Emergency health professionals from across the Pacific and wider Western Pacific region gathered in Auckland this week for the 2026 World Health Organization Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (EMTCC) training and exercise.
Hosted by the New Zealand Medical Assistance Team (NZMAT) from the Ministry of Health, the programme ran from 7 to 11 September and brought together participants from Pacific Emergency Medical Teams, Pacific National Emergency Management Offices, the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The programme supports countries to strengthen emergency medical team coordination before disasters and health emergencies occur. Through practical exercises and scenario-based activities, participants built a shared understanding of coordination arrangements, international response systems, and the relationships needed to work together effectively during an emergency.
New Zealand is committed to working alongside Pacific partners to build an emergency response health workforce that is trained, connected and ready to deploy when the next emergency strikes.
Dr Junior Ulu, the Ministry of Health’s Director Pacific Health, says strong partnerships are at the heart of emergency preparedness in the Pacific.
‘As part of the Pacific family, New Zealand works alongside our neighbours to strengthen preparedness and support one another in times of need. Opportunities like this help build the trusted relationships and shared understanding that are essential during an emergency response.’
Emergency Medical Teams are deployable, self-sufficient clinical teams that can provide life-saving care to people affected by health emergencies. They can support local health services that may be overwhelmed following an emergency or major disaster, such as an earthquake, cyclone or significant disease outbreak.
NZMAT is New Zealand's Emergency Medical Team. It includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, public health staff, paramedics and logisticians who can provide additional capability for local health services both in New Zealand and overseas.
As an active participant in the global EMT initiative, NZMAT works closely with the World Health Organization and regional partners, including Australia’s National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, to support Pacific EMT capability building.
Brendan Stanbury, Manager of NZMAT, says effective coordination is critical during complex emergencies.
‘This training provides an opportunity for countries across the region to share experiences, learn from one another, and strengthen professional networks that can support future responses.’
Chandra Gilmore, WHO focal point for Emergency Medical Teams in the Pacific, says strengthening coordination capability benefits the entire region.
‘The Western Pacific is stronger when countries invest in shared systems, common standards and coordinated emergency medical response capability. The EMTCC works within government structures to help build the connections, skills and relationships needed to effectively coordinate health care delivered by EMTs during emergencies.’
As climate-related events, natural disasters and public health emergencies continue to affect countries across the Pacific, programmes like the EMTCC Team Member training and exercise play an important role in building collective preparedness and strengthening the region's ability to respond together.