News and Events

Information released by MBIE’s Building System Performance team and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will help communities across New Zealand address a crucial issue – how do people living in low-lying, coastal areas evacuate in time from an impending tsunami?

The new CAP feed allows EMA messages to be distributed by other systems that only need to be connected to the internet, so EMA life safety messages can get to people who are out of network coverage.

The New Zealand Lifelines Council has released the 2020 Edition of the New Zealand Critical Lifelines Infrastructure National Vulnerability Assessment.

Lessons learned from the Canterbury earthquakes will be shared widely and preserved for the future when a collection of reports and information moves to a new digital home.

New Zealand’s emergency response system has been boosted with a second cohort joining the New Zealand Emergency Management Assistance Team (EMAT).

The report on the exercise of statutory powers during the national transition period owing to the impacts of COVID-19 is now available.

Six sections of the Guide to the National CDEM Plan 2015 have been revised, and are now available on our website.

A new National Fuel Plan has been launched. The plan provides a a readiness and response framework to manage potential fuel supply disruptions.

Guidance from the New Zealand Government on the COVID-19 including health advice, travel restrictions and education-related information for students and parents can be found on the GOVT.NZ website.

Information for affected people and for people visiting the area during the holiday period.

The new National Emergency Management Agency will become operational on 1 December 2019. On this day all of the existing functions and staff of the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management will transfer into the new National Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry will cease to exist.

The system, which is administered by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) on behalf of a range of agencies, is undergoing a nationwide live test this Sunday 24 November between 6pm and 7pm. Last year six in ten New Zealanders received the alert, and that number is expected to climb further.

Just over one year ago, the Government announced Better Responses to Natural Disasters and other Emergencies in New Zealand — its response to the Technical Advisory Group’s Ministerial Review recommendations. This update provides an overview of what’s been achieved so far in the Emergency Management System Reform and what’s on the horizon — both short-term and longer-term.

Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare says World Tsunami Awareness Day today (5 November) is a chance for all New Zealanders to learn more about the tsunami risk in our regions and the right actions to take to stay safe.

Labour weekend is a great chance to catch up on all those things you’ve been meaning to do around the house, from cleaning out the guttering to making an emergency plan.

'To sign is to be seen' is a new poster resource that provides tips for media, camera operators and media briefing organisers to help New Zealand Sign Language interpreters get important messages across.

Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare today announced that the Emergency Management Assistance Team has been established and is ready to be deployed to provide support in an emergency response.

The purpose of Kermadec Islands Earthquake Post Event Report is to provide an overview of the MCDEM response to the tsunami threat generated by a large earthquake in the Kermadec Islands on 16 June 2019. The report captures aspects of the response that may be improved and aspects that worked well.

The Tasman District Fire Response Post Event Report provides an overview of the MCDEM response to the impacts of the Tasman District fire from 5 to 27 February 2019. The report captures aspects of the response that may be improved and aspects that worked well.

The Review of Recoveries Report summarises the findings of the independent review of how recovery provisions of the CDEM Act supported the recoveries after the 2016 earthquakes and tsunami and the 2017 flooding in the Whakatāne District.

Note: this news item refers to the 2018 test. The 2019 nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert will be held on the evening of 24 November 2019. You should expect to receive a test alert that evening sometime between 6 and 7 pm.

A historic new agreement signed today will provide a nationwide boost to New Zealand’s emergency preparedness and response arrangements.

Note: this news item refers to the 2018 test. The 2019 nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert will be held on the evening of 24 November 2019. You should expect to receive a test alert that evening sometime between 6 and 7 pm.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is encouraging New Zealanders to have their say about the future of disaster resilience in New Zealand.

The tragic earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia is a reminder for New Zealanders of the importance of knowing how to stay safe in the event of a tsunami.

Civil Defence Emergency Management authorities and media are joining forces to ensure better access to emergency information for diverse communities.

In June Civil Defence Minister Hon. Kris Faafoi launched New Zealand ShakeOut 2018, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (walk out), on 6 June at Wilford School in Wellington.

Deaf communities will have improved access to emergency information as the result of a new agreement signed today, says Civil Defence Minister Hon Kris Faafoi.

Now is a good time to think ahead about how Cyclone Gita might impact you and your household, and plan accordingly, the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is advising the public.

New Zealand’s new Emergency Mobile Alert system has been well received by New Zealanders, according to an independent survey commissioned by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).

Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi has released a report into how New Zealand responds to natural disasters and emergencies.

On 14 November 2016, Kaikōura and North Canterbury experienced a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that had wide reaching impacts on New Zealand’s North and South Islands. The November 2016 Earthquake recover Story pulls together the many strands of support that government and councils have provided to help people back to a new normal.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) is leading the implementation of Emergency Mobile Alert, New Zealand’s new nationwide emergency alert channel. A live nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert will be held on 26 November 2017 between 6pm and 7pm.

World Tsunami Awareness Day on Sunday 5 November is a chance for all of us to find out more about tsunami and how to prepare for them, Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi says.

We apologise to those who have received test emergency alerts in the early hours of 4 October 2017.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management have updated the information on this website about recovery. The updated content includes information about recovery planning and the role and powers of Recovery Managers.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management has released the results of the Colmar Brunton disaster preparedness survey for 2017. This annual survey of 1000 New Zealanders assesses disaster preparedness and the effectiveness of our public education programme.

This version (1.1) of the WENIRP has been developed post the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in order to ensure that, if a major aftershock occurred affecting the Wellington region, an effective response could be initiated.

This report provides an overview of Exercise Tangaroa 2016 and summarises the key findings derived from evaluation and feedback provided about the Exercise

The Kaikoura Earthquake and Tsunami: 14 November 2016 Post Event Report (National Emergency Management Agency response) outlines the Agency’s response to the Kaikoura earthquake and tsunami on 14 November 2016.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has given notice of an extension to the national transition period in Kaikōura and Hurunui Districts and the Wairau-Awatere ward of Marlborough District.

A longstanding agreement between Civil Defence Emergency Management authorities and national broadcasters has been renewed and strengthened.

The East Cape earthquake and tsunami: 2 September 2016 Post Event Report (National Emergency Management Agency response) outlines the Agency's response to the East Cape earthquake and tsunami on 2 September 2016.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the implementation of a new nationwide channel for sending alerts about emergencies to mobile phones is on track to be up and running by the end of the year.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced $889,000 of funding grants to boost New Zealand’s resilience to natural hazards and their consequences.

Key presentations and documents from the 2016 National Lifelines Forum are now available to view and download.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has given notice for a National Transition Period for the Kaikoura, Hurunui and Marlborough Districts to assist with the recovery from the Hurunui/Kaikoura earthquake on 14 November 2016.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the Civil Defence Emergency Management Amendment Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today.

The UN General Assembly has made 5 November World Tsunami Awareness Day with the first one being held this year. It’s a chance for all of us to find out more about tsunami and how to prepare for them.