The Otago CDEM (Civil Defence Emergency Management) Group region extends from the Waitaki River in the north to Teahimate Bay in the South, west to the summit of the Haast Pass and east to 20km offshore into the Pacific Ocean. Otago borders the Canterbury, Southland and West Coast regions.
Emergency Management Otago is a shared service between all six Councils in Otago and works in partnership with emergency services and other organisations to ensure effective coordination of emergency management within its area. Otago CDEM Agreement
Governance of the Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEM) is provided by the Joint Committee (JC).
The Joint Committee is a statutory standing committee with overall responsibility for setting the strategic direction and conducting the business of Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) in Otago.
The Joint Committee comprises of the Mayors from each District Council and Chair of the Regional Council.
The Coordinating Executive Group (CEG) provides strategic advice with the role of implementing the decisions of the CDEM group. Oversees the implementation, development, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan (Group Plan).
Members of the Coordinating Executive Group (CEG)
The following additional members as co-opted under section 20 of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002:
The Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Plan for Otago sets outs the vision, goals and high-level arrangements for the Otago region.
The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 requires Civil Defence Emergency Management to review its Emergency Management Group Plan for the region every five-years.
As a result, a review and update of Otago’s Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan (2018 – 2028) will start shortly. This review will produce an interim Group Plan which will be released to the public who will be invited to provide feedback through a submission process.
The Group Plan provides for effective risk reduction, readiness, response, and recovery in Otago by:
The Otago Civil Defence Emergency Group (CDEMG) has prepared plans that provide the context and direction for civil defence emergency management in Otago.
Our Group Plan 2018-2028 was approved by the Minister of Civil Defence, Hon Peeni Henare, in July 2019. It came into effect on 22 August 2019.
The Community Resilience Strategy focuses primarily on societal resilience as it applies to disaster risk management.
The Strategy focuses on four (4) objectives:
This strategy identifies training & capability development pathways across three tiers - community volunteers, coordination centre staff and Emergency Management Otago professional staff.
Although a tsunami cannot be prevented, the impact of a tsunami can be mitigated through community awareness, preparedness, timely warnings and effective response.
This plan is to detail the preparedness, warning processes and systems, risk evaluation, activation, evacuation and other response arrangements in the event of a tsunami threat on the Otago coast.
The purpose of this plan is to document the Otago regional strategic arrangements for the coordination of animal welfare services during emergencies. This is relevant to the hazards listed in the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan Order 2015 (National CDEM Plan 2015).
All animal owners, or persons in charge of animals, should develop their own plans to care for their animals during emergencies. The role of the animal welfare subfunction is to help provide for the needs of animals when their owners (or persons in charge) are not able to do so themselves because of the consequences of an emergency.
In August 2021, Emergency Management Otago and Fire and Emergency NZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding detailing how they will collaborate on regionwide air operations in emergencies. The agreement is part of a new Aviation Emergency Support Plan (AESOP) which they have developed with regional airports and aviation operators.
The plan will:
The CDEM Act
The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 is the foundational piece of legislation which New Zealand can prepare for, deal with, and recover from local, regional and national emergencies.
The National Disaster Resilience Strategy
The National Disaster Resilience Strategy is a comprehensive approach aimed at enhancing the country's ability to withstand and recover from disasters. The strategy emphasizes a collaborative and integrated approach involving government agencies, local communities, businesses, and individuals. It focuses on building resilience at all levels by addressing key areas such as hazard identification and risk reduction, community engagement and empowerment, infrastructure resilience, and effective response and recovery efforts.
National Disaster Resilience Strategy
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
NEMA is the government lead for emergency management. NEMA supports local, regional and national understanding and coordination. This includes among government, iwi, local government, and private and community organisations.
Contact Details
If there is a threat to life or property, dial 111 for emergency services.
Phone: 0800 474 082
Email: info@otagocdem.govt.nz
Where to find us: 70 Stafford Street, Dunedin
The next Joint Committee will be held on 5 September 2024 at 3.00pm on Level 2, Philip Lang House, cnr Rattray and Princess St, Dunedin.
