It was just over five years ago that Steve Glassey and Theresa Parkin founded New Zealand’s only dedicated animal disaster management charity, with the mission to fill the significant gaps exposed in the 2017 Edgecumbe Flood and previous events such as the Christchurch earthquakes. We went on to become the fastest-growing volunteer emergency management surge capacity at the time and had over 300 volunteers across the country within just a few years of being founded. We went on to lobby government on many occasions and, with the support of Gareth Hughes MP and former FEMA (US) Administrator Craig Fugate, presented one of the most comprehensive reports on animal emergency management law reform in the world.

Beyond New Zealand, we were the first international animal disaster response team to arrive in New South Wales following the emergency declaration for the 2019 Bushfires, and our work saved numerous animals and safeguarded hundreds in the township of Bundanoon, in collaboration with local veterinarians and the awesome Slade Macklin. Our national and international work led to our volunteers winning the 2019 Supreme Winner: Wellington International Airport Regional Community Award, which was a touching tribute to the tireless efforts of our volunteers who battled fires, smoke, and other challenges to save animals from disaster harm.

But responding alone does not save animals; in fact, it can create dependence and absolve government of their shared responsibilities, so our efforts extended to mitigation and preparation. We founded GADMC – the Global Animal Disaster Management Conference, which became the world’s largest online conference for animal-inclusive emergency management and won an international award from the International Association of Emergency Managers. Enabled by the peer-reviewed research of our Patron, Dr Steve Glassey, we lobbied successive governments to ensure animals were core to emergency management law reform. Our pivotal moment in history was our “No Animal Left Behind” campaign (2023), thanks to Jackie Farrell (formerly of MediaWorks), and journalists and media hosts such as Duncan Gardner and Polly Gillespie. Our campaign saw digital billboards and online advertising reach thousands of New Zealanders throughout the country, and was proven to be the single most influential factor in record-level public submissions on emergency management (civil defence) law reform. We did this by emptying our bank account because it was the right thing to do; it was now or never, and historically it would be another two decades before we would have such an opportunity. How many times do you hear charities say their goal is not to exist… but they never reach that goal? Well, we are very close to reaching our goal: not to exist. We have supported the likes of FENZ by donating specialist equipment, who now undertake all animal rescue nationally, unlike in 2017 where they had no legislative provisions, equipment, or interest. This meant we could end our operational response capability knowing animals were in good hands with FENZ – and they have done an amazing job rescuing more animals since, such as in Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Floods.

So this leaves us needing better laws, like those passed in the USA following Hurricane Katrina (2005). Just a year after Katrina, the US Senate passed the Pets Emergency and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act 2006, amending the federal disaster act to mandate companion animal emergency management plans and other duties. Today, we received exciting news that the new Emergency Management Bill is to include mandatory animal emergency plans for CDEM Groups. Previously, regional level plans had no statutory status as they were not incorporated by reference (as per s.51 of the CDEM Act) into the group emergency management plans. This meant whatever emergency plans were written for animals had the same statutory status as a post-it note, and non-compliance with such plans was not an offence, unlike the core group emergency management plans. In 2017, when the Edgecumbe Flood struck, there was no plan in place for animals, and this was reflected in the fact that over 1,000 animals were left behind with no plan, no agency responsible for their rescue – leading to Wellington SPCA’s Animal Rescue Unit leading the largest animal disaster rescue in New Zealand history, with support from the Massey Veterinary Emergency Response Team and New Zealand Response Teams (Whakatane and Rotorua).

It has been a long and challenging journey for us to get where we are today. What is clear, proven by peer-reviewed empirical research, is that Animal Evac New Zealand’s funded campaign was the most significant factor in this legislative turnaround. We were the smallest charity at the table when engaging with government: we had no staff, no buildings, no vehicles… just a family of 300 volunteers from animal activists to cattle farmers and everything in between, who committed to our values of doing the right thing for animals affected by disaster. We are relieved that animal protection through emergency plans is going to be mandated by law; this is a historic win for all species. But we can’t celebrate just yet. We now need to ensure not only the proposed changes go through, but also that the numerous other points we have raised are considered by the Select Committee that will oversee the new bill and ensure democratic processes are observed.

Still, the proposed changes do not address many issues, such as the protection and identification of disability assistance dogs, central government funding for local government animal control (who are responsible for companion animal emergency care, transport and accommodation), and funding for FENZ to ensure they can continue to undertake their established role in animal rescue. So the changes recommended mean we bring our laws from 1984 to 2006, which is a start, but far from setting a world-leading benchmark for others to follow.

We will be engaging with MPs and the Select Committee to ensure we can lead the world with model animal disaster law going into the future.