Hon KIERAN McANULTY: When the forecasts of incoming severe weather were received, NEMA activated its national coordination centre to respond to these emergencies and to support the activities of local civil defence groups. NEMA has also deployed staff and emergency management assistance teams and personnel to the hard-hit region. Regional emergency management advisers from NEMA have been deployed to Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough and are assisting with the ongoing response and assessing the transition to recovery. Both regions are assessing damage, and Government officials are in location to assist. These efforts are led by regional civil defence and emergency management (CDEM) groups, with NEMA in position to assist where required with personnel and expertise. I want to thank everyone who has moved quickly to respond to this event—and those in Northland, Taranaki, and the West Coast—the regional CDEM groups, local iwi, volunteers, first responders, and civil defence personnel from across the country, who have stepped up to keep people safe.