Disaster co-ordination and planning will be improved by transferring the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, according to the Insurance Council of New Zealand.

CEO Tim Grafton says the switch will facilitate high-quality mapping of natural hazards across New Zealand and help communities build resilience.

The ministry will be transferred from the Department of Internal Affairs from April. The move is intended to improve planning and management for large events such as the Christchurch earthquakes.

“The social and economic costs of future disasters will be far less,” Mr Grafton said. “It will also help keep insurance affordable, because failure to build resilience to risks will only see premiums rise in the future.”