Cyclone Gabrielle

The encounter was prior to the Special Leaders' Retreat where Minister Tkatchenko offered PNG's support to New Zealand following the extreme disaster caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

“We will send our PNGDF to support New Zealand with clean up exercises, if required,” said Minister Tkatchenko.

Sepuloni acknowledged PNG's offer of support and said; “New Zealand is used to offering support to other Pacific Island countries in times of need and to receive that in return is indeed overwhelming.”

It is only the third time such a declaration has been made, with the previous two being for the Christchurch earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor John Hopkins, Director, LEAD Institute of Law Emergencies and Disasters, University of Canterbury said the state of emergency declaration provides extensive powers to the National Controller (and by extension the government) to order individuals and groups to act in a way that is required to address the emergency.

“These powers include forced evacuations, closing roads, providing supplies, etc.