Fire and Emergency New Zealand Update from Hon Paul Swain - Chairman of Fire & Emergency New Zealand Board
Local Advisory Committees are part of Fire and Emergency’s new mandate and will provide us with a strong local focus on risk and need. LACs will work alongside and receive advice from national and local representatives of emergency services partners (Police, St John and Civil Defence). They will also work with local government, territorial authorities, iwi, business and land management organisations, and other community organisations.
Local Advisory Committees confirmed area names
In July, I confirmed the decision made by the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board to establish 16 LACs, with boundaries that match the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group (CDEMG) boundaries. This decision was based on submissions to public consultation in 2018.
The names for the Local Advisory Committees have now been approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs. Fire and Emergency recommended names to the Minister that are synonymous with the CDEMG area names, as they are well known and recognised by communities, local authorities and organisations.
These have been agreed by the Minister as follows:
- Northland
- Auckland
- Waikato
- Bay of Plenty
- Tairawhiti
- Hawke’s Bay
- Taranaki
- Manawatu/Wanganui (note Fire and Emergency LAC name will be Manawatū/Whanganui)
- Wellington
- Chatham Islands
- Nelson/Tasman
- Marlborough
- West Coast
- Canterbury
- Otago
- Southland
Establishing the first seven LACs before 30 June 2020
The locations for the first seven LACs will be across Fire and Emergency’s five regions. They have been chosen based on information gathered through the LAC pilots conducted in 2016/17 and the Hawke’s Bay trial undertaken in early 2018. We have also chosen the first seven LACs to include diverse communities, with varying risks and activity.
These seven LAC areas are: Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Northland, West Coast, Chatham Islands, Tairawhiti and Otago.
As part of the establishment of LACs, we will be recruiting a National Manager for Local Advisory Committees. This person will help guide the establishment of the first seven LACs and will be a key role in enabling Fire and Emergency to connect with communities, understand their local risks and needs and work with them to develop plans to meet them.
Thank you for your continued support and contribution to the development of LACs.
Hon Paul Swain
Chairman
Fire & Emergency New Zealand Board