To help with the reaction and recovery after ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, a group of Australian disaster experts will be dispatched to New Zealand.
New Zealand has proclaimed a state of emergency following the deadly flooding that resulted from heavy rain on the north island.
To help Fire and Emergency New Zealand with the response, an impact assessment team made up of 25 expert officers from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and contributions from other jurisdictions will be sent to regional parts of New Zealand over the next 24 hours.
Australia is still prepared to help New Zealand should it need it in the coming weeks.
Recently, more than 70 emergency personnel were also sent to Turkiye, where they are now helping with the reaction and recovery following a severe earthquake.
Our ability to immediately mobilize help in reaction to this calamity has been made possible by our close relationship with New Zealand. We stand prepared to contribute to helping our overseas colleagues in times of need, whether they are in Turkiye or New Zealand, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
“We are helping our friends in New Zealand by sending some of our best reaction and recovery personnel there. Regrettably, we have honed our flood response and recovery skills over the past few years, and these teams will be a huge help to the New Zealand authorities. The New Zealand government moved rapidly to offer help here on the ground during our Black Summer bushfires. During the latest floods, their crews assisted our state emergency services. Murray Watt, the minister for emergency management, said, “Our neighbors have been there for us, and we are more than willing to repay the favor in their hour of need.”
