Understanding a Whole-of-society Approach in Emergency Management
Free webinar: Understand whole-of-society emergency management to help shape NZ’s legislative changes.
Date and time
Location
Online
About this event
- Event lasts 1 hour
About this Webinar:
New Zealand’s emergency management legislation is being updated to embed a “whole-of-society” approach. But this is more than a new phrase; it signals a necessary shift in how we think, relate, and act across all parts of society in the face of emergencies.
In this one-hour webinar, Dr. Hayley Squance (PhD Emergency Management) will explore:
- What a whole-of-society approach means — beyond the buzzwords
- Why this shift calls for a change in mindset, not just policy
- How can this framing reshape roles, relationships, and responsibilities in emergency management
- Key considerations for your public submission on the proposed legislative changes
The session draws on evidence-based action research, grounded in Hayley’s experience as New Zealand’s National Animal Welfare Emergency Management Coordinator. Her lens, shaped by working across systems through the often-overlooked perspective of animals, brings a fresh take on the interdependencies we can no longer ignore.
Due to time constraints, this session will focus on the core concepts. Participants are welcome to connect with Hayley afterwards for deeper discussion or support.
Who should attend:
This webinar is ideal for community members, emergency practitioners, NGOS, researchers, local authorities, private businesses and others preparing submissions or working toward more connected emergency management outcomes.
Webinar Details:
- Date: 6th May
- Time: 1pm
- Location: Online
- Cost: Free
Why this matters:
Embedding a whole-of-society approach is not simply about adding a new term to legislation. It’s about rethinking how all parts of society - government, private sector, communities, and individuals - connect, collaborate, and share responsibility in emergency management and build resilience.
This webinar will equip you with the understanding needed to assess whether the proposed changes truly reflect this shift and help you shape your public submission for a more connected and adaptive emergency management system.