Exploring New Zealand's capability to strategically manage logistical responses to major civil defence and emergency management events : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2014
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Massey University
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Abstract
Effective management and leadership in readiness for and response to disaster
events can mean the difference between life and death, as well as shaping the
scale of the impact that these events can have on the economy and social
stability of New Zealand.
The purpose of the current study is to contribute to the research field of
Humanitarian Logistics, with a particular focus on New Zealand’s management
capability to logistically respond to civil defence and emergency management
(CDEM) events. In the wake of the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake,
it is timely to contribute academic literature that focuses directly on New
Zealand’s readiness and response, and assesses the country’s capabilities
should such a significant scenario occur again.
The thesis focuses on three contributing research fields that set the foundation
of the study’s research framework. These are Humanitarian Logistics,
Emergency Management and Leadership, and Governance and Policy. An
extensive literature review examines these areas with the aim of drawing
together common themes and contemporary issues that have shaped the
subsequent research questions. The research design is centred on a simplified
model of research (without hypotheses), and used a ‘Hierarchy of Concepts’ to
facilitate an inductive approach to data collection and analysis. Data collection
resulted in a high response rate to a questionnaire survey that saw the
contribution of 84 emergency management professionals, along with the
cooperation of seven of New Zealand’s senior executives from the wider CDEM
sector who agreed to participate in a thorough interview process. Audit
assessments and independent performance reviews also provided a basis with
which to compare and contrast the data collection set.
Research analysis found that New Zealand possesses the foundation of a
robust framework of emergency management legislation, a National CDEM
Plan, and other policies, yet implementation and performance against this
framework indicated a range of deficiencies. In a number of cases these areas
require urgent attention.
The main findings are categorised under six common and interrelated themes:
Logistics Development, Enhancing Collaboration, Smart Integration,
Strengthening Governance, Smarter Resource Management, and Enhancing
Professional Development. Under each of these themes a number of potential
improvements are identified that would benefit the wider CDEM sector as a
whole. Analysis and associated deductions, conducted through the lens of these
six themes, resulted in 17 key recommendations.
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Keywords
Business logistics, Emergency management, Civil defence, New Zealand, Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Business and economics::Business studies