Civil Defence Press Releases

Access to businesses in the cordoned red zone of Christchurch city is being addressed by the National Controller, Civil Defence Minister John Carter said today.

Mayor Len Brown has announced three new initiatives to better prepare Auckland for civil emergencies. The initiatives include the development of neighbourhood and community emergency preparedness plans, a plan to give social media a key role in emergency preparedness and the announcement of a major regional civil defence exercise early next year.

Wellington’s tsunami warning sirens will be blaring in the central city and coastal suburbs on Wednesday 20 October as part of a national tsunami readiness exercise.

Nathan Guy has visited Canterbury firefighters to thank them for their efforts and inspect recovery work. The Fire Service have moved from their initial involvement with assisting medical incidents and freeing trapped people to dealing with structural incidents.

Civil Defence Director, John Hamilton says public services are recovering in the Canterbury region, despite a series of aftershocks that accelerated this morning after a relative lull yesterday.

Update 26 from the Civil Defence regarding the Christchurch earthquake.

Update 23 from the Civil Defence regarding the Christchurch earthquake. Information for Christchurch residents and those wishing to assist. All schools will remain closed until at least Wednesday morning.

Magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred in Christchurch at 0435 hours, 4 September 2010. Several aftershocks of between magnitude 3.9 and 5.2 have occurred and more aftershocks are expected. The likelihood of aftershocks of up to around magnitude 6 will remain for the next week.

A tsunami was generated from the 8.8 magnitude quake in Chile on 27 Feb 2010. Causing a threat to beach and small boats corresponding to wave heights less than 1 metre.