Local government is at the frontline of emergency management. Councils lead work across the four Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery. They do this by mapping local hazards, investing in building resilience and running community readiness programmes.
New Zealand is witnessing increasing climate driven storms, floods, landslides and coastal hazards. These events risk causing major damage to critical infrastructure across roading, water, power and waste. Recent extreme weather events have highlighted gaps in our emergency response systems.
In December 2025, the Government introduced a new Emergency Management Bill to replace the old system. The bill proposes major updates to how the country plans for, responds to and recovers from emergencies. It aims to restructure the way emergency powers, planning obligations and coordination function during an emergency.
Council is broadly supportive of the proposal but has made a joint submission alongside 11 members of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum, recommending refinements. We believe that while the bill’s intent is admirable, it fails to deliver the level of transformation required. The bill makes incremental enhancements but does not address long-term disaster resilience or establish structured frameworks for recovery.
We have recommended changes to the bill to ensure clarity and consistency in the use of terminology. It is essential that emergency powers and responsibilities are well defined in the bill. We have cautioned the Government against centralising power during an emergency. They must ensure that local controllers can direct the use of resources in the best interests of the community.
The Emergency Management Bill follows a pattern by the Government when it comes to local government. More responsibility with less power and less money. Government officials have identified initial costs of $82.8 million to councils with ongoing costs thereafter; with ratepayers left footing the bill. Councils are already under pressure to prepare for and implement several major reform programmes. Without Government funding and rates capping, the bill’s outcomes are not achievable.
Read the joint submission and find more information about the proposal at waimatedc.govt.nz/reforms
