Crowded Places Security Advisory Group Coordinates With NZ Government Agencies, Local Authorities And Private Operators To Protect Crowded Places.
Crowded Places Security Advisory Group Coordinates With NZ Government – New Zealand’s Crowded Places Security Advisory Group is continuing to formalise coordination between NZ government agencies, local authorities and private operators to improve the security and resilience of crowded places across New Zealand.
CPSAG operates as a voluntary collective of recognised subject matter experts focused on practical measures that support public safety, preparedness and response in environments including transport hubs, major events, retail precincts and public gathering spaces. The group’s role centres on connecting stakeholders, sharing operational guidance and supporting consistent approaches to risk mitigation across jurisdictions and sectors.
A key focus is strengthening public–private partnerships, with CPSAG facilitating engagement between central government, councils, venue operators and community organisations. This approach reflects the distributed ownership of crowded places, where security outcomes depend on coordination between multiple parties rather than a single controlling authority.
Information sharing is a core operational priority, with CPSAG supporting mechanisms that improve the flow of intelligence, threat advice and protective security guidance. The objective is to maintain situational awareness across stakeholders, enabling timely decision-making and consistent responses to emerging risks.
The group also promotes implementation of protective security measures through coordinated planning and communication frameworks. This includes support for public messaging and alerting approaches designed to reach diverse audiences, including Māori, ethnic communities and people with disabilities, ensuring security information is accessible and actionable.
Capability development is another area of focus, with CPSAG supporting training programmes, awareness initiatives and scenario-based exercises aimed at improving readiness and inter-agency coordination. These activities are designed to test response arrangements, identify capability gaps and strengthen resilience across both public and private sector participants.
CPSAG aligns with broader New Zealand crowded places security efforts led by government agencies, contributing an operational layer that connects policy, intelligence and on-the-ground implementation across the environments where people gather.
You can learn more about CPSAG here or read more SEN news here.
“Crowded Places Security Advisory Group Coordinates With NZ Government Agencies, Local Authorities And Private Operators To Protect Crowded Places.”
