New Zealand Parliament Passes Emergency Management Overhaul

New Zealand's Parliament passed the Emergency Management Bill (No 2), replacing the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. The law clarifies national, regional and local roles, strengthens community and iwi Māori representation, and gives national authorities stronger tools to coordinate planning. It also allows authorised responders to enter premises to help animals during emergencies. Most provisions start the day after Royal assent, while compliance orders, resource coordination and lead-agency provisions begin on later schedules. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell said the overhaul would provide a modern, fit-for-purpose framework after reviews of recent disasters.