NEWS

PARENTAL LEAVE PAYMENT CASE IN EMPLOYMENT COURT THIS FRIDAY
| Featured News

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.

NZPFU supports WINDOI 2026
| Featured News

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.

| Featured News

Nominations are called for the positions of President, Vice President, and Secretary of the three Branches – Northern Branch, Central Branch and Southern Branch.

| Auckland Local

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. 

STRENGTH IN UNITY - IAFF MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY
| Featured News

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.

DON’T SIGN FORMS CONSENTING FENZ TO DEDUCT FROM REMEDIATION PAYMENTS
| Featured News

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.

WHANAUNGATANGA SURVEY DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 8 MAY 2026
| Featured News

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.

WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY
| Featured News

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.

| Hamilton Local

Due to a casual vacancy, we are calling for nominations for the position of: HAMILTON LOCAL PRESIDENT

FENZ ATTEMPTING TO COERCE NZPFU MEMBERS TO SIGN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
| Featured News

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 STAUNCH IN STRIKE ACTION
| Featured News

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.

| Featured News

It is with great sadness that we notify members of the passing of NZPFU Life Member and highly respected retired SSO Ian Richards.

Notice from the NZPFU President
| Featured News

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. 

Your struggle is our struggle
| Featured News

The NZPFU members never walk alone. We have received the below message of solidarity from the PSA Auckland and Northern Region convenors.

UK FIRE BRIGADES UNION MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY
| Featured News

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.

Notice from the NZPFU President
| Featured News

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.

NZPFU CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO FENZ
| Breaking News
Breaking News

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.

NZPFU CANCELS TODAYS STRIKE
| Breaking News
Breaking News

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.

POST DAMNING ERA DETERMINATION, THE NZPFU INVITES FENZ TO ENGAGE WITH THE UNION
| Featured News

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.  

ERA RULES FENZ BREACHED GOOD FAITH AND NZPFU AND PSA COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS BY FAILING TO CONSULT
| Breaking News
Breaking News

In November 2025, FENZ dropped a 260-page document that affected more than 700 positions and more than hundreds of roles to be disestablished.

The NZPFU and PSA filed an urgent action last year in a bid to stop the restructure claiming FENZ had failed to consult in accordance with the provisions of the collective agreement.

Today the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) released its decision finding that FENZ failed to consult in accordance with the collective agreement provisions, that it failed to consult on whether change should occur or at a time when the Unions could influence an outcome, and failed to consult in a manner driven by a desire to reach consensus. It also found FENZ’s conduct breached the obligation of good faith.

FENZ NOW REFUSING TO PROVIDE A NEW OFFER
| Breaking News
Breaking News

Yesterday the ERA contacted the NZPFU requesting our availability for facilitated bargaining on the 30th and 31st March 2026.  There had obviously been previous communications between the ERA and FENZ (that we had not been copied into) and despite requesting that correspondence we did not receive it.

The NZPFU accepted facilitation on the basis that FENZ would provide a new offer that CE Kerry Gregory had earlier told the Union it was being worked on.

NZPFU AND FENZ HEAD BACK TO BARGAINING
| Breaking News
Breaking News

Today the NZPFU accepted two days of facilitated bargaining on the basis that FENZ brings an enhanced offer to the table.

We were contacted by the Employment Relations Authority today offering the 30th and 31st March for facilitated bargaining. The NZPFU has consistently been calling for bargaining to recommence as we cannot resolve this dispute unless we are around the table genuinely negotiating.

WHERE IS THE NEW OFFER FENZ?
| Featured News

NZPFU members walk off the job for one hour from 12 noon today with no bargaining in sight.

In February the NZPFU wrote FENZ with the outcome of strike ballots taken during the national round of membership meetings in February.  We were asking for bargaining to recommence and proposed a process for tackling the big issues in particular. 

FENZ TRIES TO STARVE OUT STRIKING NZPFU MEMBERS
| Breaking News
Breaking News

FENZ management have exposed their true colours in their latest salvo against striking NZPFU members,  including striking firefighters and 111 emergency call centre dispatchers.

NZPFU MEMBERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTE FOR MORE STRIKE ACTION
| Breaking News
Breaking News

The NZPFU membership has overwhelmingly voted for more strike action.

The NZPFU membership is as strong as ever in its resolve to fight for a fair and reasonable collective agreement that embeds safe systems of work—crucial for emergency response and the protection of the community.

NZPFU now striking twice a week
| Featured News

The NZPFU will hold national strikes for one hour from 12 noon this Friday the 13th and on Monday 16th February 2026.

The NZPFU has now escalated the strike action to two one-hour strikes per week in a bid to put pressure on FENZ to change their position. As is usual practice the National Committee meets every week to discuss the pending Friday and Monday strikes and the National Committee has determined this Friday and Monday the 16th will proceed.

NZPFU MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY 2026
| Featured News

The NZPFU and FENZ were in facilitated bargaining this week. At the close of that bargaining FENZ agreed to provide specific information we have requested which we say is necessary for us to have a full understanding of what FENZ claims is fiscal restrictions by Treasury, Government and the Public Service and what is FENZ’s determined limitations.

NZPFU CANCELS TOMORROW’S STRIKE
| Breaking News
Breaking News

The NZPFU has cancelled the one-hour full strike scheduled from 12 noon tomorrow (Friday 23 January 2026).

NZPFU STOPS TODAY’S STRIKE
| Breaking News
Breaking News

Volunteers, off duty career firefighters, 111 emergency call centre dispatchers, VSOs, trainers, Risk Reduction staff, and those working in health and safety can all kick back and relax today as the NZPFU has called off today’s strike.

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