The National Risk Framework is used across government to drive informed and proactive decision-making that advances New Zealand’s long-term prosperity, and strengthens our resilience to the most significant hazards and threats we face.
The Framework includes New Zealand’s National Risk Register, which identifies 42 risks considered to be nationally significant. These “National Risks” are events or conditions that have the potential to significantly impact the safety and livelihoods of people and communities, and cause disruption and damage to the things we value.
National Risks fall under five broad categories:
- natural hazards
- biological hazards
- technological hazards
- malicious threats
- economic crisis.
The National Risk Framework is designed to help us to proactively plan for and identify where there may be significant gaps and opportunities to strengthen our resilience to National Risks.
It means we are better able to anticipate these events, reduce their likelihood and impact where possible, and be prepared to respond and recover from them if they occur.
The National Risk Directorate oversees the National Risk Framework and maintains the National Risk Register.