#Clip: Super El Niño Is Coming — Is New Zealand Ready? | Mark Mitchell

Civil Defence Minister Mark Mitchell joins The Bradbury Group to discuss New Zealand’s preparations for a potentially severe El Niño, extreme weather, drought, wildfire risk, climate adaptation and whether the country’s emergency-management system is ready for what could come next.

In this week’s 1-on-1 in 10, Mitchell reflects on three years as Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, the lessons of Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods, changes to New Zealand’s Civil Defence system, and preparations now underway across government and frontline agencies.

The interview also challenges Mitchell on the tension between preparing for increasingly severe weather events and the Government’s environmental policies, the role of marae and iwi as frontline emergency responders, and climate resilience.

In this interview:

• Is New Zealand ready for a Super El Niño?
• Drought and wildfire risk
• Civil Defence preparations
• Lessons from Cyclone Gabrielle
• Lessons from the Auckland floods
• New emergency-management legislation
• Climate adaptation and resilience
• The role of marae, iwi and hapū in emergencies
• Government investment in emergency management
• Extreme weather and the New Zealand economy
• Mark Mitchell on public safety and crime
• The National Party’s controversial crime advertising

Mitchell says preparations are already underway, including national workshops bringing together government agencies, emergency-management teams, rural organisations and other stakeholders.

*Is New Zealand genuinely prepared for the next major climate-driven emergency?*