Our animal welfare emergency management team
MPI has a dedicated animal welfare emergency management team. It's available around-the-clock to support the response to any emergency in New Zealand that may have an animal welfare impact. The team's responsibilities are to:
- coordinate animal welfare services in emergencies (like earthquakes and floods)
- ensure planning is in place
- maintain the Government’s reporting and advisory capability on animal welfare in an emergency.
This means when there is an emergency, MPI will help coordinate the provision of the needs of animals when their owners (or people in charge) can’t.
This work is part of the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan 2015 (National CDEM plan).
Guide to the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan 2015 – NEMA
We're helped by a number of animal welfare support agencies.
Find out more about support agencies
Planning and supporting is part of the work
Besides responding to emergencies, the team's other activities include working on:
- the national animal welfare emergency management strategic plan
- regional plans
- Memorandums of Understanding for support agencies
- the National Emergency Management Agency Regulatory Framework Review Programme (also known as the "Trifecta")
- development of regional animal welfare subgroups
- post-event reporting on responses.
National and regional animal welfare emergency management plans
The national animal welfare emergency management (AWEM) strategic plan outlines MPI's vision, mission, and goals for preserving and protecting animals in emergencies.
MPI has also helped develop plans for each region in New Zealand. Each plan documents regional arrangements for coordinating animal welfare in emergencies from readiness, to response, to recovery.
Find out more about our national and regional AWEM plans
Who to contact
If you have questions about animal welfare emergency management:
- phone 0800 00 83 33
- email awem@mpi.govt.nz
