State of national emergency extended again

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has again extended the state of national emergency, until 6 April.

Section 66 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 allows the Minister to declare a state of national emergency and section 70 states that it expires with the commencement of the seventh day after the date on which it was declared. Section 71 allows seven-day extensions to the state of national emergency.

The state of national emergency in New Zealand was first declared on 23 February following the Christchurch earthquake. It was first extended on 1 March.

In announcing the latest extension yesterday, the Minister said there is still considerable work to be done in Christchurch that requires the powers the National Controller has "to ensure the maximum possible coordination and cooperation between central and local resources to respond to this disaster".

“The response is of such a magnitude that the required civil defence emergency management is beyond the capacity of the regional civil defence emergency management group. In Christchurch there is strong support for the state of national emergency.

“The state of national emergency will not be lifted until I am satisfied that the situation has stabilised sufficiently that it is no longer required," he said.

© New Zealand Law Society 2008