29 April 2016

Planning for new organisation under way, says NZ Fire Service Board

Today’s announcement on funding for the country’s new fire and emergency response organisation will allow transition planning to begin in earnest, says Paul Swain, Chair of the New Zealand Fire Service Board.

Mr Swain said the new funding provided the clear direction the board needed to begin moving the country’s 38 rural fire authorities, National Rural Fire Authority and New Zealand Fire Service into a single unified organisation.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a huge and complex job, but the Board is ready for the challenge.

“We fully endorse the choice of name for the organisation – Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) – because firefighters nowadays respond to a huge variety of emergencies, including motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, natural disasters as well as fires.”

Mr Swain said the funding would provide much-needed extra support for volunteers, who were a vital part of firefighting forces across the country, including in remote and rural areas.

The new organisation would also create more career path options for career firefighters including vegetation fire management, enforcement and support, and the development of more rescue, medical and hazmat specialists.

“There is broad support for changes to our fire and emergency organisations, and we will be talking to all our people, as well as the community and other stakeholders, to make sure the transition takes place as smoothly as possible.

“We’re not going to rush this job – it’s too important for that. We also have to make sure the public continues to receive the same excellent level of service during the transition period.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is expected to formally come into existence on 1 July next year.

Mr Swain said a Transition Committee of the Board, headed by Deputy Chair Nicki Crauford, would advise on implementation of the Government’s plan for fire and emergency services across the country.

A priority is to appoint a Transition Director to advise on moving from the old organisation to the new one, Mr Swain said.

ends

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