National Crisis Management Centre
| National Crisis Management Centre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Coordinates | 41°16′42″S 174°46′36″E / 41.2784°S 174.7767°E |
| Opened | 1972 |
The National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC), also known as the Beehive Bunker,[1] is the New Zealand government crisis management command centre situated under the "Beehive" building in Wellington.
The centre is designed to be self-sufficient in the event of a disaster. It is designed to withstand earthquakes rated 'Intense' (X) on the Modified Mercalli scale, and is maintained by the National Emergency Management Agency to be always ready for an emergency. It has emergency electricity, water and food supplies; security systems, etc. It also has sleeping accommodation, first aid facilities and a cafeteria with a feeding capacity of 100 people.[2]
History
[edit]The National Crisis Management Centre opened in 1972.[3]
An Alternative National Crisis Management Centre was established in Auckland following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. It is intended to be activated if the facility in Wellington was damaged, in the event of a wide-spread emergency or if the national government has been forced to relocate to Auckland.[4] The 2024 Report of the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events described the Auckland facility as "totally inadequate", and the Wellington one "not fit for purpose." A new centre under the Beehive is expected to be built by 2026; it has been given budget of $10.6 million. In 2024 deputy chief executive and director for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) John Price said that for an emergency of the scale of an Alpine Fault earthquake, there would need to be 350 people to manage the disaster, but the facility can only house 120 people.[5]
Activations
[edit]The centre was activated following the 2007 Gisborne earthquake,[6] the September 2010 Canterbury,[7] February 2011[8] June 2011,[9] December 2011[10] and the February 2016 Christchurch earthquakes.[11] It was also activated in April 2011 after flooding in the Hawke's Bay[12] and in December 2011 after flooding in Nelson Tasman,[13] for 2015's Cyclone Pam,[14] and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "When the Siren Goes". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
- ^ "National Crisis Management Centre". www.civildefence.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Civil defence in the 21st century". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Alternative National Crisis Management Centre". National Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Meyer, Fox (12 June 2024). "Alpine Fault simulation highlights Beehive bunker woes". Newsroom. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "Quake 6.8 magnitude hits east coast". 1News. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Christchurch earthquake, Day 2 updates". The New Zealand Herald. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "The 2011 Christchurch earthquake". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Latest updates: More aftershocks to come - GNS". The New Zealand Herald. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Historical emergencies". www.civildefence.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Historical emergencies". www.civildefence.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "National Crisis Centre Activated To Support Hawke's Bay". www.scoop.co.nz. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "National support for Nelson Tasman flooding". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Historical emergencies". www.civildefence.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "'Big picture' of COVID-19 crisis and when the Government responded". Newshub. Retrieved 10 June 2024.