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Gerry Brownlee
Wellington, April 23, 2017
We have established a Technical Advisory Group to identify where improvements in New Zealands Civil Defence structure could be made.
In March, I convened a cross-party meeting to initiate discussions about the Civil Defence Emergency Management structure and the shortcomings highlighted by recent emergencies, such as the Kaikura earthquake and Port Hills fires.
Group Members
Following the meeting, I wrote to various agencies and departments asking them to nominate someone for a Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
The Cabinet has approved the appointment of the following to the TAG:
Roger Sowry, as Chair; Malcolm Alexander, Chief Executive, Local Government New Zealand; Mike Rusbatch, Assistant Police Commissioner, New Zealand Police; Kerry Gregory, Deputy National Commander, New Zealand Fire Service; Major General Tim Gall, New Zealand Defence Force; Sarah Stuart-Black, Director, Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management; and Benesia Smith, former Deputy Chief Executive of the Canterbury, Earthquake Recovery Authority
Cross-Party Group
The first meeting of the Technical Advisory Group will be in the week commencing 22 May 2017.
I will also be inviting the cross-party group to meet with the TAG and I would
encourage input from cross-party representatives at this meeting before terms of reference are finalised and the group begins its work.
I am anticipating the TAG to submit its recommendations to me by the end of August.
Civil Defence has operated under the structure that civil defence is undertaken locally, coordinated regionally and supported from the national level. Its been this way since 1959 and whether this way of operating is still fit-for-purpose needs to be scrutinised.
I want to make clear the respect I have for the many volunteers who make themselves available after natural disasters and emergencies. The need to review the Civil Defence Emergency Management structure is not intended in any way to be a criticism of any volunteer efforts.
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Gerry Brownlee is Civil Defence Minister of New Zealand
