New Zealand Major Events releases event security guidelines

New Zealand Major Events has released new event security guidelines that, rather than focusing solely on security planning, take a more holistic view of how to run a safe and secure event by ensuring core planning, specifically risk, is thought through and planned for appropriately.

Intended for use by events of all scales, the guidelines use existing resources and will be updated where necessary.

Areas covered by the guidelines include:

Managing risks 
Events come in many different sizes and cover a wide range of activities. Whether a event is small or large, there are commonalities in the planning process. Event organisers are responsible for planning the event and ensuring it complies with relevant laws and procedures.

Key roles and responsibilities
While there may be specific obligations for different people and/or agencies, event safety is a shared responsibility and should be a focus for everyone - event organisers, the Government and public. Effective governance structures and event planning will help to ensure this can happen.

Event planning 
Having a clear governance structure, health and safety plans and a robust risk management plan will help ensure that you have a framework to plan your event effectively and will enable you to run a great event.

Encouraging attendees to be security conscious
Safety and security are likely to be top of many event attendees’ minds. Providing the attendees with information about how they can be security conscious can help ensure a safe event and will also help assure attendees that the event organiser is taking their safety seriously.

Part of the New Zealand Government's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand Major Events advises Government about investing in major events, and partners with the events sector to attract events and leverage event benefits.

For more information go to www.majorevents.govt.nz/about

Image: Rhythm and Vines, Gisborne.