Cyclone Gabrielle

PHOTO: Cyclone Gabrielle. TODAY FM

New Zealand has declared a National State of Emergency due to the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on the country.

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Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty signed the declaration at 8:43am on Tuesday, the government said in a statement.

This is only the third time in New Zealand’s history that a National State of Emergency has been declared.

The declaration will apply to the six regions that have already declared a local State of Emergency: Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawkes Bay.

“This is an unprecedented weather event that is having major impacts across much of the North Island,” Mr McAnulty said.

“Since Sunday, NEMA [the National Emergency Management Agency] has been in close contact with local civil defence emergency management teams of affected areas to assess the need of a declaration of a state of National Emergency.

“NEMA has been giving advice to myself and the prime minister on the need of a national State of Emergency based on the assessments of the local teams, and until now the advice has been that it was not necessary.”

Mr McAnulty said he now considered a National State of Emergency declaration beneficial after meeting with local emergency teams.

He said the declaration would enable the government to support the affected regions, provide additional resources, and help set the priorities across the country for the response.

“A National State of Emergency gives the national controller legal authority to apply resources across the country in support of a national-level response,” he said.

“This declaration gives us the ability to coordinate further resources for affected regions. I want to emphasise that the government has already been surging support and resources to the regions for some days.”

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