The National Maritime Response System
Maritime NZ’s role in the all-of-government response framework
All government agencies work within a wider all-of-government framework. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet have oversight of New Zealand’s national risk and resilience.
In the event of a major search and rescue operation, major maritime incident or national-level oil pollution incident, Maritime NZ’s lead agency responsibilities, when interacting with the National Risk and Resilience System, are to:
- monitor and assess the situation
- plan and coordinate the response
- report and provide policy advice (to the national system)
- coordinate the release and sharing of information for the public.
ODESC
The Officials’ Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination (ODESC) system is New Zealand’s ‘all-hazards, all-threats’ strategic crisis response system, and is used by central government during an actual or emerging significant crises, where consequences of national significance warrant the co-ordination of all-of-government planning and prioritisation.
The ODESC system (or parts of it) may be initiated in the event of a large-scale commercial aircraft incident, a major maritime incident of national significance or another incident that requires a major SAR.
Maritime NZ will interact with the system, which will coordinate inter-agency support as required. The Director of Maritime NZ leads the interactions with the ODESC system and Ministers – or the interaction with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in event of major SAR resulting from an aviation incident.
The scope of the National Maritime Response System
The National Maritime Response System delivers Maritime NZ’s lead agency responsibilities for the coordination of major SAR, responses to major maritime incidents and national-level marine oil pollution incidents.
Search and Rescue (SAR)
We coordinate SAR through the Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) - this involves tasking and coordinating national and international search and rescue assets and personnel.
We work closely with the New Zealand Seach and Rescue Council, as well as NZ Police, the NZ Defence Force, and many other agencies and organisations.
The New Zealand Search and Rescue System Strategic Plan 2025-2028 outlines the components, vision and outcomes of the SAR system.
Maritime incident response and oil pollution response
Maritime NZ is also the lead agency for any major maritime incident and any national-level (Tier 3) marine oil pollution response.
Examples of major maritime incident are:
- sizeable commercial vessel involved in a grounding, sinking or collision
- a significant fire on board, or
- a serious mechanical failure.
The response to a major maritime incident will mostly be a large-scale, multi-agency effort with significant activity and engagement with central, regional, and local government, iwi the wider community, and industry / operators.
Readiness
We work proactively to ensure the system is fully prepared to respond when needed. This readiness work covers a wide range of activities.
For those working at the RCCNZ (including the Safety Systems team and those involved in oversight of SAR systems), readiness includes the management of Aids to Navigation (AtoNs), maintaining the distress beacons system, and the continued resourcing of 24/7 capability for maritime radio services and the search and rescue coordination.
To prepare for maritime incidents and oil pollution responses, readiness activities undertaken by the Maritime Response team (and others within Maritime NZ) include:
- identifying maritime risks
- developing response strategies and plans
- contracting response services
- training and exercising responders,
- equipment procurement and maintenance.
- the management of international, government and private partnerships. These various parties provide support, funding, response resources and advice
The above readiness activity ensures that any response is well-planned, coordinated, and well-resourced.
In addition to the SAR System Strategic Plan (above), there are currently two strategies that cover maritime incident response and oil pollution response. These are the:
- Integrated Maritime Incident Readiness and Response Strategy (version 5, 2022) and
- New Zealand Marine Oil Spill Readiness and Response Strategy (2022-2026)
These are being combined into a single strategy, which is due for release in 2026.
Learn more about the Integrated Maritime Incident Readiness and Response Strategy (version 5, 2022)
Learn more about the New Zealand Marine Oil Spill Readiness and Response Strategy 2022-2026
Key components of the National Maritime Response System
The purpose of the National Maritime Response System (within Maritime NZ) is to support the Director of Maritime NZ and to manage the response.
There are three key response leadership roles – the National SAR Controller, the National Maritime Controller, and the National On-Scene Commander.
- The National SAR Controller manages all aspects of the search and rescue coordination;
- The National Maritime Controller leads the National Maritime Response Team, based in Wellington – this team leads the overall maritime incident response, supports the Director and interacts with the national risk and resilience framework;
- The National On-Scene Commander leads the Maritime Emergency Coordination Centre (the MECC, which will be located close to the incident site), and all field operations by the response team.