What's this review about?
The Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management Group Plan is the primary public document that outlines how the group, partners and agencies reduce risk, get ready for, respond to, and recover from major emergencies and disasters in the region.
The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 requires us to review our group plan every five years. As part of this process, we ask for public submissions to make sure the plan reflects the the people who live, work and play in the region. It’s important that our Group Plan represents all parts of our community and your feedback is essential to ensuring this.
We ran a survey in 2025 asking people for their thoughts. There was only one question - what do you think of the draft Group Plan? It was left broad to ensure people fully explain what they thought of the plan and why.
Read the final Group Plan
The Group Plan was adopted by the MWCDEM Joint Standing Committee on 2 June 2026.
What is the process now submissions are closed?
People who asked to speak to their submission to a panel of group representatives had that opportunity on Friday 14 November. This will take place in the Huia Room on Level 2 of Te Ao Nui at 17 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
Click/tap here to learn more about this process. You'll also be able to read the submissions we received on the group plan.
Deliberations about the draft plan are scheduled to be held on 14 November 2025, with the group plan then handed to the Minister of Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell for endorsement. The MWCDEM Joint Standing Committee approved the plan at a meeting on 2 June 2026.
