Following a series of major disasters and inquiries that questioned New Zealand’s capacity to deal with them, the new Emergency Management Act 2026 is the most significant improvement in more than two decades.

But legislation only tells part of the story.

Our research into how organisations across New Zealand’s emergency management system interact suggests effective coordination also depends on something less visible – the relationships between people and organisations expected to work together.

Emergency management relies on national, regional and local structures, designated agencies, plans and defined responsibilities which provide necessary authority and accountability. But disasters rarely remain within these boundaries.

The 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle crossed geographic, organisational and infrastructure boundaries. They required numerous organisations to coordinate under uncertain conditions and with incomplete information.

These relationships cannot simply be created when an emergency begins.

Disasters don’t follow organisational charts

Some organisations are formally part of emergency management arrangements. Others become involved because the consequences of a disaster require their expertise, resources or connections.

This means the........

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