When planning any event in Aotearoa—whether it’s a school gala, local sports match, corporate function, cultural festival, or large-scale public gathering—ensuring the health and safety of everyone on site is not only a legal obligation but a key part of running a successful event.
Under the current legislation, event organisers are legally required to take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent harm to staff, volunteers, participants, and attendees. A key aspect of this is providing adequate medical and first aid cover. At EMS (Event Medic Service), we make it simple, reliable, and stress-free.
Here are five essential tips to help you deliver a safe and compliant event—with EMS by your side.
Every event is different, so a one-size-fits-all approach to medical cover just doesn’t work. The first step in planning is to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment tailored to your specific event.
Key things to assess:
Your risk profile will help determine the level of medical support needed, ranging from basic first aid cover to fully equipped paramedic units and mobile medical centres.
👉 Need help with this step? EMS can assist with risk assessments and advise on the appropriate level of first aid cover based on current New Zealand safety guidelines.
Choosing a trusted, professional medical services provider can be the difference between peace of mind and preventable risk.
At EMS, we offer:
We’ve supported everything from local family days to major sporting events—and we’re ready to support yours too.
🎯 Let’s discuss what your event requires. Contact us today for a no-obligation quote.
A clear and practical medical plan is essential for every event. We work with you to ensure your plan is tailored to meet your specific needs and comply with your legal obligations.
Your EMS-supported plan will cover:
We’ll also help brief your team so that everyone—from volunteers to managers—knows how to respond in the event of an incident.
📋Want to be prepared? EMS makes planning easy with tested templates and support throughout
Your medical posts need to be visible, accessible, and fully functional. At EMS, we help design your event layout to optimise coverage and response times.
We recommend:
Whether you need a basic first aid tent or a mobile response vehicle, we’ve got you covered.
📍Our team can handle all logistics, so you can focus on the event.
Effective medical services aren’t just about what’s available—they’re about how easy they are to access. Make sure your audience knows what to do in an emergency.
Ways to communicate:
At EMS, we provide clear signage and briefing materials as part of our package, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
🗣️ Pro tip: Empower your attendees to look after themselves and others by promoting first aid awareness.
Whether your event is for 50 people or 50,000, the unexpected can happen—and having the right first aid cover on-site is the best way to reduce risk, protect lives, and keep your event running smoothly.
From pre-event planning to post-event support, EMS is here to help. We take care of everything so you can focus on delivering an unforgettable experience—safely.
✅ Ready to get started?
Contact EMS today to book your event medical cover or schedule a free consultation.
Your event. Our care. EMS – Keeping Kiwis Safe.
Risk management for events by Sport New Zealand (web)
Event management guidelines by WorkSafe NZ (web)
