NEWS

Celebrating 40+ years of women career firefighters
| Featured News

The NZPFU is hosting an event to celebrate 40 plus years of women career firefighters with special  tributes to Anne Barry and Elizabeth England who were the first women career firefighters in New Zealand and the Commonwealth. Anne Barry battled for the right to transition from the communications call centre to career firefighting taking her case to the Human Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and to Parliament before finally being accepted in 1981 on the career recruits course with Elizabeth England.

Loafers Lodge Remembrance Service
| Featured News

A Service of Remembrance for those that lost their lives or were impacted by the tragic Loafers Lodge fire will be held this Thursday.

FENZ ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLANS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON
| Breaking News
Breaking News

Worksafe has issued FENZ with a notice requiring FENZ to review all Asbestos Management Plans (AMPs) to ensure they are implemented, monitored and effective.  The Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) refers to ALL AMPs which means it applies to all FENZ owned/leased/occupied/used buildings across the country.

| Featured News

Nominations are called for the positions of President, Vice-President and Secretary for the Northern Branch.

| Central Branch

Nominations are called for the positions of President, Vice-President and Secretary for the Central Branch.

| Featured News

Nominations are called for the positions of President, Vice-President and Secretary for the Southern Branch.

| Rotorua Local

Following the close of the ballot for the election of Rotorua Local President (see attached for details), I hereby declare: BLAIR TROTMAN duly elected.

Process for NZPFU members requested to be interviewed or involved in any internal or external inquiry into Loafers Lodge fire
| Featured News

The tragic fire at Loafers Lodge last Monday will result in various internal and external inquiries including police investigations, criminal charges, coronial inquiries and FENZ operational reviews and investigations.  NZPFU members want to ensure that the loved ones of the deceased get the answers they need.  It is important that the full picture is presented to the various inquiries, and that information is accurate and provided in context.

MESSAGES OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE WELLINGTON HOSTEL FIRE
| Breaking News
Breaking News

It was with a heavy heart that many of us woke this morning to the news of the tragic hostel accommodation fire in Wellington. We send our deepest sympathy to the loved ones of the deceased, those injured and those that survived unscathed but have lost their home and friends. We understand there was a sense of community in the Loafers Lodge hotel in Newtown and the impact will be felt by many.

Warnings by Firefighters and Rescue crews fall on deaf ears
| Breaking News
Breaking News

Whilst Auckland and Northland firefighters, both career and volunteer, are facing yet another 1 in 100 year flood this year, it is apparent that climate change is here to stay. We need to ensure we adapt and remain vigilant to ensure that safety remains paramount for both the public of New Zealand and us as rescuers.

Christchurch City Station official opening today
| Featured News

More than 12 years after the tragic 22 February 2011 earthquake the 7th and last fire station re-build will be celebrated with the official opening of the Christchurch City Station.

| Rotorua Local

By the closing date for nominations for the position of Rotorua Local President, the following nominations have been received.

| Featured News

The NZPFU is currently in discussions with two providers for income protection insurance for members. This process has taken far longer than we envisaged and much of the delay stems from the impact of extreme weather events on insurance companies. The NZPFU National Committee is committed to ensuring we have procured the most effective policy for members and is carefully considering either option.  We expect to be able to make an announcement shortly.

| Featured News

FENZ has confirmed the backpay for the NZPFU members covered by the collective employment agreement will be paid on 3 May 2023.  At the time of ratification it was indicated that the backpay would be paid in the first pay in May.

| Featured News

It is with great sadness that we inform members that NZPFU life member Jack Glassford (formally of the Gisborne Local) passed away after a short illness on Tuesday morning.

| Featured News

The type 3 acquisition project is entering stage 4 of the project which includes operational user evaluation of the appliances at selected fire stations. The trial will generate lots of interest. The suppliers are in competition and must have a level playing field. Any public comments could cause a supplier to take legal action resulting in considerable delay for the project.

Campaign for free dental care
| Featured News

Make Dental Care Free for All is an online petition calling on the Government to bring universal dental care into the public healthcare system to make it free for all.

| Rotorua Local

Due to the recent resignation of the Rotorua Local President, nominations are hereby called for this position in accordance with the Rules of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union.

AUCKLAND FLOODS AND CYCLONE GABRIELLE INQUIRIES
| Featured News

There are various inquiries established to look into the recent extreme weather events and the response by FENZ including FENZ reviews, Worksafe investigations and Coroners inquests.

SPECIALIST WATER RESPONSE FORCE TRAINING
| Featured News

The NZPFU advises its members that it is NOT in their interests to attend the specialist water response force training commencing in Rotorua next Tuesday 28 March 2023. 

Firefighter Josh Darby and AUT’s Professor Grant Schofield chat with the NZPFU
| Featured News

Whanaungatanga Programme lead and career firefighter Josh Darby and AUT’s Professor Grant Schofield joined NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson to explain the need for and content of the survey, and the value a high response rate will mean for our members and possibly other first responders internationally.

NZPFU SUPPORT FOR TEACHER AND PRINCIPALS’ STRIKE ACTION
| Featured News

The NZPFU supports the NZEI and PPTA industrial action calling on Government to address critical issues in the education section including lowering the teacher to child ratios, recognising the importance of quality teaching through more staff, better support and fair pay.

NZPFU URGES ALL MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE
| Featured News

The Movember-funded Whanaungatanga Programme Wellbeing Survey will be sent to all professional career firefighters and comms centre dispatchers on Thursday 9 March 2023.

NZPFU SEEKS COMPLIANCE WITH HOLIDAYS ACT PAYMENTS
| Featured News

In a decision released in August 2022 the Employment Relations Authority determined that NZPFU members working overtime on a public holiday must be paid 1.5 times that overtime rate as that is the rate for the calculation of the relevant daily pay.

| Featured News

The past few weeks have been extraordinarily taxing on NZPFU members responding to relentless emergency calls and challenging events at home including loss of homes, personal belongings, massive clean-ups and the tragic loss of family members, friends and colleagues.

WE ARE WITH YOU IN SPIRIT!
| Featured News

NZPFU members from around the country have been contacting the Union to offer support to members who have been responding through the recent natural disasters. We have been asked to ensure our members working and living in the devastation left by Cyclone Gabrielle to know they are being supported from afar and we are beginning to understand the incredible sacrifices they have made. Your comrades and colleagues have been watching in awe and sadness as the news of devastated communities was broadcast throughout the country. For those who cannot be with you in person – we are with you in spirit!

LINE OF DUTY DEATH
| Featured News

A devastated family and community are reeling with the death of the second volunteer firefighter caught in a landslide in Muriwai.

LINE OF DUTY DEATH
| Featured News

Yesterday afternoon the battle to locate a volunteer firefighter trapped under a landslide concluded with the recovery of his body at Muriwai.

UNTENABLE EARTHQUAKE RISK AT TAURANGA FIRE STATION - FENZ MUST ACT NOW
| Breaking News
Breaking News

For a decade FENZ (and its predecessor NZFS) has known the Tauranga Fire Station only has an 18% NBS earthquake rating with firefighters accommodated in the proximity of the most compromised structural wall. For years the NZPFU Local has been battling for progress and relocation while the station is strengthened to at least the required 67% NBS or demolished and built on a suitable site. There have been other investigations including a 2020 visual assessment of the cracks in the building but FENZ has yet to act on the various recommendations.

| Featured News

Today FENZ has released an amended People Re-set consultation document that does not address key issues the NZPFU has raised with FENZ.

New Minister of Internal Affairs
| Featured News

The Prime Minister today announced his new cabinet which includes a new Minister of Internal Affairs the Hon Barbara Edmonds.

NZPFU ADVOCATING FOR RANGE OF SUPPORT FOR STORM-AFFECTED MEMBERS
| Featured News

The Auckland Local has been working hard to support our members that have been significantly affected by the weekend’s unprecedented storm and may well be facing more damage as the weather event persists this week.  We understand that the extent of the damage and the long-term implications will not be realised until all properties have been assessed. 

Tamaki Makaurau Flooding, State of Local Civil Defence Emergency
| Auckland Local
Breaking News

Last nights unprecedented weather event caused widespread havoc across the region with Fire and Emergency career and volunteer crews, operational support and 111 emergency dispatchers working to exhaustion, with all available FENZ resources at times being mobilised to incidents right across the region.

CIVIL DEFENCE EMERGENCY PAYMENTS
| Breaking News
Breaking News

NZPFU members worked tirelessly throughout the night responding to the unprecedented flooding within the Auckland Region. More than 2000 calls slammed the emergency call centre dispatchers.  All fire crews were deployed preforming rescues from homes and vehicles hampered by the torrential rain and rising flood waters making some roads and motorways unpassable.

| Featured News

The NZPFU National Committee and relevant FENZ representatives met over two days this week to implement the new provisions and processes agreed in the new 2021-2024 FENZ NZPFU collective employment agreement.

| Featured News

Members are advised that it is not in your interest to participate in FENZ’s Understanding the Support Provided to our Volunteers survey.

| Featured News

Happy New Year! The last 18 months have been a mammoth effort by your national and local representatives and the membership. We hope everyone had some time off (even if only in between rostered hours) or has some time-off planned in the very near future to relax and unwind.

| Auckland Local

The Auckland Local wishes all members a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The Auckland Office will be closed from the afternoon of Friday 23 December 2022, reopening on Monday 9 January 2023.

| Northern Branch

On behalf of the Executive of the Northern Branch, we wish all members and their families a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

BE WARY OF FREE PERSONALITY ASSESSMENTS
| Featured News

The NZPFU has become aware of FENZ offering “free personality assessments” from one of their “Partners” who are reportedly “introducing new psychology tools to the market”. The invitation is actually to take place in research and be part of data collection.

All industrial action ceases
| Featured News

Due to the vote to ratify the collective agreement all current and proposed industrial action, including the omnibus of bans, now ceases from 0800 today.

FENZ FAILS IN ITS BID TO STAY THE HOLIDAYS ACT PAYMENTS
| Breaking News
Breaking News

In August we notified members that the Employment Relations Authority had determined that firefighters working overtime on a public holiday must be paid 1.5 times the overtime rate as the overtime rate is the relevant daily pay.

| Tauranga Local

As you will be well aware by now, we have finally reached an agreed term of settlement in the negotiation for a new CEA. The NZPFU is recommending members accept it and ratify the settlement offer. The National Committee has completely wrung out the sponge for every possible drop of benefit to members, and it's now our turn to act.

SIGNIFICANT SETTLEMENT OFFERED TO NZPFU MEMBERS
| Breaking News
Breaking News

Christmas cheer may have come a little earlier for NZPFU members with the NZPFU National Committee today releasing and recommending ratification of a proposed settlement with FENZ. After 18 gruelling months of negotiations and six months of industrial action including all NZPFU members walking off the job twice, the NZPFU members have just received the detail of the proposed settlement that the NZPFU recommends members’ accept.

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