7 June 2012Humanitarian and Disaster Management Team, NZ Aid Programme

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Pacific natural disasters & New Zealand’s response

Tropical Cyclones (1977-2006)

Southern Hemisphere Tracks by Cat(1877 -2006)

1 (117)2 (38)3 (46)4 (42)5 (14)

Pacific Cyclones Categories 1 to 5: 1977 - 2006

1 BACKGROUNDNew Zealand in the Pacific Region

Pacific disaster response

In any response, NZ supports the response mechanisms of national governments (which have the primary responsibility for the well-being of their citizens), local partners and other international actors that are operational on the ground.

2. Coordination: In New Zealand BACKGROUND

New Zealand in the Pacific Region

The New Zealand Aid Programme in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has lead responsibility for the coordination and management of the New Zealand Government’s response to natural disasters. Aims to support local response efforts.

Responding to disasters

Emergency Task Force (ETF)

Role is to collectively consider possible responses to a disaster; to plan and manage the ongoing response

• MFAT (Aid, Consular, Pacific)• France and Australia through FRANZ Agreement• New Zealand Defence Force • Ministry Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM)• Ministry of Health (MOH)• Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA)• Police• NZ Fire Service (USAR support)• NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF) • Red Cross

2. Coordination: In the Pacific BACKGROUND

New Zealand in the Pacific Region

France, Australia and New Zealand. Signed 1992

In Pacific, significant role of defence forces

Commits partners to share information and assets in the event of a natural disaster:

Recent examples: Solomon Islands tsunami 2007; Pacific tsunami 2009; Vanuatu volcano 2009; Tuvalu water shortage 2011

FRANZ

New Zealand is part of the PHT

Recent agreements to work more collaboratively in DRM also include:

- Wellington Declaration 2010 (water shortage Tokelau)

PHT / OTHER