a Local Transition Period, Recovery Managers and Leaders
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guidance |
Powers of a Recovery Manager during transition (.pdf 218kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Advice on recording powers used during a transition period (.pdf 630kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Reporting on use of powers during a transition period (.pdf 211kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Powers of the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery (.pdf 94kb) |
NEMA |
National |
|
Template |
Record of powers exercised during the local transition period (.docx 37kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Template |
Report on powers exercised during a transition period (.docx 42kb) |
NEMA |
All |
Stakeholder engagement
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
Stakeholder engagement list, map and contact database (.xlsx 296kb) Provides a template for mapping key stakeholders for recovery. |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Online engagement guidance from Department of Internal Affairs (dia.govt.nz) |
DIA |
All |
This section covers the coordinated efforts and processes used for immediate, medium-term and long-term holistic regeneration and enhancement of a community after an emergency.
Recovery Managers and Leaders
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example |
Recovery Schedule Guide (.docx 200kb) This guide is designed to support Recovery Managers and their function staff to identify a schedule of actions and outcomes they may need to consider as they journey though the lifecycle of an event. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
| Example |
Recovery Environment Sector Groups' Terms of Reference Guide (.docx 265kb) This document provides a template Terms of Reference for Recovery Environment Sector Groups. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
| Example |
Recovery Programme Management Guide (.docx 493kb) This guide is designed to support the establishment of a Recovery Programme Management Service within a Recovery Office. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
| Example, Template |
Project Summary Report Guide and Template (.docx 148kb) This Guide introduces a Programme Management Report Template to help Recovery Offices coordinate, maintain oversight and report on recovery work programmes and their associated projects in their area of operations. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
|
Guidance |
NEMA |
All |
Recovery plans
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
Risks and Opportunities Register (.docx 32kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Example |
Uawa and Waipaoa communities recovery action plan (gdc.govt.nz) |
Gisborne District Council |
All |
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council recovery action plan (boprc.govt.nz) |
Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
All |
|
Example |
Reimagine Kaikōura – Kaikōura District Recovery Plan (kaikoura.co.nz) |
Kaikōura District Council |
All |
|
Example |
Hurunui District Council |
Local, Group |
Community communications and engagement
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Guidance |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Example |
Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
Local, Group |
|
|
Guidance |
Best Practice Guide: Community Engagement in the CDEM Context |
NEMA |
All |
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council Community Communication and Partnership Plan (whakatane.govt.nz) |
Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
Local, Group |
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council |
Local, Group |
|
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council |
Local, Group |
|
|
Template |
Stakeholder engagement list, map and contact database (.xlsx 296kb) Provides a template for mapping key stakeholders for recovery. |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Online engagement guidance from Department of Internal Affairs (dia.govt.nz) |
DIA |
All |
Record and report powers used during a Local Transition Period
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guidance |
Powers of a Recovery Manager during transition (.pdf 218kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Advice on recording powers used during a transition period (.pdf 630kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Reporting on use of powers during a transition period (.pdf 211kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Powers of the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery (.pdf 94kb) |
NEMA |
National |
|
Template |
Record of powers exercised during the local transition period (.docx 37kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Template |
Report on powers exercised during a transition period (.docx 42kb) |
NEMA |
All |
Monitoring and reporting
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council status report (whakatane.govt.nz) |
Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
Local, Group |
|
Guidance |
Approval of projects into essential infrastructure recovery programmes for 60:40 funding |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
Essential infrastructure project summary report (.docx 29kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Guidance |
Quarterly reporting process for significant essential infrastructure recovery programmes |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
Quarterly Report: essential infrastructure recovery programme status (.docx 34kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
| Example, Template |
Project Summary Report Guide and Template (.docx 148kb) This Guide introduces a Programme Management Report Template to help Recovery Offices coordinate, maintain oversight and report on recovery work programmes and their associated projects in their area of operations. |
Recovery Toolkit Project Team |
Local, Group |
Social recovery
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
A framework for social recovery (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
|
Example |
Understanding social recovery: Social and cultural outcomes (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
|
Example |
Hurunui District Council |
Local, Group |
|
|
Example |
Waimakariri Social Recovery 101: A guide for local social recovery (waimakariri.govt.nz) |
Waimakariri District Council |
Local, Group |
Psychosocial recovery
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
Bay of Plenty District Health Board psyschosocial support implementation plan (whakatane.govt.nz) |
Whakatāne District Council |
Local, Group |
|
Example |
Bay of Plenty District Health Board psychosocial monthly report (whakatane.govt.nz) |
Whakatāne District Council |
Local, Group |
Navigators
Volunteers
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council volunteer handbook (whakatane.govt.nz) |
Whakatāne District Council |
Local, Group |
Continuous improvement
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
NEMA |
All |
|
|
Example |
Natural environment recovery programme for greater Christchurch (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
Central government
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guidance |
National Recovery Coordination Group Central Government Funding Factsheet and Guide (.pdf 1016kb) This guide is an iterative document that provides an overview of central government funding mechanisms that may be available in a recovery. |
NRCG |
All |
|
Guidance |
Government financial support factsheets |
NEMA |
All |
|
Guidance |
Central government support in recoveries (.docx 36kb) |
NEMA |
All |
Local government
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council Mayoral assistance grant form (whakatane.govt.nz) |
Whakatāne District Council |
Local, Group |
Monitoring and reporting
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guidance |
Approval of projects into essential infrastructure recovery programmes for 60:40 funding |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
Essential infrastructure project summary report (.docx 29kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Guidance |
Quarterly reporting process for significant essential infrastructure recovery programmes |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
|
Template |
Quarterly Report: essential infrastructure recovery programme status (.docx 34kb) |
NEMA |
Local, Group |
Continuous improvement
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Example |
Funding the recovery: The CERA perspective (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
|
Guidance |
MBIE |
All |
|
|
Example |
A guide to local and regional recovery and reimagination (economicdevelopment.org.nz) |
Economic Development NZ |
Local, Group |
| Document Type | Document Name and Description | Owner | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Template |
Exit strategy (.docx 47kb) |
NEMA |
All |
|
Example |
Greater Christchurch Earthquake Recovery: Transition to regeneration (quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz) |
UC CEISMIC |
All |
|
Example |
Whakatāne District Council debrief (whakatane.govt.nz) |
Whakatāne District Council |
Local, Group |
Feedback
This toolkit is not a finished product - it is a living toolkit and will evolve over time. We’ll edit and add material in the spirit of continuous improvement. If you’d like to share a template you’ve found useful, suggest we develop one, or provide feedback, we’re keen to hear from you.