🇳🇿 New Zealand
Last verified: July 2026 — validate with your local authorities during the annual update of the club directory.
1. Emergency numbers
| Service |
Number |
| General emergency (police, fire, medical) |
111 |
| Police non-emergency line |
105 |
| Healthline — free 24/7 health advice (nurse/paramedic) |
0800 611 116 |
| Mental health and emotional support (call or text) |
1737 |
2. National disaster management
| Element |
In New Zealand |
| National agency |
NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) — civildefence.govt.nz |
| National response framework |
CDEM (Civil Defence Emergency Management) doctrine under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002; coordinated from the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) |
| Territorial crisis authority |
16 regional CDEM Groups (councils + emergency services) that coordinate readiness, response and recovery locally |
| Citizen preparedness |
getready.govt.nz — official household preparedness campaign; recommended for club members |
| Organised volunteering |
Local CDEM Groups and NZ Response Teams (USAR-trained volunteers); the club can register with its regional CDEM Group before a crisis |
3. Alert systems
| System |
What it is |
Access |
| Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) |
Automatic alert pushed to capable phones (tsunami, flood, major hazard) |
Automatic |
| GeoNet |
Real-time earthquake, volcano and tsunami monitoring (GNS Science) |
geonet.org.nz |
| MetService |
National weather warnings and watches; displays NEMA tsunami banners |
metservice.com |
| DART buoy network |
Deep-ocean tsunami detection feeding NEMA warnings |
Via NEMA/GeoNet |
| National Geohazards Monitoring Centre |
24/7 monitoring; triggers tsunami mobile alerts |
Via NEMA |
| Red Cross Hazard App |
Localised alerts + preparedness checklists |
App stores |
4. Key non-Rotary actors
| Actor |
Role in disaster |
| New Zealand Red Cross |
Disaster Welfare and Support Teams (DWST), relief, family links; mandated role under the National CDEM Plan |
| Regional CDEM Group |
The club's institutional contact (exercises, welfare centres) |
| St John / Hato Hone St John |
Ambulance and emergency medical response |
| Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) |
Fire, rescue, flood and hazardous-substance response |
| Salvation Army, Student Volunteer Army |
Meals, distribution, clean-up and community support |
5. Dominant risks → guide cards
| Risk |
Where |
Card to print |
| Flood / flash flood |
Nationwide — the most frequent and costly hazard |
Card B2 |
| Earthquake |
Nationwide, especially the Alpine Fault (South Island) and Wellington |
Card A1 |
| Tsunami |
Eastern and southern coasts (local-source tsunami, short warning) |
Card A2 |
| Volcanic eruption |
Central North Island, Auckland volcanic field, Taupō |
Card A3 |
| Landslide |
Hilly and cyclone-affected regions (e.g. after Cyclone Gabrielle) |
Card A4 |
| Ex-tropical cyclone / severe storm |
North Island, late summer to autumn |
Card B1 |
| Wildfire |
Drought-prone regions (Canterbury, Marlborough, Central Otago) |
Card C2 |
6. Equivalences with the guide's terms
| Generic term in the guide |
NZ equivalent |
| National disaster management agency |
NEMA + regional CDEM Groups |
| National response plan |
National CDEM Plan (CDEM Act 2002) |
| Emergency medical service (EMS) |
Ambulance via 111 (St John / Hato Hone St John, Wellington Free Ambulance) |
| Territorial state authority |
Regional CDEM Group |
| Mass casualty protocol (MCI) |
Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) |
| Civil-security citizen reserve |
NZ Response Teams / USAR volunteers |
| Inter-agency coordination |
National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) via CIMS |
Donation tax rules: individuals can claim a 33.33% donation tax credit from Inland Revenue (IRD) on qualifying donations of $5 or more to an approved donee organisation (registered charity, school, approved overseas aid body). Confirm the donee status of your Rotary club or foundation on the IRD website before promising a tax credit.
7. Rotary section — to be completed by your club
| Element |
Your information |
| Rotary district |
____ |
| District Governor (DG) |
____ |
| District disaster officer (DRO/DRC) |
____ |
| ShelterBox New Zealand contact |
____ |
| Regional CDEM Group (contact) |
____ |
| Neighbouring clubs (< 50 km) |
____ |
| Last update of this section |
//______ |
Sources: New Zealand Government (govt.nz), New Zealand Police (police.govt.nz), NEMA / Civil Defence (civildefence.govt.nz), GeoNet (geonet.org.nz), MetService (metservice.com), New Zealand Red Cross (redcross.org.nz), Health New Zealand (Healthline), Inland Revenue (ird.govt.nz). Report any error: g.bourgogne.rtn@gmail.com