Formats
This Handbook provides a broad overview of the National Resilience System and contains the central government arrangements used to respond to strategic crises, replacing the 2016 National Security System Handbook. It is intended to clarify roles and responsibilities across the system and strengthen agency readiness to respond.
This Handbook is intended for use by New Zealand government officials who are part of the National Resilience System, and who participate in ODESC system activations for emerging risks, or in response to crisis events. It is intended to be a living document and will be reviewed on a six-monthly basis.
February 2026 update#
The National Resilience Handbook is currently under review to reflect changes regarding roles and responsibilities across the system.
In September 2025, Cabinet agreed to strengthen and streamline accountabilities for National Resilience System agencies by shifting from four overlapping and unclear roles to two clear and distinct roles:
- Strategic Coordination Agency (SCA) to coordinate the whole-of-government strategic approach to proactively managing specific National Risks and National Security Strategy core issues; and
- Lead agency to lead and coordinate preparation (including planning and exercising) for, and the response during, a crisis or emergency.
DPMC is working with agencies to assign these roles. The National Resilience System Handbook will be updated in due course to reflect updated role allocations. To note, Part One of the National Resilience Handbook will also be updated in 2026 to reflect changes in the governance arrangements.