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Civil Defence
and Emergency Management Committee
09 February
2023
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Appointment
of Recovery Manager - Recovery from January 2023 Weather Event
File No.: CP2023/00517
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
endorse the appointment of one of the existing nominated recovery managers to
the role of the Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group’s
Recovery Manager for the January (and potentially February) 2023 Weather Event
recovery, on an interim basis.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
Recovery Manager
2. The
role of Recovery Manager for this unprecedented event is an extremely important
appointment. The appointment is made under section 29 of the
Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002.
3. The
appointee requires demonstrated skills and experience in high-level leadership,
the workings of central and local government, the ability to influence across
the range of sectors that will be involved in the Auckland recovery, and
engaging communities. The appointment also requires certainty of at least 12 months.
4. It
will therefore take time to make a suitable longer-term appointment to this
role, but it is imperative that recovery planning begins immediately. Staff
recommend that one of the existing nominated recovery managers be appointed to the role in the interim.
5. An
existing recovery manager is suitably qualified and
experienced person and is already appointed as a Recovery Manager. It is
expected they will take on the role as interim Recovery Manager full
time, stepping aside from their current role. In recognition of the scale and
priority of recovery efforts, they will report to Jim Stabback, Chief Executive
of Auckland Council as Recovery Manager.
Recovery from the January 2023 Weather Event
6. A weather system delivered torrential rain over large parts of the
Auckland region on Friday evening 27 January 2023, and overnight. Significant
flooding inundated homes, displaced families, closed roads, generated multiple
slips, and disrupted power and other infrastructure across the region. A State
of Emergency was declared on Friday 27 January 2023. The declaration was
extended on Friday 3 February 2023.
7. The recovery required from this natural disaster is without
precedent in Auckland. It will be complex and prolonged. Preparations for the transition from the response to the recovery
are being advanced and a priority across the Auckland Council Group and
partners organisations.
8. In addition, Metservice Te Ratonga Tirorangi has advised of a
potential adverse weather event that may impact the Auckland region over the
next seven days. A second event would add to the complexity of the recovery,
which would address the impacts and consequences of both events.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Civil Defence and
Emergency Management Committee:
a) endorse
an existing nominated recovery manager to the role of Recovery Manager for the
recovery from the January 2023 Weather Event and a potential
adverse weather event (if it impacts the Auckland region) over the next seven
days under section 29 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002
for an interim period until a longer-term appointment is made to this important
role.
Horopaki
Context
9. Under
section 29 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, each group must
appoint, either by name or of by reference to the holder of an office, a
suitably qualified and experienced person to be a Recovery Manager.
10. The Civil
Defence and Emergency Management Committee has previously appointed a number of
senior council staff who currently hold the role of Recovery Manager.
11. The recording
of the committee’s decision in the minutes of the meeting formalise the
appointment under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 and fulfil
the requirements of that Act.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
Recovery Manager
12. The recovery
from the January 2023 Weather Event is anticipated to be the most significant
New Zealand recovery effort in recent years, requiring recovery activities
across the social, economic, built and natural environments, in both urban and
rural areas across the region.
13. National
Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) guidance on the Recovery Manager role
emphasises coordinating
recovery activities, ensuring:
· planning,
prioritisation, and management functions are undertaken,
· effective reporting
mechanisms are in place,
· government is
informed of local and regional issues,
· recovery resources
are identified and obtained as required,
· information is
provided on the impact of the event on the affected area, and
· emerging issues are
identified, and solutions sought.
14. The guidance
also identifies essential and desirable attributes in support of clarity of
vision, collaboration, understanding the needs of people and their
community’s needs, leadership, relationships, and teamwork. Further, the
Auckland context requires an understanding of Auckland specific legislation,
and decision-making within complex governance (mana whenua and council) and
(regional and local) frameworks. Relevant leadership experience at
corresponding levels and scale, and familiarity with the design of regionally
led - localised systems to address recovery priorities is also required.
15. The Recovery
Manager appointee requires demonstrated skills and experience in high-level
leadership, the workings of central and local government, the ability to
influence across the range of sectors that will be involved in the Auckland
recovery, and engaging communities.
16. Due to the
complexity and severity of the event, the appointment also requires certainty
of at least 12 months.
17. It will take
time to make a suitable long-term appointment, but it is imperative that
recovery planning begins immediately. Staff recommend that one of the existing
nominated recovery managers be appointed to the role in the
interim. An interim appointment enables the preparations underway for
the recovery to scale up and be formalised.
18. An existing
recovery manager is suitably qualified and experienced person
and is already appointed as a Recovery Manager. It is expected they will
take on the role as interim Recovery Manager full time, stepping aside from
their current role. In recognition of the scale and priority of recovery
efforts, they will report to Jim Stabback, Chief Executive of Auckland Council
as Recovery Manager.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
19. The
appointment of Recovery Manager under the Civil Defence Emergency Management
Act 2002 is not a decision that impacts on greenhouse gas emissions or
approaches to reduce emissions.
20. The recovery
from the January 2023 Weather Event may identify opportunities to provide
additional benefit in the context of climate change.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
21. The
appointment of the Recovery Manager for the recovery from the January 2023
Weather Event supports collaborative effort across the Council Group to support
Auckland’s recovery.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
22. The impacts
of the January 2023 Weather Event were experienced across the Auckland region
and are of significant interest to local communities and their local boards.
23. The recovery
will involve significant local board engagement.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
24. The financial
implications for Auckland’s recovery will be significant this will be
captured through the financial reporting as necessary. The cost and budget
funding details are yet to be finalised for this role. This, however, should
not interfere with the above appointment of the Recovery Manager.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
25. The financial
implications for Auckland’s recovery will be significant this will be
captured through the financial reporting as necessary. The cost and budget
funding details are yet to be finalised for this role. This, however, should
not interfere with the above appointment of the Recovery Manager.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
26. The
Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group is required to appoint
suitably qualified and experienced Recovery Manager for recovery from the
January 2023 Weather Event. This interim appointment enables a Recovery Manager
to be in place immediately, whilst enabling a robust process to take place to
find the most suitable longer-term appointee for this important role.
27. Risk
management is applied in the disciplines of emergency management. Managing risk
will be embedded in the recovery from the January 2023 Weather Event and a potential adverse weather event (if it impacts the Auckland
region) over the next seven days, as it was in the response.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
28. If
this recommendation is accepted, this appointment will be noted in the
electronic version of the Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group
Plan maintained in Auckland Emergency Management’s web site.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
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Author
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Wayne Brown - Principal Recovery Advisor
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Authoriser
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Paul Amaral - General Manager Auckland Emergency
Manager
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