Inquiry launched into Fire and Emergency fleet failures amid long-running industrial action

Monday, 6 April 2026

An MP who “receives daily messages” from firefighters about trucks breaking down or being unavailable says he is grateful the select committee voted to launch an investigation into Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s fleet.

Ōtaki MP Tim Costley asked Fire and Emergency NZ about contradictory statements it had made to him regarding the rollout of a new fleet, and said he was increasingly concerned about this.

He earlier told the organisation he was losing confidence that its staff were across issues, after he received “confusing” answers about where 30 new trucks were and why they had not yet been rolled out.

The select committee voted in favour of Costley’s request to start a parliamentary inquiry, which was now open for public submissions.

Costley said he was pleased all members of the select committee had agreed to this as it was important firefighters had the right equipment to fulfil their roles.

“Our firefighters do an amazing job risking their lives to help New Zealanders in need – and I fully back them. This inquiry will provide the answers that every community and firefighter deserves.”

He wanted timely and accurate answers about what was happening with fire trucks, and that included why they were breaking down.

“While there are a range of issues that have been raised more broadly around FENZ, the most consistent that has arisen on every occasion is that of FENZ’s fleet.

“The impact of failures in this space is one that impacts every community in New Zealand, whether those areas have volunteer or paid staff, high-rise or low-rise, urban or rural.”

Firefighters, including those in Palmerston North, had been striking twice weekly for several months while the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZFPU) and Fire and Emergency NZ had been unable to settle on a new collective agreement despite facilitated bargaining.

Unionised firefighters were asking for better pay and staffing levels, and more investment in equipment, and it declined an offer to return to facilitated bargaining at the end of March.

Union president Wattie Watson said that was because they wanted Fire and Emergency NZ to put up a new offer, and they were now ecstatic to hear an inquiry would be held.

“The NZPFU has been lobbying members of Parliament and educating the public about the significant and avoidable risks FENZ’s mismanagement of the fleet has created – risks for the public and risks for the firefighters responding in the failing fleet.”

Green MP Mike Davidson had also written to the select committee seeking the inquiry.

“FENZ was established in 2017 and in eight years, not one new fire appliance had made it to career fire stations,” Watson said.

“There is a dangerous lack of aerial and other special appliances.”

Fire and Emergency NZ board members also received a pay rise of up to 79% on Wednesday and the union said the announcement of that was a “blow”.

A briefing, obtained by The Post, recommended Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden approve increases to board pay packets in December, with Fire and Emergency NZ’s deputy chairperson and board members in line for the biggest boosts; increasing from $31,762 to $57,000 per annum and $25,410 to $45,600 per annum respectively, both increases of 79%.

The briefing also recommended the Fire and Emergency NZ chairperson’s annual fee rise from $64,150 to $91,560, an increase of 42%.

Fire and Emergency NZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said the organisation was committed to reaching a fair agreement with the union, and its most recent offer included a 6.2% pay increase by November 2027, at a cost of $32.7 million.

“By comparison, the NZPFU’s settlement proposal came to approximately $120m over the same period.

“That is not financially realistic at a time where we are reducing staffing levels in other areas of the organisation, and when we also have to keep investing in the trucks and equipment our people need to do their jobs safely.”

She said the union needed to stop its “reckless” strike action while discussions were ongoing and not put the public at risk.

The inquiry would cover fleet management, including its current state, procurement challenges and future needs. Public submissions would be open until April 30 through the Governance and Administration Committee.

Visit www.parliament.nz for more information.