133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
18 December 2024
Lauren Doocy
By email: [FYI request #29303 email]
Ref:
H2024056908
Tēnā koe Lauren
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 23 November 2024 for information regarding
emergency management. You requested:
•
Please outline the plan and timeline to update the outdated
frameworks/policies/standards, including the national health emergency plan, update
and make the outdated ambulance standards available publicly, outline the timeline to
develop an integrated hospital and out-of-hospital emergency plan.
•
Provide details of how these plans integrate with the national emergency management
system (CIMS), and the system for hospital and pre-hospital services to integrate with
NEMA (who manage CIMS).
•
Please also provide copies of health (hospital or pre-hospital) emergency management
plans/guidelines for weather events, power outages, natural disasters, pandemics and
any other scenarios that have been developed.
•
Provide copies of any risk assessments that relate to these
The Ministry’s Emergency Management function serves as steward and monitor across the
health system to ensure the Ministry meets its legislative obligations under the Civil Defence
Emergency Management Act 2002.
A revision and update of the National Emergency Plan is part of the Ministry’s 2024/25 work
programme. The work is likely to continue into the 2025/26 financial year and wil incorporate
catastrophic event planning and align with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC) led Emergency Management Improvement Project.
The Co-ordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) is the government mandated doctrinal
framework for responding to multi-agency incidents at any scale. CIMS is the equivalent of the
Australian Inter-Service Incident Management System (AIIMs) in Australia, or the National
Incident Management System (NIMS) in the United States and has been customised for use in
New Zealand. All government agencies (including health) apply the framework. Further
information about CIMS is available on the New Zealand Civil Defence website at:
www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/cims/CIMS-3rd-edition-FINAL-Aug-
2019.pdf.
The Ministry does not hold information about hospital and ambulance standards. In particular
the Ministry does not hold
"copies of health (hospital or pre-hospital) emergency management
plans/guidelines for weather events, power outages, natural disasters, pandemics and any other
scenarios that have been developed.” or associated risk assessments under section 18(g)(i ) of
the Act. Please note, the Ministry consulted with Health New Zealand (HNZ) – Te Whatu Ora on
a transfer of this part of your request. However, HNZ has advised it was unable to accept a
transfer as this does not cover the parameters of HNZ’s work. You may wish to contact HNZ at:
[email address] for further information about specific plans.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Jason Jones
Director Emergency Management
Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui
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