Some major changes are in the pipeline over how we deal with disasters.

A Ministerial review of Civil Defence is calling for a new standalone national agency and dedicated 'fly in' teams for initial disaster response.

It criticised the patchy performance across the country and wants to give mayors authority to declare states of emergency

A new stand alone national response agency won't change the initial response to emergencies.

Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton is in support of the proposals.

Broughton, who was heavily invovled in the Port Hill fire response, told Chris Lynch a national agency won't change the initial response to emergencies.

"I don't think it would have changed the response to the fire itself, but the public confidence that everything was being done in the emergency, I think they could have made a difference."

However, Broughton feels setting national standards and consistency across the country is a good thing, and although Selwyn has well trained teams, emergencies can last a long time.

"To have the capacity to deal with things over weeks and months and to know that there are people equally qualified under the same systems I think is confidence in emergency going forward, that nationally we'd be able to handle it."

LISTEN TO SAM BROUGHTON TALK WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE