Fire Service consults staff over proposed new regional management structure

The Fire Service plans to streamline its regional management structure to improve efficiencies and provide greater clarity in responsibilities.

The proposed change would have no effect on the public or its response to emergencies.

Under the proposal, the number of Fire Service Regions and Region Manager positions would be reduced from eight to five.

Chief Executive/National Commander Mike Hall said in recent years the Fire Service has taken a more integrated, national approach to some support functions and resourcing decisions. Two years ago, it introduced a new local administrative structure which divided the country into 25 Fire Service Areas.

Mike Hall says under this next change the size of each Fire Service Region would become more standard, as would their budgets, staffing and workload.

“This is not a cost-cutting exercise and will not affect the operation of the Fire Service or its relationships with communities across the country

“We expect to keep a similar number of overall positions within the Regions although there may be a change of focus or location for a few people. The proposed change allows Region management to focus on providing the link between organisational vision and strategy and its execution at Area level. At the same time, it enables greater business support at Area level,” he said.

The five Regions would divide the country into the upper North Island, central North Island, the lower North Island, the upper South Island and the lower South Island.

The proposed management model has been released to Fire Service personnel and specific interested parties for consultation with feedback due by early February.

The next step will be to use the feedback to help develop a more detailed plan for the new regional management and business support structure.

ENDS

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