Risk Returns

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economies.

Small land areas separated by a vast ocean, coupled with

often tiny populations and the growing impact of climate change, and

increased urbanization, exacerbate these problems. As a result, plan-

ning for, and implementing, DRR and response interventions can be

logistically and financially challenging.

The Pacific region has witnessed an escalation in efforts at a

regional, national and local level to reduce risk and to ensure that

countries are better prepared for, and able to respond to, natural

disasters. These include high-level Government commitments to

principles as well as practical activities implemented at the regional,

national, provincial and village level.

Disaster risk reduction

As in New Zealand, there is mounting appreciation in the Pacific of

the critical role that disaster risk reduction (DRR) plays in reducing

levels of vulnerability and contributing to sustainable development.

Investing in DRR also makes strong economic sense. For example

the UN estimates that every dollar spent on risk reduction saves

between US$5 and US$10 in economic losses from disasters.

Relative isolation, tiny populations, a lack of strong legislative

frameworks, struggling institutions with limited budgets, incom-

plete hazard information and at times uncoordinated approaches,

has meant that the effectiveness of some of these efforts across the

region has been mixed.

Donor Governments in the Pacific, for example New Zealand;

regional institutions, such as the Secretariat of the Pacific commu-

nity; multilateral agencies, like the UNOCHA and UNDP; the Red

Cross and international and local NGO’s; are all engaged in funding

or implementing DRR activities in PICs. Regional forums, such as

regular meetings of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management,

provide opportunities for these stakeholders to share ideas, exchange

information and improve coordination of various interventions.

In supporting countries and communities to reduce levels of

vulnerability, and to more effectively manage disasters when they do

happen, the New Zealand government provides funding

support to MCDEM to work closely and collaboratively

with National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs)

in Polynesia to strengthen their capacity and ability

to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. For

example technical and mentoring expertise is provided

to ensure that emergency plans are relevant and regularly

exercised, which in turn will help to strengthen local

community-based actions.

Tsunami readiness in the southwest Pacific is another

priority for the New Zealand government and a signifi-

cant scaling in the level of funding reflects this. While

the southwest Pacific is a region of intense tectonic

activity, some countries, for example Samoa and Tonga,

are more at risk of tsunami, due to their proximity to

active fault zones, seafloor topography and the orien-

tation of their coastlines, than others. Capitalizing on

New Zealand’s experience and internationally recog-

nized technical expertise, inundation maps, evacuation

routes and community awareness programmes are

currently being designed and supported in Samoa.

Disaster response

New Zealand stands ready to assist its Pacific neighbours

immediately following a natural disaster. Upon receiving

a request for international assistance and once immediate

needs have been assessed and identified, New Zealand can

help by providing emergency funding to Governments,

multilateral agencies or NGOs, sending relief items, or by

providing technical assistance or support.

To ensure a joined-up approach that minimizes the

risk of duplication of effort, a New Zealand response in

the Pacific is managed via a task force facilitated by the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). This task

force includes representation from Government agen-

cies, the New Zealand Defence Force, the Red Cross

and NGOs. One of the key response mechanisms is the

Government-to-Government arrangement with France

and Australia (FRANZ), where the three partners share

information and resources to ensure coordinated emer-

gency aid delivery.

In any response, New Zealand supports the reac-

tion mechanisms of national Governments, which

have primary responsibility for the well-being of their

citizens, local partners and other international actors

operational on the ground.

Building for the future

The enabling and cooperative approach to disaster risk

reduction in New Zealand has its advantages and clear

progress has been made since enacting the new frame-

work in 2002.

However, in both New Zealand and

PICs, not all potential partners are actively involved.

Building a strong and broad constituency to promote and

implement risk reduction and preparedness remains a

challenge. Creating meaningful and enduring partner-

ships between local authorities, the community, and

other stakeholders is therefore a clear pathway to higher

levels of disaster resilience and better outcomes for all.

Student volunteers assisting in the removal of liquefaction silt from a resedential property

Image: Diamuld Toman