‘I’m furious’: Bishop blasts Fire and Emergency as National develops policy

Author: Julia Gabel,
Publish Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2026, 7:27am

National Party leader and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with senior National MP and minister Chris Bishop. Photo / Michael Craig

Christopher Luxon signalled National was developing new policy aimed at Fire and Emergency New Zealand as he and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop attacked the organisation’s leadership and spending.

The criticism came at a well-attended National Party public meeting in Avalon yesterday evening, in Labour leader Chris Hipkins’ Remutaka electorate.

There was a heavy media presence after a week of reported discontent within National, which culminated in Luxon surviving a confidence vote at an urgent caucus meeting last Wednesday.

Luxon and Bishop, whose name had been floated as a possible leadership contender, presented a united front last night as they unleashed flattery on each other.

Bishop gave Luxon a gushing introduction (“he is trying to make a difference for this country”), and Luxon spoke about being a “born optimist” amid geopolitical instability (Trump’s tariffs, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine) and domestic challenges (severe weather, post-Covid inflation).

But when his speech ended, Luxon’s optimism was juxtaposed with the harsh realities of Kiwis still doing it tough.

A woman told the Herald (and then later addressed Bishop) she had quit specialist nursing after 16 years because the workforce pressures - including staffing and resource shortages - had left her as a “husk” of the woman she once was.

“I didn’t want to fight just to look after people anymore,” she said.

A 70-year-old local, who believed Luxon deserved another term to get things right, was resentful his son - who had a master’s degree - could not get a job in New Zealand and moved to Spain.

“I want more Rocket Labs!”

National leader Christopher Luxon addresses a public meeting in Avalon. Photo / Julia Gabel

His daughter was a marine biologist but struggled to find a job paying more than the living wage.

A firefighter asked for solutions amid ongoing industrial disputes and strikes over issues including pay, equipment, staffing and workplace health and safety.

Bishop said Fire and Emergency was “a shocker” at asset management.

“They barely know what they own.”

He said he had been “pushing” Fire and Emergency and the minister in charge, Brooke van Velden, for answers about replacing Hutt City Fire Station.

“I get crickets in response,” he said.

“[Fire and Emergency] governance and management have no idea what they are doing and the Hutt is being left out.

“I’m furious about it and I’m pushing hard ... because we do need a new fire station there. I’m sick of being told ‘we are working on a business case – blah, blah, blah’. It’s all just ‘blah, blah, blah’.”

Luxon claimed Fire and Emergency had sufficient revenue but had done “dumb” things with its money.

“On Fenz, let me say a few things. You’ve got a management team with a huge amount of revenue and corporate levies off commercial buildings and has had plenty of money and done dumb things with it.

“So just hang five – because we are also thinking very clearly about Fenz. There is a number of ideas ... we are working on something and I hope we will be able to talk about it as our policy.”

Fire and Emergency said it could not provide comment by deadline.

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.