The NZPFU will be seeking an independent inquiry into how firefighters and other FENZ staff were again exposed to asbestos at Auckland City Station.  Our members should not be repeatedly, and avoidably, contaminated in their workplace.

Auckland City is a known asbestos hazard with the top floor of the station sealed off due to the level and type of asbestos in the station ceiling.  Only a fortnight ago FENZ had contractors up on that floor painting.  The union and staff had not been notified of the intention to do so and we have no confidence that appropriate protocols were in place for the contractors and those on site.  The doors into the floor had been opened to dry the paint.  FENZ has yet to fully respond to the Union's questions about why the sealed floor was breached and why painting of a floor that was never to be used was necessary, and who saw that and decided that. 

The Union has been calling for full remediation of the site for years but FENZ insists it had taken sufficient precautions and had protocols in place to prevent any ongoing exposure.

Asbestos has also been identified in other areas of the Station including a compressor room and another area where breathing apparatus and other equipment is stored and a work bench for re-commissioning equipment.   FENZ had cordoned off those areas pending remediation of the areas and clearance certification.

FENZ informed Auckland city staff in August that the breathing apparatus/other fire and equipment storage room had been thoroughly remediated and had clearance certification so it was again back in use.

On Friday evening FENZ notified the Union and those on site that they had just been notified of an asbestos-positive swab taken in July in a storage area for Breathing Apparatus cylinders with a work bench for the recommission of other firefighting gear and equipment.  

Auckland City station was shut down, on-duty firefighters placed through a precautionary decontamination and the fire appliances and vehicles taken out of commission pending testing and cleaning. Contrary to FENZ statements, the area where the asbestos was detected, is in frequent use as a storage area for Breathing Apparatus cylinders, and a workbench for the recommission of firefighting gear and equipment.

Late last night (Saturday), following testing throughout the rest of the fire station, the crews were notified of that all 16 testing had returned negative results, and the fire trucks at the station put through a deep-clean decontamination process. As a result of these results and decontamination, the decision was made to allow firefighters to reoccupy the fire station and resume operational duties and response, excluding the area of the station that had shown a positive result for asbestos. This area remains locked off and restricted to entry.

FENZ has yet to be able to provide any answers on the July testing the supposed August clearance.

• How was the breathing apparatus cylinder room cleared as free from asbestos and ready for use when there was outstanding test results?
• How had there been clearance with outstanding test results?
• Why did it take to October to analyse July testing - or is this a case where the positive July test results were known and not actioned?

This shut down has caused significant disruption to Fire and Emergency's operational capabilities, as well as significant costs in the replacement and procurement of emergency Personnel Protective Equipment and Uniform for the crews who were unable to access their structural firefighting and station uniform and equipment for 24 hours.

Worksafe have been notified and involved in the issues on this site for years.   Worksafe must act on FENZ’s inability to properly manage any asbestos risk at Auckland City.  The NZPFU members and their families have no faith that FENZ has been acting in the interests of their health and safety and decisions are being made solely on cost and not the risk of horrifying possible health outcomes such as asbestosis.  The Union cannot see any respite from this risk without full removal/remediation of all asbestos from the site.

This is October 2025 – we should not be having to fight for asbestos to be eradicated from the workplace.

This incident, following another Auckland City Station shutdown almost three years ago, has once again raised many questions from the Union that will be directed to Fire and Emergency over the next several days. It shows once again the disregard that the organisation has for the health, safety and wellbeing of not only the staff that work at the station, but the many members of the public that visit the station on a daily basis.

We believe this latest breach demonstrates that FENZ cannot and has not properly managed or implemented asbestos policies and procedures.  There needs to be a thorough investigation and FENZ’s Executive Leadership Team needs to be held to account, and the full force of penalties available under the Health and Safety at Work Act to be applied where appropriate.  

In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary