Structural Gaps in Disaster Technology Systems: A Longitudinal Review of Post-Event Assessments in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Over the past decade, Aotearoa New Zealand has experienced multiple large-scale disasters that have exposed recurring challenges in information management, communication, coordination, and technology integration within the emergency management system. This paper analyses eleven major disaster-response review reports published between 2012 and 2024 to examine how technology-related issues are represented in official assessments and to identify structural gaps. Using a mixed-method approach combining keyword frequency analysis and qualitative thematic analysis, the study finds that information and communication dominate review discourse, while explicit references to technology, situational awareness, and common operating picture appear less frequently and inconsistently. Longitudinal synthesis reveals persistent reform themes, including calls for nationally integrated platforms, interoperable systems, professionalised capability, and shared intelligence frameworks. Yet implementation details regarding architectural ownership, standards, lifecycle management, and funding remain limited. The paper advances a structured research agenda organised around four domains: data governance and architecture, decision-support design, ICT resilience and interoperability, and organisational technology governance.