National Headquarters
Level 12
80 The Terrace
PO Box 2133
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone +64 4 496 3600
22 June 2020
Riki G
By email: [FYI request #12346 email]
Dear Riki
Information Request –
Operational Instructions
I am writing in relation to your information request dated 2 March 2020 requesting copies of
certain operational plans and procedures that were in use on 22 February 2011
. In particular you
asked for copies of the following documents:
• NZFS Guide to Civil Defence and Emergency Management
• Command and Control
• Urban Search and Rescue
• National Response Plan.
I understand that your request is for academic research purposes and note your indication that
you are studying at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia.
On 28 April 2020 we wrote to you advising you that your request was refused under the Official
Information Act 1982 as you were not entitled to make a request under that Act, which can only
be used by New Zealand citizens and certain other classes of person.
Nevertheless, we also undertook to provide you with copies of the requested documents to help
you with your research because this organisation is supportive of research.
Please therefore find attached accordingly copies of:
• the New Zealand Fire Service Civil Defence Emergency Management Guide (December
2008); and
• section 7 of the New Zealand Fire Service Incident Management – Command and Control
Technical Manual. This excerpt outlines the New Zealand Fire Service’s incident
management authority at the time of the February 2011 earthquake.
Despite our best efforts we have been unable to locate copies of Urban Search and Rescue plans
or any National Response Plan in use during the February 2011 earthquake.
If you are dissatisfied with this decision, you can contact an Ombudsman to discuss it. Information
about how to contact an Ombudsman is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Raewyn Bleakley
Deputy Chief Executive, Office of the Chief Executive
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