There are currently no civil defence emergencies in the Bay of Plenty.

At a local and regional level, Civil Defence is the function that prepares for and coordinates the responses to catastrophic events. These events may be caused by any one of a number of hazards. Hazards can range from volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, storms, earthquakes, fires, to major transport accidents and human or agricultural disease outbreaks.

Civil Defence aims to ensure the safety of people and property by preventing, reducing or overcoming hazards.

By knowing the possible hazards we can then work towards implementing strategies to prepare for them and be prepared. 

Find out about the Regional Hazards, including civil defence emergencies the region has had in the past.

The 4's of emergency management

Reduction - identify and analyse risks to human life and property 

Readiness - develop capabilities before an emergency occurs 

Response - take action immediately before, during or directly after an emergency 

Recovery - initiate activities after impact, and extending them until the community's ability to management themselves is restored.

The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group

The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 is the legislation covering Civil Defence. Within the Bay of Plenty regional boundary each regional, city and district council is required to jointly form a Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEM Group) and to prepare a Group Plan.

The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group structures consist of:

• A Joint Committee as the governing body responsible for all CDEM activities in the Bay of Plenty region. It consists of the mayor from each of the territorial authorities in the Bay of Plenty region and the chairman of the regional council (or alternative representatives).
• A Coordinating Executive Group (CEG) consisting of Chief Executives of the local authorities (or deputies), senior emergency service officers, hospital and health representatives and others. The CEG advises the CDEM Group and implements the Group Plan and any decisions of the Group Joint Committee.
• An Emergency Management Office (EMO). The office provides administrative, secretarial, accounting, technical and planning support to the CDEM Group.
• A Group Emergency Operations Centre (GEOC) to coordinate all support for Bay of Plenty wide emergency events. The chief executive of Environment Bay of Plenty is the regional controller in a regional emergency.
• Environment Bay of Plenty is responsible for supporting the group controller during such an emergency.

Environment Bay of Plenty is the administering authority for Bay of Plenty CDEM Group. You can contact the regional council’s Civil Defence staff on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or by emailing us at info@envbop.govt.nz.