What National, Labour are proposing for Fire and Emergency at election

National is promising to make Fire and Emergency New Zealand a departmental agency directly accountable to the Emergency Management Minister.

Meanwhile, Labour says it would initiate an independent review into Fire and Emergency’s funding and operations “to ensure it has the resources needed to keep firefighters safe and respond effectively to emergencies”.

Fire and Emergency has come under scrutiny recently for fleet-related issues as well as internal decision-making.

A select committee report last week found “the poor state” of the Fire and Emergency fleet “is due to sustained and significant failings of ... leadership” and incorrect information provided led the committee to have “little confidence” in its leadership.

“Governance improvements could be delivered quickly, and in turn leadership that takes responsibility for the situation today could be a change that opens the door to a culture of transparency and pragmatism on which the future of [Fire and Emergency] can be built.”

National is now releasing its election policy for Fire and Emergency, with a key promise being to “restore accountability by making [Fire and Emergency] a departmental agency directly accountable to the Minister for Emergency Management” and deliver a turnaround plan.

As part of this change, National would remove the Fire and Emergency board.

Fire and Emergency is currently a Crown agent governed by a board and accountable to the Minister of Internal Affairs. According to the Public Service Commission, Crown entities have functions that “should be carried out at ‘arm’s length’ from ministers”.

Select committee report recommendations included: 

• Having the responsible minister review Fire and Emergency’s board membership “given this committee’s lack of confidence in the current board”. 
• The Government should consider “whether additional oversight of FENZ is required”. That would include an assessment of “how effectively ministries oversee Crown agencies more generally”. 

Fire and Emergency board chair Raveen Jaduram said the entity accepted the findings of the report and acknowledged its recommendations.

“Since coming into the role at the end of June I have made my expectations clear.

“Fire and Emergency is introducing several initiatives to strengthen fleet procurement, reporting and management practices including clearer accountability, stronger oversight of delivery and risk, and more transparent reporting to the board on planned delivery dates, performance against those dates and significant issues requiring attention.”

FENZ board chair Raveen Jaduram. Photo / Greg Bowker 

Last week, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden said she had lost confidence in Fire and Emergency’s chief executive Kerry Gregory, saying he had kept information from her about a “seriously significant incident”.

She revealed Fire and Emergency had been referred to the Serious Fraud Office.

Van Velden said at the time she had met with the board chair and “made my expectations very clear that the board needs to restore my confidence” with Fire and Emergency.

National would also “support volunteer firefighters by requiring Fire and Emergency to provide volunteers with additional mental and physical health support” and “get ordered appliances into service and establish funded fleet replacement and training programmes”.

Mark Mitchell, National’s emergency management spokesman and the current minister, said firefighters deserve “an organisation that is as reliable and prepared as they are”.

“But nine years after [Fire and Emergency] was created, too many firefighters are still dealing with ageing trucks, breakdowns, training gaps and an organisation that is not delivering for the frontline,” he said.

“National backs our firefighters. We will reset [it], restore clear accountability and put frontline delivery first.”

Tim Costley, a National MP who initiated the select committee inquiry, said the party’s plan “put responsibility where it belongs”.

“Fire and emergency professionals will continue making operational decisions, but there will be a clear line of accountability for whether [Fire and Emergency] is delivering for firefighters and communities,” he said.

“The real test is whether the appliance is ready when the alarm sounds, whether the crew has been properly trained and whether a volunteer who is injured or traumatised is properly supported.

“Our firefighters have upheld their side of the bargain. National’s plan will make sure [Fire and Emergency] upholds its side too.”

Labour’s internal affairs spokeswoman Lemauga Lydia Sosene said the situation at Fire and Emergency was “untenable”.

“Equipment is failing, upgrades have been delayed and firefighters are feeling devalued. It is high time action was taken,” she said.

“Labour recognises the dangerous working conditions firefighters face. We will extend presumptive occupational cancer cover for firefighters so those diagnosed can access the immediate healthcare they need without having to prove it was from firefighting.

“We will also make [Labour MP] Kieran McAnulty’s members bill government policy – extending ACC cover to volunteer firefighters who are currently not covered for work-related illness or injuries.”