News and Events

New Zealand is now better at planning for emergencies and supporting the public in them, with over 100 recommendations from the Independent Review of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Response to the Christchurch Earthquake now actioned

Initial results show that official sign-ups for New Zealand ShakeOut 2015 have beaten the 2012 national earthquake drill, with over 1.35 million Kiwis signed up this year.

With just seven days to go until New Zealand’s national ShakeOut earthquake drill, a challenge is going out to every business and family in the country to sign up now to help them ‘get ready and get thru’ if there is a disaster.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management has cancelled the National Tsunami Warning (Marine and Beach Threat) issued yesterday after the earthquake near Chile. The National Warning no longer needs to be in place as the threat to New Zealand’s East Coast and Chatham Islands has largely passed. We expect that there may be some unusual water conditions for the next 24-36 hours and advise people to be cautious and use discretion before going into the water or going out in small board. We expect things to be back to normal within that 36 hour period.

A tsunami warning marine and beach threat has been issued for East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula. Overnight (17.09.15) people in these areas should follow this advice: 1. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities) 2. Stay off beaches and shore areas 3. Do not go sightseeing 4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends 5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates 6. Follow instructions of local civil defence authorities.

The Earthquake Commission has commissioned research that looks at the tsunami risks facing New Zealand.

The Ministry publishes e-Bulletin eight months a year to provide short, quick updates about civil defence emergency management (CDEM) and related information. It is for people in the CDEM sector and those with an interest in CDEM. This edition features a foreword from the Director, the Storm event and Whanganui River Flood of June 2015; Canterbury Group Annual Welfare Forum, Clutha Kids get Clued-Up; Papamoa College students prepare for ShakeOut; CIMS 4 Training for Bay of Plenty and Nelson-Tasman and more.

The Manwatu-Whanganui and Taranaki regions are now in the recovery phase following the heavy rain and flooding event of June 2015.

The Ministry publishes e-Bulletin eight months a year to provide short, quick updates about civil defence emergency management (CDEM) and related information. It is for people in the CDEM sector and those with an interest in CDEM. This edition features a foreword from the Director, June 2015 floods, the New Zealand Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction, New Zealand ShakeOut update, Southland utilises social media for snow warnings, Youth Looking Beyond Disaster and more.

The draft Revised Guide to the National CDEM Plan 2015 (the revised Guide) outlines New Zealand’s arrangements for the national management or support for local management of emergencies.