WELLINGTON, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Civil Defense Minister Kris Faafoi on Thursday released the government's response to the report on New Zealand's civil defense emergency response system, including funding of 5.2 million NZ dollars (3.46 million U.S. dollars) for fly-in teams to support communities in an emergency.
The Ministerial Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was set up following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and the 2017 Port Hills fires in Christchurch, Faafoi said in a statement, adding the government's response needed to be robust and specific to ensure lessons were learned and people and communities protected.
"Our investment in rapid response teams, known as Fly-In Teams, signals the start of a multi-year transformative work program that will significantly improve our emergency response system," Faafoi said.
Fly-In Teams will have people with the appropriate skills and experience, including event controllers, to go wherever required, without delay, to work alongside and support the local team to ensure a comprehensive and immediate response is underway, he said.
The TAG believed that the current system was fundamentally sound, but needs a number of improvements to meet today's challenges, the minister said.
