30/01/2026
In response to requests from submitters, and in light of the recent severe weather events across the North Island, the Governance and Administration Select Committee have extended the deadline for submissions on the Emergency Management Bill (No 2).
The new closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Sunday, 15 February 2026.
The Bill will replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 and make sure our legislative settings enable the improvements identified through the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events of early 2023.
The Bill builds on the legislative framework established by the CDEM Act. Its changes seek to:
- strengthen the role of communities and iwi Māori in emergency management
- provide for clear responsibilities at the national, regional, and local levels
- enable a higher minimum standard of emergency management
- minimise disruption to essential services; and
- ensure agencies have the tools to do their jobs effectively when an emergency happens.
You can have your say on the Bill by making a submission at https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCGOA_SCF_CDF180BD-F6C9-4242-1024-08DE369D9192/emergency-management-bill-no-2
Learn more about how to make a submission to a Select Committee here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/
