New South Wales has experienced repeat floods in recent times and faces a third La Niña- affected summer, meaning more wet weather. Photo: AFP / Muhammad Farooq
The government says it can learn from Australia's experiences, after signing a trans-Tasman cooperation agreement on disaster management.
Ministers from New Zealand and Australia discussed how to best prepare for natural hazards and severe weather events in Brisbane this week.
The new agreement encourages more information-sharing on emergency management research and best practice between both countries.
It also facilitates shared disaster assistance, such as technical advisors, and opportunities for joint activities and exercises.
Kieran McAnulty Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty said it was more important than ever to work together as the rate of emergencies increases around the globe.
"Australia and New Zealand face similar natural hazards, and so there's a lot our countries can learn from each other.
"Each response gives us the opportunity to improve our systems, and the more information we have, the better prepared we can be."
Australia's Minister for Emergency Management Senator Murray Watt said he looked forward to a collaborative partnership with New Zealand.
"Working with other countries, such as New Zealand, will help us to build greater awareness and capability on disaster issues, particularly as we face continued wet weather conditions this summer, caused by a third consecutive La Niña event."
The new trans-Tasman agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Brisbane this week.
McAnulty said it reinforced the relationship between the New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the newly established Australian National Emergency Management Agency.
It follows the recent signing of another memorandum of cooperation between NEMA and the United States' Federal Emergency Management Agency.