What does this event cover
Legislation affecting local government is coming thick and fast. The Bill to overhaul the emergency management system is awaiting Royal Assent and is on track for enactment on in September 2026, with progressive commencement over the following two years.
The Emergency Management Act will repeal and replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act and responds to the 2024 report on the Government Inquiry into the North Island Severe Weather Events.
This webinar will help you to understand where the legislation has landed and some matters to assist you with implementation.
We will cover changes made through the select committee process, looking at:
- What will change and what will stay the same in how emergency management is delivered
- The roles and responsibilities of mayors and chief executives
- Implications for long-term plans
You’ll come away with:
- A clear understanding of the Emergency Management legislation and changes made to it through the select committee process Change Response Amendment Bill
- Practical advice on what you might include in your briefings to your council
- Insights into implementation expectations
- Answers to your questions from some of local government’s most trusted advisers
Programme overview
Your facilitators and guest speakers
Ash Cornor
Ash is a senior local government, environmental and regulatory lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience across private practice and senior in-house roles.
He advises local and central government agencies on all aspects of decision-making and regulatory activity, with a particular focus on the environment, water services and systems-level reform.
With a broad public law background, Ash also supports clients across intersecting regulatory regimes, including law and policy reform, official information and privacy, judicial review, building and construction law, and dispute resolution.
Ash has extensive experience advising on and appearing in civil and criminal cases before a range of courts, tribunals and inquiries, including the High Court and Court of Appeal on judicial review and appellate matters.
Ash has worked in-house at Fire and Emergency New Zealand and was the General Counsel at the Water Services Authority-Taumata Arowai. He brings a pragmatic lens to legal problems and enjoys helping clients find strategic solutions that navigate legal and other risks. He is frequently engaged at the interface between legislative reform, regulators and local government implementation, supporting clients to operate effectively during periods of regulatory transition and uncertainty.
Ash is a trusted member of partner‑led teams advising regional and territorial authorities, bringing regulatory insight, technical depth and an in‑house perspective that strengthens strategic advice to clients.
Clare Wooding
Clare joined Taituarā in January 2025, as Manager, Sector Readiness. She brings with her the experience and relationships she developed working with the local government sector for more than 10 years at Local Government New Zealand and more recently at the Ministry for the Environment. Her career includes working for several councils in resource management-related roles.
Clare is working in Sector Readiness, focused on resource management reform and elections. She is particularly interested in working with the sector on implementation challenges.
In her free time, Clare enjoys tramping and walking and making the most of her commute from the Kapiti Coast to read.
