Disaster and emergency management

Emergency Management Bill

As part of its response to the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events, the Government intends to pass a new Emergency Management Bill which will replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

The NZVA has been actively engaged with members in areas affected by emergencies and extreme weather events, and have kept members informed about our submissions and the proposed Emergency Management Bill.

2025 consultation

In 2025, the National Emergency Management Agency invited submissions on options to strengthen New Zealand’s overarching emergency management legislation and inform the design of a new Emergency Management Bill.

The NZVA made a submission on behalf of members. In essence, we are advocating for:

1. acknowledgement in legislation that animals are sentient beings
2. including a requirement for animals to be prioritised above property in legislation
3. acknowledgement in legislation that animal welfare needs are included as part of the responsibilities of emergency response teams, at the level of the controller
4. inclusion in legislation of provisions ensuring that veterinary professionals deployed as part of an official emergency response are appropriately compensated for their time and contribution, consistent with the approach taken in responses to disease incursions such as foot and mouth disease (FMD).

> NZVA submission on options to strengthen emergency management legislation

> Emergency Management Bill 2025 consultation

2023 consultation

The Governance and Administration Committee called for submissions on the Emergency Management Bill in 2023. The Emergency Management Bill would replace the Civil Defence Emergency Act 2002 which provides powers for managing emergencies at local, regional, and national levels.

The NZVA made a submission on behalf of members. Primarily, we believe there is ambiguity across New Zealand legislation about what actions can be taken to ensure the welfare of animals in an emergency, and we want this ambiguity to be removed. The NZVA also recommended that the Bill be amended to make it clear that during emergency management activities:

• animals are covered (in addition to people and property)
• animals can be ‘seized’ for their safety/rescue
• entry on to premises is allowed to rescue animals, just as it is to rescue humans. We understand the Act already allows for access on to properties (including farms). The clarification we seek relates to buildings on properties.

> Read the Emergency Management Bill

> NZVA submission on the Emergency Management Bill (Bill No. 225-1)