‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul’ - firefighters to go on strike

Wednesday, 1 October 2025

Career firefighters are involved in nationwide industrial action over the ageing Fire and Emergency fire engine fleet.

Unionised career firefighters are walking off the job later this month, claiming a lack of progress around pay offers, health and safety issues and equipment failures.

In a statement, the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) said they notified Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) of their intention to strike for one hour, from 1pm to 2pm on October 17.

“FENZ made an offer on June 13 [5.1% over three years] that was rejected by 99% of NZPFU members. FENZ is yet to make any other offer,” the union statement said.

Union members have not had a pay increase since July 2023.

Members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) intend to go on strike from 1pm to 2pm on October 17.

“NZPFU members are fed up with the lack of progress and hope that the strike notice will motivate FENZ to come to the table next week with a revised position that deals with all outstanding issues including wage,” the union statement said.

Those outstanding issues also include equipment failures.

“The state of the fire appliances is dire and failing, leaving firefighters stranded on the way to calls, at station, or even at the incident without water while internal firefighting.

“About 40 new appliances are due to arrive in fire stations over the next few months but most are already out of warranty as FENZ had the trucks’ chassis sitting in a paddock for years before building them.”

The union said those trucks were also the same type of appliance that has had “intercooler issues across the fleet”. Other new appliances were supposed to carry hydraulic rescue equipment but have been “poorly designed and the life-saving gear doesn’t fit.

“Often there is only one heavy aerial from Hamilton to Whangārei. FENZ is regularly robbing Peter to pay Paul by moving aging and failing aerial appliances around the country and it is not unusual for the loaned appliance to fail on arrival.”

FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said they were “disappointed” a strike notice had been issued ahead of bargining on October 9 and 10, and strike action would “place an extra burden” on volunteer firefighters.

The NZPFU also said FENZ continued to fail firefighters with occupational cancer and had “been criticised in ACC reviews for not applying the law”.

In response, FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said they were “disappointed” a strike notice had been issued ahead of bargining on October 9 and 10, and strike action would “place an extra burden” on volunteer firefighters.

“Community safety is of the utmost priority to Fire and Emergency, and we want to reassure the public that we will do our best to maintain services during this period of industrial action,” she said.

“There are approximately 13,500 firefighters in New Zealand, with around 2000 NZPFU members taking strike action. Our more than 11,000 volunteers, most in rural and smaller areas, will continue to support their communities and respond as needed.”

Stiffler said the strike will compromise public safety.

“Fire and Emergency and the NZPFU have been negotiating since July 2024 and an offer of a 5.1% pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances, was presented on 13 June, 2025. This has been rejected by the NZPFU.

“We consider the offer is sustainable, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals, alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.”