Members have turned out en mass to get the real story from the NZPFU National Council and Committee Representatives as well as insights from our subject matter experts on FENZ's proposed restructure.

There were huge turnouts for two meetings organised by the Wellington Local on Wednesday, trainers and members at the NTC and Rotorua Local on Thursday, and almost 100 percent turnout in the two Christchurch meetings (pictured) on Friday. Members flocked to the Palmerston North and Whanganui meetings, some travelling from Masterton and New Plymouth to meetings also held on Friday. 

Membership meetings will be held in Masterton, Hamilton, Tauranga, Taupo, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay over the coming week.

Members are encouraged to attend the FENZ information meetings this week and to ask for the evidence of the Executive Leadership Team statements when they claim the proposals will have no effect on firefighters health and safety.

The truth is the current proposals attack our safe systems of work allowing for non-qualified, untrained and inexperienced civilians into the equivalent of Area and Assistant Area positions. The intention is to appoint into these positions BEFORE developing a new "competency assessment framework".

We already have a competency assessment framework - it is our current rank and command structures. The only reason FENZ will want to have a new framework is because they intend to appoint people into current professional career firefighting Commander positions.

There are also direct attacks on the recruit to SSO rank structure as they intend to remove professional career ranks from trainers, and the COMMS Centre qualification and rank structure.

This proposal proves there is no respect for, or understanding that the qualification and required years of experience that underpin our rank and command and control structures are firefighters safe systems of work.

The NZPFU will be taking all necessary actions to protect our safe systems of work.

In unity
Wattie Watson
National Secretary