To walk into fire, the firefighter must be able to trust there are enough properly trained and experienced firefighters supporting them, that their uniform, hoses and breathing apparatus will protect them.
In recent times, firefighters have not had that confidence.
Fire trucks break down on their way to emergencies. That means there is a delay to the incident as another truck is dispatched. In emergencies every minute counts!
Firefighters have been caught inside a burning building without water because a pump on the truck failed or a hose burst. These failures not only put the firefighter in immediate increased risk, but it impacts on the firefighters’ ability to rescue or the tactics they can use to control the fire.
Dangerous staffing levels
FENZ does not employ sufficient career firefighters to maintain minimum crew levels. The level of career firefighters across New Zealand has barely changed since the 1990s.
Instead of increasing the number of recruit courses, FENZ has reduced recruit courses.
Fire trucks and specialist appliances in crisis
Fire trucks and specialist aerial appliances are failing putting the lives of firefighters and the community at unnecessary risk.
The fleet is old with trucks 20-30 years old breaking down regularly.
FENZ refuses to properly fund occupational cancer testing
A wealth of research has proven the nexus between firefighting and the significantly increased risk of specific cancers.
FENZ is refusing to increase the reimbursement to the actual costs of health monitoring for firefighters.
FENZ “ad hoc” approach to psychological wellbeing
Did you know that firefighters respond to 94% out-of-hospital cardiac arrests? Research in the wellbeing of FENZ career firefighters, 111 dispatchers and other staff has exposed dire states of mental health.
FENZ is refusing to treat agreed mental health and wellbeing residential programmes as training which would assist in removing the stigma of mental health programmes and fund travel and other incidentals.
FENZ refuses to acknowledge Firefighters’ occupational cancer
FENZ continues to fail firefighters with occupational cancer and has regularly been criticised in ACC reviews for not applying the law.
FENZ’s processes cause delays that can affect treatment, causes stress and unnecessarily incurs costs just to have the occupational illness recognised as any other work related injury.
Devalued Firefighters
Firefighters and other NZPFU members have not had a pay increase since July 2023. They are still some of the lowest paid staff in FENZ.
Many FENZ corporate-type roles that do not manage anyone, have no budgetary responsibilities and work 40 hours a week earn $150,000 and more.
