Last week the NZPFU and PSA wrote to the new Board Chair Raveen Jaduram setting out the failure of FENZ to properly consult and the impact of the current lack of confidence in the Board and Kerry Gregroy,  as sound grounds to halt the restructure.  We were putting the Board on notice that we were preparing legal proceedings which will be filed as necessary. 

The Board Chair has now responded refusing to intervene and therefore legal proceedings will be filed. 

NZPFU and PSA members will be kept informed of the legal proceedings when filed and the implications on the restructure.

Earlier this year the NZPFU and PSA successfully challenged the widespread restructure that would have affected more than 160 positions.   FENZ dropped a 260 page document in November 2025 and the NZPFU and PSA filed an urgent action to stop the restructure on the basis that FENZ had failed to consult.  

In March 2026 the Employment Relations Authority agreed with the Union’s position and the determination heavily criticised FENZ including 

“These are not the actions of an employer who is being active and constructive in establishing and maintaining a productive employment relationship that involves being responsive and communicative with the other party to the employment relationship, which in this case is the Unions.”

The Employment Relations Authority determined that FENZ had failed to consult. The earlier notice and decision can be read here.

Since then, FENZ has provided some information (but not all as requested) on the reasons for change and met with the Unions separately on various occasions.  

Both Unions are strongly of the view that the process to date has not fulfilled the obligations to consult and the information provided cannot be trusted or relied upon. 

The recent release of the Parliamentary Inquiry into FENZ’s management of fleet was damning of the state of fleet, but also the conduct of the executive leadership. 

“Leaders are given high levels of authority and remuneration because they shoulder significant levels of responsibility. The public expects leaders to own that responsibility, but we have not heard direct statements where leaders take accountability for the current state of FENZ…. It is no longer acceptable to point to the 2010s and point the finger; it is time for accountability to be owned.”

The report recognised the dire state of the fleet was one aspect of systemic failures. 

The Committee cited a lack of confidence in the Board and that the level of Governance was unacceptable.  

FENZ has now proven they cannot be trusted to be transparent and provide accurate and clear information. 

“This inquiry has found that the poor state of the FENZ fleet is due sustained and significant failings of FENZ leadership, and the board over many years that have led to the organisation being in a worse position than it was in 2017. 

The extraordinary amount of incorrect information that has been provided to this committee from FENZ’s leadership has left us with little confidence. The use of external public relations consultants by FENZ management for this inquiry continued to erode confidence in FENZ senior management’s ability to be open and honest with the committee.”

The day after the Parliamentary Report was released the Minister for Internal Affairs stated she had no confidence in CE Kerry Gregory after he deliberately withheld information on a “serious significant incident” from her.  That matter on which the information was withheld has been referred to the Serious Fraud Office and is regarding the insurance levy which is the primary source of funding for the organisation.  The Minister went as far as to say his actions were “despicable”.

In the context of so many questions now over the honesty, credibility and accountability of the Board, CE and executive leadership this restructure must not proceed.  There first needs to be an independent and robust investigation into the management of FENZ funding from the time of its inception.  There needs to be greater transparency on the reasons and purpose of the restructure and what benefits it is supposed to be achieved in refocusing the organisation to emergency response and operations. There is a very real risk that the information relied upon is not correct or accurate.   

The basis, intent and outcomes claimed by FENZ must be independently reviewed in light of the exposure of the crisis of confidence. 

In unity, 
Wattie Watson
National Secretary