National’s plan to back our firefighters
Firefighters will get the equipment, training and support they deserve under National’s three-point plan to strengthen New Zealand’s fire and emergency services, National’s Emergency Management spokesperson Mark Mitchell says.
“When New Zealanders face a fire, serious crash, flood, storm or other emergency, our firefighters are there. They run towards danger to protect lives, homes and communities.
“More than 14,000 firefighters, including volunteers, paid staff, and frontline enablers, serve New Zealand around the clock. They deserve an organisation that is as reliable and prepared as they are.
“But nine years after FENZ was created, too many firefighters are still dealing with ageing trucks, breakdowns, training gaps and an organisation that is not delivering for the frontline.
“National backs our firefighters. We will reset FENZ, restore clear accountability and put frontline delivery first,” Mr Mitchell says.
National’s three-point plan will:
- Restore accountability by making FENZ a departmental agency directly accountable to the Minister for Emergency Management, removing the FENZ Board, and delivering a Turnaround Plan;
- Support volunteer firefighters by requiring FENZ to provide volunteers with additional mental and physical health support;
- Get ordered appliances into service and establish funded fleet replacement and training programmes;
- National MP Tim Costley, who initiated the select committee inquiry into FENZ fleet issues, says firefighters have too often carried the consequences of failures they did not create.
“Again and again, firefighters have found ways to keep serving their communities despite unreliable appliances, gaps in training and slow decision-making above them.
“The inquiry has shown these are not isolated problems. FENZ has spent money and purchased equipment, but it has struggled to turn those decisions into reliable capability on the frontline.
“Trucks sitting out of service do not help the crew waiting at the station, and training plans mean little if recruits are still encountering their first real fire at an emergency callout.
“This reset will 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 FENZ is delivering for firefighters and communities.
“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 FENZ upholds its side too,” Mr Costley says.
“Firefighters deserve reliable trucks, proper training, practical support and an organisation accountable for delivering them. A re-elected National Government will make that happen,” Mr Mitchell says.
Read more about National’s three-point plan to back firefighters and fix FENZ in the policy document HERE.
