29 April 2021

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NEMA News

Keynote speakers confirmed for National Emergency Management Conference 2021 | Hui Taumata o Te Uepū Whakahaere Haumaru

We are pleased to announce we have secured a range of top-of-the-line speakers for the National Emergency Management Conference 2021 | Hui Taumata o Te Uepū Whakahaere Haumaru, which is being held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington from 25 - 27 May.

Keynote speakers include: 

• The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
• Acting Minister for Emergency Management, Hon Kris Faafoi
• Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Director General of Health
• Dame Juliet Gerrard, Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor
• Lil Anderson, Chief Executive, Te Arawhiti
• Laulu Mac Leauanae, Chief Executive, Ministry for Pacific Peoples
• Nigel Latta, Clinical Psychologist, Author and Television Presenter

You can see what they’ll be discussing, and read their bios on civildefence.govt.nz.

Nominations also remain open for the Emergency Management Awards, a wonderful opportunity to recognise those who have made outstanding contributions to emergency management. Remember, there are new award categories this year. Find out more on civildefence.govt.nz. 

If you haven't already, register for the National Emergency Management Conference 2021 - Hui Taumata o Te Uepū Whakahaere Haumaru. Spaces are limited, so get in quick! 

NEMA to launch refreshed earthquake and tsunami campaign

The NEMA Communications Unit are about to launch an earthquake and tsunami campaign with a special focus on reaching those least likely to know the correct life safety action to take in an earthquake and tsunami event.

NEMA have identified that these people are also often those that are disproportionately affected by emergencies. These communities include lower income families, Māori, Pacific and Asian communities, speakers of languages other than English, and those over 60 years of age.

The key message of this campaign is to know the natural warning signs of tsunami and take action – Long or Strong, Get Gone. The focus is on the need to "get gone" in a long or strong earthquake, as this kind of earthquake may generate a local-source tsunami that could arrive to the New Zealand coastline within minutes, leaving no time for official warning.

Although the campaign collateral is based off the existing Long or Strong, Get Gone campaign video and posters, it has been updated based on advice and feedback from cultural experts representing Māori, Pacific and Asian communities in New Zealand. Some changes include adding more animated people into the video to represent a family evacuating from a tsunami, and adding nods to Aotearoa and our diverse cultures through the use of patterns and adding trees. These cultural perspectives have also informed how we reach these communities, so the campaign will run across multiple channels in a range of languages. This customer-focused campaign is an example of how NEMA is growing its cultural competency and understanding of the communities we support.

To gauge the success of this refreshed and specially targeted campaign, NEMA will pay special attention to the results of the annual disaster preparedness survey, which is conducted through Colmar Brunton to gauge the effectiveness of public education work throughout the year.

The results from the 2020 Colmar Brunton survey show most New Zealanders continue to know what actions they should take in the event of an earthquake or tsunami.

The campaign will run from the start of May through to the end of June 2021.

Example of current Long or Strong, Get Gone collateral.

Results of the National Warning System Test 

On Thursday 8 April 2021, NEMA tested the National Warning System (NWS) as part of its quarterly testing programme. The test involved sending messages via SMS, email and voice to national agencies, including government departments, territorial authorities, emergency services, lifeline utilities, welfare agencies and media broadcasters.

The total number of recipients increased from 627 to 1217, since this time last year. This was in response to COVID-19 Resurgence planning where there was a need to add Mayors, Chief Executives and statutory CDEM roles. 941 recipients (78%) received and acknowledged the message within 30 minutes.

The purpose of the NWS is to forewarn national agencies on potential or actual threats to life, health or property so that agencies can respond effectively and provide confidence to New Zealanders. The NWS is not a public alerting system. The Emergency Mobile Alert system is used for this purpose and is tested in November.

Communication channels used to issue information in an emergency - those highlighted were those that were tested. 

Test results 30 minutes after the test. 

Sector Spotlights

Vacancies

NEMA Vacancies

• Senior Advisor, Designing for the Future 
• Regional Emergency Management Advisors - Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch

Find out more about these roles, and apply on the NEMA website. 

To list a Civil Defence Emergency Management sector role, please email the National Emergency Management Agency communications team. We'll include your listing on our website and in upcoming editions of e-Bulletin.

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eBulletin provides newsworthy updates about Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) and related information from the sector. It is for people in the emergency management sector and/or those with an interest in emergency management. eBulletin shares news, information, case studies, best practice, research and reports, and celebrates successes.

Some topics for content include:

• upcoming events and activities
• information about responses to emergencies
• information about research (keeping in mind it is not a peer-reviewed journal)
• reports on what has been happening around the sector
• announcements of new publications and guides
• information about courses (ones you have been on and ones coming up), and
• celebrations of successes.