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Civil defence

By arming ourselves with the correct tools and knowledge we can as individuals, families, businesses, volunteers, organisations and communities, reduce the impact that natural disasters have upon us.

What to do before an emergency strikes

If a disaster were to happen tomorrow, what would you do?

  • Maybe you would like to know how dangerous the hazard is, how far will its effects spread? Do you know how to get information on the hazard event?
  • Maybe you would like to make sure close family and friends were okay. How would you do this if the phones were down?
  • Where will you go if you're asked to evacuate?
  • Do you know what basic equipment you'll need to survive, and where you can get it? - Remembering in the event of an eruption that everyone else will need the same equipment and supplies.

Preparing and planning for what we are going to do in the event of a major disaster is fundamental for lessening the impacts of such events. The following links will give you information about how to prepare your household for an emergency, and how you help your community by becoming a civil defence volunteer.

Civil defence volunteering in Auckland

To find out how to become a Civil Defence volunteer visit your local council's website, or visit www.auckland.cdemg.org.nz

Managing a disaster in Auckland

For small-scale emergencies (eg minor hazardous substance release or vehicle accidents), the Fire Service and Police usually manage it. If an emergency requires a lot of resources, more than can easily be accessed, local government (city, district or regional councils) can choose to declare a state of emergency, and the declaring authority will then manage the emergency.

Until 1 December 2002, the Civil Defence Act 1983 determined how civil defence was to be managed. On 1 December 2002, this Act was taken over (repealed and replaced) by the new Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

Under this new legislation:

  • every council within a region must unite to establish a Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, and
  • each Group must prepare a Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan within two years of establishment. This plan will outline how that region will try and reduce hazards and associated risks, and how emergencies will be managed.

As it takes time to establish the systems and processes to make civil defence work under the new act, civil defence emergencies will be managed 'the old way' until a plan can be completed.

This means that the Auckland Regional Council will still manage regional scale emergencies, and city and district councils will manage emergencies too big for the Fire Service or Police to manage. Upon approval of the Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan (expected to be approved by July 2004), the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group will then manage emergencies too big for the Fire Service or Police to manage.

The need and benefits of a new legislation

The new legislation intends to improve New Zealand's civil defence emergency management capability through:

  • better integration, communication and coordination between emergency management agencies across a region in the form of a Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
  • making communities better prepared and stronger, by encouraging them to achieve acceptable levels of risk
  • involving lifeline utilities, local businesses and others who have a vested interest in planning for the safety of the region.

Such relationships and arrangements will build stronger communities that together make New Zealand more resilient to disasters.

Auckland's Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan

Auckland's Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan can be viewed on the official Auckland region CDEMG site at www.auckland.cdemg.org.nz.

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