Proposed emergency legislation a step forward for rural communities
Rural Women New Zealand has submitted on the Emergency Management Bill (No 2), welcoming recognition of rural communities' unique vulnerabilities while calling for stronger protections for community-led response.
"We absolutely support new, modern emergency management legislation," says Sandra Kirby, Chief Executive of Rural Women New Zealand. "What we’ve seen with Cyclone Gabrielle and the recent weather events in 2026, is that the old legislation just isn’t fit-for-purpose.”
The submission highlights that rural communities often face higher levels of risk due to isolation, less-resilient infrastructure, and their relationship to the land and animals. RWNZ particularly welcomes the Bill's requirement for Emergency Management Committees to appoint members with rural expertise, ensuring rural perspectives are embedded in governance structures from the beginning.
"When Cyclone Gabrielle hit, we saw rural people doing what they always do, they got their tractors out, set up community hubs, and started coordinating rescue and relief," says Sandra Kirby. "That's the reality in rural areas. You can't always wait for official help when roads are cut and it might be days before anyone gets through."
However, RWNZ's submission also raises concerns about agency coordination. Following Cyclone Gabrielle, many communities felt inundated with representatives from various agencies due to poor coordination, leading to duplication of effort and community burnout.
"Emergency management authorities need to work with what's already there, not duplicate it or get in the way," says Sandra Kirby. "Rural volunteers are using their own equipment, their own fuel, their own time, sometimes for weeks on end. We're not expecting the government to compensate everyone, but there needs to be recognition of what communities contribute."
The submission also strongly supports the Bill's provisions to strengthen animal welfare considerations in emergencies, noting that farmers often put themselves at considerable risk to rescue livestock and working animals during disasters.
RWNZ's full submission addresses rural expertise in governance, information sharing and local knowledge, access to restricted areas, essential infrastructure requirements, and civil liability protections for community responders.
ENDS