National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
NEMA was established as part of the Government’s response to a Ministerial review into better responses to natural disasters and other emergencies.
NEMA provides leadership in reducing risk, being ready for, responding to and recovering from emergencies. NEMA is the Government lead for emergency management, helping build a safe and resilient New Zealand by empowering communities before, during and after emergencies. NEMA can be either lead the emergency or support the response and recovery. Their key functions are steward, operator and assurer of the emergency management system. The provide strategic leadership for risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery activities (4 R’s) building emergency management capability and capacity. NEMA can lead or support the response to and recovery from emergencies whilst supporting the operation of the emergency management system. They can also provide assurance that the emergency management system is fit for purpose.
NEMA’s work is covered by the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act (200), the National Disaster Resilience Strategy, the National CDEM Plan and the Emergency Management Systems Reform programme, as set out in the Ministerial review ‘Better Responses to Natural Disasters and Other Emergencies in New Zealand.
NEMA is an autonomous departmental agency, hosted by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.