Help us make your community more resilient in an emergency

Under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017, Fire and Emergency is required to establish Local Advisory Committees around the country.

Why we’re setting up Local Advisory Committees

This video explains the critical role Fire and Emergency’s Local Advisory Committees will have in providing independent community-focused advice to our Board to inform our local and national emergency planning.  

Local Advisory Committees will ensure communities' voices and interests are reflected in our national and local planning. As well as providing advice from a local perspective, they will help us better understand risks and issues faced by communities - now and in the future.

This will help us to more effectively help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover well from emergencies, which is vital to building a safer and more resilient New Zealand.

The Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 has more detail about the purpose and functions of Local Advisory Committees.

What's happening now?

Nominations for the first seven Local Advisory Committees (Northland, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Chatham Islands, West Coast and Otago) have now closed. Applications are now in the first stage of the evaluation and appointment process which is expected to be completed by early March.

As initial appointments are expected to be for a one-to-three-year period, we’d like to keep in touch with people who could potentially be part of their Local Advisory Committee in the future.  

So, if you’re interested in becoming a Local Advisory Committee member we’d still love to hear from you.

This brochure has more information about nominating yourself or someone else for a Local Advisory Committee.

Questions? Email LACs@fireandemergency.nz