February 2026 newsletter

In this newsletter:

• Upcoming RRANZ Courses
• CIMS Function Courses: Planning
• Events
• Top students of 2025
• Behind the scenes
• Readings

Managing in a Coordination Centre- Enrol now for March 2026

• 16 - 18 March (Wellington)
• 7 - 9 October (Christchurch)

In complex emergency environments, effective Coordination Centres rely on leaders who understand not only their function, but how they all work together under pressure.

That’s why RRANZ developed MiCC, a three-day, research-informed course designed for Function Leads and Response Managers seeking a shared, end-to-end understanding of coordination centre operations.

Participants engage with:

• Interactive learning, real-world case studies and scenarios.
• Full-day simulated coordination centre exercise, with comprehensive debrief.
• Practical insight into how functions work together to support effective decision-making.

The course is suitable for those with or without specialist Function training, and can be tailored to your context, including scenario-specific exercises.

If strengthening Coordination Centre leadership is a priority for your organisation, now is the time to invest in training.

CIMS Function Courses

Who are these courses for?

• Any organisation, agency or local government team using CIMS.

Why is RRANZ offering Function Courses?

• We know there is unequal access to high-quality applied CIMS function training across the rohe. We want to ensure those stepping up to help in an emergency can access training to build capability and confidence in emergency management.

What’s our training material based on?

• Intelligence, Planning, Logistics and Operations are based on unit standards and NEMA sponsored national training packages.

• Welfare, Safety and Recovery have been designed by RRANZ experts informed by sector participants, prior training materials and in the case of Safety, Australian unit standards.

• PIM is informed by national capability projects, prior training materials and individual experts.

What can I expect in the course?

• Interactive sessions that build familiarity with the key tools and processes applicable to each function.

In each newsletter, we’re profiling one course and announcing dates.

Profile 2: CIMS Planning Function

Next up in our 2026 calendar is Performing the CIMS Planning Function

Date/Location: 20 - 21 August 2026 in Wellington

This course is designed to build the confidence, capability and networks of those in local authorities, agencies, and organisations involved in operating as a Planning Function team member within New Zealand’s Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS).

Course Format

This interactive activity-based two-day course will be held at Massey University in Wellington on 20-21 August 2026 (subject to minimum numbers).

Cost $995.00 excl. GST

This course can also be run in your region or in-house on request. Contact us to discuss.

Response and Recovery Leadership Development Training Part Two

Calling all RRANZ alumni who have completed Part One or are enrolled in an upcoming Part One!

Enrolments are open for all Part Two courses in 2026:

• 20 - 24 April 2026 (Wellington)
• 31 - 28 August 2026 (Christchurch)
• 16 - 20 November 2026 (Location TBC)

Congratulations to our top RRLD Part Two students of 2025!

RRANZ would like to acknowledge the achievement of our top-scoring Leadership Development students of 2025!

• David Neal - Business Services Manager at Horizons Regional Council and Local Incident Manager with Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM.
• Andre Woods - Assistant Director, Military Police with New Zealand Defence Force, Office of the Provost Marshal.
• Joanna Gilroy - General Manager, Environmental Delivery with Otago Regional Council, EM role -  Duty Controller.

All three will receive a $100 book voucher in recognition of their outstanding performance.

*These results are based on submissions received by the assessment due date.

Behind the scenes at RRANZ

The RRANZ team is thrilled to have worked with 84 students in the RRLD Part One and Part Two courses and 61 students in the Managing in a Co-ordination Centre courses in 2025.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been busy updating our Part One content, commencing a review of the assessment approach for both Part One and Part Two, and considering the impact of the new skills standards released in 2025.  All while working to expand our course offerings to ensure that all CIMS Functions can access up-to-date and activity-based training courses.