Revised Guide Section 19: National CDEM warnings

From 1 July 2014, New Zealand is changing its definitions of the Volcanic Alert Level system used by GNS Science and GeoNet, and outlined in section 19, National CDEM warnings of the Guide to the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan.

The Guide to the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan (the Guide) sets out the arrangements and roles and responsibilities of agencies for the national management, or support to local management, of civil defence emergencies. The purpose of the Guide is to assist and support New Zealand agencies to achieve the purpose of the National Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Plan. The Guide incorporates the wording of the National CDEM Plan, which states the principles, arrangements and frameworks that apply to the management of emergencies and supports these with further detail, diagrams and operational information.

As planning and operational arrangements develop in the sector, they are updated and reflected in the Guide, which is designed to be a ‘living document’.

Volcanic Alert Level system changing on 1 July

The Volcanic Alert Level system, used by GNS Science and GeoNet to communicate volcanic activity in New Zealand, will be changing on 1 July 2014.

Changes in the new Volcanic Alert Level system include having just one system for all volcanoes in New Zealand (previously there were two), restructuring the system so that there is an additional level for ‘moderate to heightened volcanic unrest’ (instead of just one level for all volcanic unrest), and adding in information about the most likely hazards that will be seen for each level of volcanic activity. The number of levels in the new system remains unchanged, and ranges from 0 (no volcanic unrest) to 5 (major volcanic eruption). No changes have been made to the international Aviation Colour Code system.

To find out more information on the new Volcanic Alert Level system, visit the GeoNet website http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/volc/Volcanic+Alert+Levels

Information on Aviation Colour Codes: http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/volc/Aviation+Colour+Codes

The changes to the Volcanic Alert Level system have been reflected in Section 19: National CDEM warnings of the Guide to the National CDEM Plan.

Updating your copy of ‘The Guide’ Section 19: National CDEM warnings

If you own a copy of the Guide to the National CDEM Plan, please do the following before 1 July 2014:

Note: Please forward these instructions on to any one in your organisation who may own a copy of the Guide to the National CDEM Plan


Published: Jun 20, 2014, 11:31 AM