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Civil Defence Emergency Management in New Zealand
How we plan for and respond to emergencies has evolved over time. In New Zealand we face a range of potential natural hazards. There are organisations that plan for how a community will respond during an emergency. There are simple steps we can all take to be ready for an emergency.
Emergencies
New Zealand has always been at risk from emergencies caused by natural hazards. Our history of emergencies has helped to set up how we plan for and respond to emergencies today.
These are some of the biggest emergencies in our history:
- 1886 Tarawera eruption
- 1931 Napier earthquake
- 1968 Wahine storm
- 1988 Cyclone Bola
- 2010/11 Christchurch earthquake
Find out about different historical emergencies in your region.
Civil Defence
Organised civil defence was first set up in New Zealand because of possible military attacks.
Organised civil defence in New Zealand started in the 1930s to deal with possible threats from another World War. In the 1950s and early 1960s, people worried about nuclear attacks, so the Government decided to set up the Ministry of Civil Defence to help defend New Zealand.
MCDEM
By 1999 Civil Defence & Emergency Management was set up because New Zealand had so many natural hazard emergencies.
Over the following years, New Zealand had many natural hazard emergencies, including earthquakes and severe weather. This made it clear that natural hazard emergencies were more of a danger and more common than wars. In 1999, The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management was set up to better reflect the broad range of emergencies that impact New Zealand.
Regional CDEM groups
In 2002, 16 regional Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups were set up, each with its own plan.
Each Group has their own plan that looks at their region’s emergency risks. The plans aim to reduce risks in communities, manage recovery after emergencies and prepare to respond to an emergency.
Get Ready for an emergency
Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, so it is important to always be prepared.
Often after an emergency there is a spike of people who do something to prepare, such as storing water, buying emergency food or making a plan with their family. There are simple steps you can take to make sure you, and the people you care about, are ready to get through an emergency.
- Talk about the impacts of an emergency.
- Work out what emergency supplies you might need.
- Make a plan with the people you live with.
- Tailor your plan for the needs of your household.
- Stay informed during an emergency.
- Make your home safer for emergencies.
You can find out more about getting ready for an emergency at home, at work, at school and at your marae on the Get Ready website.
Community civil defence
In an emergency, people may go to a community Civil Defence Centre or Community Emergency Hub. These are in schools, community centres or marae, and are run by volunteers.
Ready for a quiz? Try the Civil Defence Emergency Management in New Zealand interactive activity.
Community Civil Defence Centres are important. They may be the first places people go to if they have to evacuate their homes.
Audio Māori keywords:
Find out where your local community civil-defence centre is http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/find-your-civil-defence-group/.