Emergency Management Bill

This page provides information about the Emergency Management Bill

As part of the work programme to strengthen the emergency management system, the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery intends to introduce a new Emergency Management Bill later this term. This is expected to be in the second half of 2025.

The intent of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 is sound, but the legislation needs to be modernised. The new Bill is an opportunity to make sure our legislative settings enable the improvements identified through the Government Inquiry into the North Island Severe Weather Events and other reviews. In particular, the reforms aim to ensure there is a whole-of-society approach to emergency management, by strengthening community participation and providing for clear responsibilities at all levels.

A new Bill would look to incorporate learnings and recommendations from submissions on the previous discharged bill, as well as the Government Inquiry into the North Island Severe Weather Events and other reviews.

Details about how individuals and organisations could make submissions on a new Bill will be provided in due course on this page.