No formal civil defence or emergency management structure existed in New Zealand until the 1930s , when the increasing threat of war prompted the formation of the Emergency Precautions Scheme , which was controlled by the Department of Internal Affairs . In addition to war , earthquake risk was another concern of the Scheme , prompted in part by the 1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake . During World War II , the name of the EPS was changed to Civil Defence . While EPS/Civil Defence did not need to respond to any invasion attempts , it was twice called upon to assist with earthquake recovery efforts in Wellington and the Wairarapa region in 1942
1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (New Zealand)