ANTI-WORKER LEGISLATION, COST OF LIVING AND CAMPAIGN SKILLS
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has organised an election education series of online workshops in the lead up to the general election.
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has organised an election education series of online workshops in the lead up to the general election.
Due to a casual vacancy, we are calling for nominations for the position of: HAMILTON LOCAL VICE PRESIDENT
On behalf of the Hamilton Local, we are deeply saddened to advise members of the passing of our colleague, friend, and union brother, Callan Stewart.
Today the Minister for Internal Affairs announced the need to establish whether the fire service levy is the appropriate funding mechanism given response has broadened to include medical response and the increase in extreme weather events.
Due to the withdrawal of candidates from the Central Branch President position there is now no need for an election.
Congratulations to Rik Walsh who has been elected unopposed to the Central Branch President position.
Prior to the close of nominations for the Gisborne Local Committee I had received two additional nominations.
As members will be aware, several health and safety concerns were raised with Fire and Emergency by the Local with respect to the commissioning exercises undertaken at the City Rail Link.
Due to the withdrawal of a candidate, there is no longer an election for the Central Branch Secretary position. Congratulations to Robert Hutchison who has been declared the Central Branch Secretary unopposed.
The NZPFU understands that some members have been engaging in groups organised by FENZ on matters that will affect the terms and conditions of employment of our members. These are matters that need to be negotiated and agreed – not workshopped.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 3 June) the Governance and Administration Select Committee will continue its public hearings for the Inquiry into the management of the FENZ fleet from 8.45am tomorrow – not the usual 1pm slot.
The NZPFU Northern and Southern Branch Returning Officers have declared the Branch Presidents, Vice Presidents and Secretaries unopposed, and the Central Branch Returning Officer has declared the Branch Vice President elected unopposed with the Branch President and Secretary positions to be contested.
Following the close of nominations for the election of the Northern Branch positions of Branch Secretary, Branch President and Branch Vice President, I had received one nomination for each position.
Following the close of nominations for the election of the Central Branch positions of Branch Secretary, Branch President and Branch Vice President, I received one nomination for Branch Vice President and nominations for Branch President and Branch Secretary .
Following the close of nominations for the election of the Southern Branch positions of Branch Secretary, Branch President and Branch Vice President, I had received one nomination for each position.
The 2026 PCA payment will be paid on the 24th June 2026 pay day.
The Parliamentary Governance and Administration Select Committee will continue to hear from submitters on the state of FENZ fleet from 1pm today.
The NZPFU has called off today’s strike as multiple crews are working at a fatal house fire in Auckland this morning.
The NZPFU National Committee met with FENZ CE Kerry Gregory, Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler and DCE People Janine Hearn on Monday, with the only outcome an agreement to explore a High Performance High Engagement model that the Maritime Union says has been effective in getting the Ports of Auckland relationship focused on engagement that centres around the health and safety of workers.
The Parliamentary Governance and Administration Select Committee will continue to hear from submitters on the state of FENZ fleet from 1pm today.
In accordance with the NZPFU Rules, due to vacant committee positions, nominations are called for Gisborne Local Committee members.
The Parliamentary Governance and Administration Select Committee Inquiry will continue this Wednesday, hearing from firefighters and other NZPFU members and submitters.
Last night a Christchurch family suffered a devastating fire where one child has reportedly perished and left other members of the whānau in serious condition.
The Parliamentary Governance and Administration Committee is conducting an inquiry into FENZ’s fleet management and related issues.
The hearings kick off tomorrow (Wednesday) with FENZ appearing.
The NZPFU FENZ collective agreement includes a payment as an incentive for employees for return to work from parental leave and to remain
employed by FENZ for at least 6 months upon their return.
In May 2023, FENZ unilaterally decided new “policy” in a memo to People Branch staff restricting the payment only to those that applied for
12 months leave and took at least three months leave. The clause does not refer to any requirement to have applied for 12 months leave, or
to have taken at least 3 months leave.
The NZPFU has six delegates attending the 2026 WIMDOI (Women in Male Dominated Occupations and Industries) Biennial Conference being held in Rotorua 12-14 May.
Nominations are called for the positions of President, Vice President, and Secretary of the three Branches – Northern Branch, Central Branch and Southern Branch.
Yesterday’s notice (below) from District Commander Mackereth once again highlights the dire state of the Fire and Emergency fleet.
There are currently NO relief aerials available in the country to replace the Parnell aerial that has suffered a steering malfunction.
The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) which represents more than 350,000 Canadian and American firefighters has sent the attached letter of solidarity and support to NZPFU members.
The remediation notices resulting from FENZ’s failure to accurately calculate leave payments over many years are now being sent out to
members.
Members are advised it is not in your interests to sign a form consenting FENZ to deduct any monies they say you owe from the
remediation payment.
NZPFU members yet to complete the Whanaungatanga Survey need to get onto it pronto!
The survey was to close today but due to various demands on FENZ personnel it has been extended to 8 May 2026.
April 28th is Workers' Memorial Day where we remember and honour workers killed, injured, or suffering with illness as a result of their work or workplaces.
The Corrections Association of New Zealand (CANZ) has expressed strong support for NZPFU members in efforts to secure a settlement that “recognises the skill, commitment and sacrifice” our members make.
Due to a casual vacancy, we are calling for nominations for the position of: HAMILTON LOCAL PRESIDENT
FENZ has started to issue new appointment letters that attempt to coerce our members to sign individual employment agreements.
The letters refer to the collective employment terms and conditions of employment on matters not covered by the letter, but the letter then
erodes the protections our members have under the collective employment agreement.
NZPFU members are into their 6th month of strikes with FENZ refusing to table an offer they said six weeks ago they were working up.
Leave remediation payments, Whanaungatanga Survey, Select Committee submissions, Petition for Full Inquiry into FENZ
It is with great sadness that we notify members of the passing of NZPFU Life Member and highly respected retired SSO Ian Richards.
The NZPFU NCOM has decided to cancel this morning's strike that was scheduled for one hour from 7.30 am today.
Many of you will have seen that Parliament is moving to hold a Select Committee inquiry into the state of Fire and Emergency’s fleet.
While this is an important development, it hasn't happened by chance.
The NZPFU National Committee has called off tomorrow’s full stoppage strike scheduled for one-hour from 7.30am tomorrow (Monday) morning.
FENZ will be directly contacting members shortly about remediation payments due to failures to properly calculate various types of leave and pay adjustments.
The NZPFU members never walk alone. We have received the below message of solidarity from the PSA Auckland and Northern Region convenors.
The NZPFU is continuing to undertake one-hour full stoppages in a bid to get FENZ to produce a new offer.
Last week, the NZPFU National Council met with FBU General Secretary Steve Wright and staff to share the struggles each union is facing and fighting. The NZPFU had reached out to the FBU as the UK firefighters have weathered more than 10 years of sustained austerity which saw the loss of thousands of firefighters' jobs, dozens of stations and substantial reduction in fire appliances.
The Parliamentary Governance and Administration Select Committee has formally launched an inquiry into FENZ’s fleet management.
Members of Parliament across the political spectrum have listened to NZPFU members and this afternoon have announced there will be a Select Committee inquiry into the dire state of FENZ’s fire fleet.
While NZPFU members have not had a pay increase since July 2023, with some ranks struggling at below living-wage levels, FENZ conducts an easter-egg hunt for HQ staff and Region offices.
The FENZ Board, executive leadership, Public Services Commission and the Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden have no shame in boosting the FENZ Board members' payments up 79% while many firefighters languish just above the minimum wage and well below the living wage.
FENZ has made the decision to take money out of our pay before any strike action has even occurred.
That's a deliberate choice, and it is a serious escalation of the bargaining.
FENZ is deducting wages for strikes yet to occur, which is not lawful or reasonable.
The NZPFU is calling for an independent inquiry into FENZ to examine why FENZ has failed to manage funding to ensure that it has the capacity and capability for reliable emergency response to the New Zealand public, now and in the future.
Due to the moving extreme weather events warranting civil emergencies and deployments of additional resources including USAR and water rescue teams, and clean ups in the aftermath, the NZPFU has cancelled todays strike.
The Whanaungatanga Programme Wellbeing Survey will be sent to all FENZ staff on Monday 30 March 2026 and closes on 27 April 2026.
Yesterday the NZPFU wrote to Kerry Gregory setting out our concerns with FENZ’s attacks on our membership through its attacks on the union, the fact there are currently no plans to get back to bargaining, and warned that the current path FENZ appears to be on will have disastrous impact on emergency response to the New Zealand community.