30 September 2020

eBulletin is your regular source of emergency management news, information, case studies, best practice, research and reports.

Take a moment to find out the latest and celebrate successes from our sector.

NEMA News

NEMA receives the 2020 New Zealand Sign Language in Government Agencies award

The National Emergency Management Agency is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) in Government Agencies award.

We believe that emergency information should be accessible for everyone. Our partnership with Deaf Aotearoa is helping us to champion the use of NZSL before, during and after emergencies to keep Deaf communities safe and informed.

Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, Sarah Stuart-Black says "it is so critically important that the deaf community have access to public information and life safety information at the same time as every other person who lives, works or visits New Zealand".

"Emergencies don't discriminate, so the ability to provide accessible public information through recent events such as the mosque shootings, the Nelson/Tasman fires, the variety of flooding and severe weather events, Whakaari White Island, and most recently COVID-19 continues to reinforce the importance of partnering with the deaf community," says Sarah. 

There are a range of NZSL hazard and emergency preparedness resources available on GetReady.govt.nz. 

New Zealand ShakeOut 2020 next month

Over half a million Kiwis have signed up to take part in this year's New Zealand ShakeOut. Have you signed up? 

On 15 October at 9:30am, New Zealand will have the opportunity to learn and practise the correct actions to take during an earthquake and tsunami by participating in ShakeOut drill.

Wherever you are during New Zealand ShakeOut, you can take part in the drill. Just Drop, Cover and Hold for up to one minute, and if you're in a coastal area practise your tsunami hīkoi.

Sector Spotlights

Have your say about earthquake risk reduction in your organisation 

Resilient Organisations and the University of Canterbury invite you to get involved in their nationwide Earthquakes and Organisations survey, as part of their Earthquake Commission (EQC) funded research on earthquake risk reduction in New Zealand organisations.

Whether you think your organisation has done a little or a lot, your information is vital in helping our understanding of how well prepared New Zealand’s organisations are for a future earthquake. As part of our research all survey participants will have access to an Earthquake Risk Reduction Best Practice handout which will be developed as part of the study. 

The survey is open to anyone that works in a NZ organisation and we are particularly keen to hear from business owners, senior managers or those that manage risk, health and safety, facilities, and business continuity.

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/earthquakesandorganisations

Vacancies

NEMA vacancies 

Analysis and Planning roles

Analysis and Planning are continuing to grow as a business unit with the recently established Social and Community Resilience team and Planning team. There are three roles advertised for the unit with the close date of 11 October. Please share these roles across your networks to help us find great candidates. 

As a business unit they are responsible for the research and development of CDEM concepts. The unit coordinates science and technical advice and the application of research, emergency management planning, the development and maintenance of the strategic framework, guidance and doctrine, recovery management and international engagement.  It also has responsibility to manage relationships with partner Departments and agencies at the national level.

We have the following vacancies available in these new teams:

Team Leader, Social and Community Resilience - The purpose of the Team Leader, Social and Community Resilience position is to lead the development and maintenance of social and community resilience planning and arrangements. The Team Leader, Social and Community Resilience is expected to take the lead at the national, and at times international level, in representing the Agency's position in advancing social and community resilience arrangements by actively engaging with relevant stakeholders, especially at strategic or sector-wide levels.

Advisor / Senior Advisor, Social and Community Resilience - The purpose of the Advisor / Senior Advisor, Social and Community Resilience position is to work with a range of stakeholders to develop, maintain and evaluate social and community resilience planning arrangements, guidance and doctrine at the national and regional levels.

Advisor / Senior Advisor, Planning - The Advisor / Senior Advisor, Planning position is accountable for developing, maintaining and evaluating the strategic national emergency management planning framework and supporting doctrine and hazard-specific emergency management planning and guidance with a range of stakeholders. The role is required to lead and guide specific projects and programmes, including those related to strategic and hazard specific emergency management planning.

National Operations roles

The National Operations business unit has four new roles being advertised from later today, with a close date of 14 October. As with other roles, please circulate through your networks to help us find great candidates.

The purpose of the National Operations business unit is to lead the operational systems, arrangements, facilities and infrastructure, capability and capacity of NEMA and New Zealand’s emergency management system to be ready for and able to respond effectively to emergencies. National Operations also has responsibility to manage the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) readiness and availability during any emergency response.

We have the following vacancies available: 

Project Manager - The purpose of this role is to provide project management in building operational capability for the National Operations business unit, including for the NCMC in Wellington and Auckland.  This role could be based in either Auckland or Wellington.

Senior Advisor National Operations - The purpose of this position is to build and maintain operational capability in NEMA and support the development of operational capability with CDEM stakeholders in the context of the National CDEM Plan. Please note, this role is Auckland based.

Senior Geospatial Analyst/Developer - The purpose of this Wellington-based position is to:

• Work with ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise and provide data management, analytics and web mapping to help NEMA use the platform to its fullest potential.
• Manage geospatial web services to make data available to NEMA, CDEM Groups and other agencies.
• Improve our strategic use of geospatial information in emergency management.

Technical Writer - The purpose of this Wellington-based role is to:

• Work with NEMA staff, including managers and team leaders, and CDEM stakeholders to identify their information needs.
• Write, edit, design, format and deliver a broad range of effective documentation and material.
• Use the most appropriate technology to develop and deliver material that meets the requirements of the intended audience, is of a high standard, is consistent with NEMA style standards, and ensures effective understanding of the subject matter.

CDEM Sector vacancies

• Manager Operations, Emergency Management Bay of Plenty

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.

Got a story?

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.