This document responds to the recommendations made by the North Island Severe Weather Events Inquiry, which found that the emergency management system in place was not fit for purpose. The strategy links the previous recommendations with new priorities in emergency management to create a framework for the system's development from 2024 to 2030. 

In early 2023, the North Island was hit by a number of severe weather events. A Government Inquiry was established to identify lessons from the 2023 events and ensure the design of New Zealand’s emergency management system was appropriate for future emergencies. That Inquiry found that New Zealand’s emergency management system was not fit-for-purpose and made 14 recommendations to improve it. This strategy responds to each of the recommendations with key pieces of work that are either planned or underway.

In addition, the strategy outlines a program of changes that will update the emergency management systems across five core focus areas. Each focus area has a suite of high level actions linked to the recommendations made by the NISWE Inquiry to deliver on over the next five years. 

Focus areas

1. Give effect to the whole‑of‑society approach to emergency management.
2. Support and enable local government to deliver a consistent minimum standard of emergency management across New Zealand.
3. Professionalise and build the capability and capacity of the emergency management workforce.
4. Enable the different parts of the system to work better together at the national level.
5. Drive a strategic focus on investment and implementation.