Due to FENZ’s the two-day extension for responses to submissions, the NZPFU would appreciate all members’ submissions to be submitted to the NZPFU by COB Monday 14 October.
Submissions can be made via the NZPFU website online submission form or by email to wellington@nzpfu.org.nz. Don’t forget to include your rank, qualifications (firefighter and any external to the fire service), awards, any involvement or recognition of your involvement in sports/community etc and contact details. Please include any documents relevant to the points you make in submissions including incident reports etc.
We have already received hundreds of submissions and many have included great examples of how the current rank and command system are integral to our safe systems of work – and what happens when non-qualified, inexperienced and untrained personnel attempt to command an incident or self-respond.
It is important that you use this opportunity to explain the implications of the proposed restructure which intends to put inexperienced and untrained personnel in re-named area manager and assistant area manager positions, remove rank from trainers and comms centre and force FRMOS to apply for jobs which arbitrarily splits their current roles and duties into two streams.
The restructure continues to support a top-heavy expensive management structure to the detriment of the purpose of FENZ – the protection of the community!
This is a costly restructure which will do nothing to support professional career firefighters putting their quality and quality of life on the line supporting their communities every day. If it goes ahead this proposal will remove your safe systems of work. There is no information on how the restructure will be funded, and it is likely that the costs in supporting a top-heavy management organisation will be at the detriment of appliances, equipment and career firefighting resources.
If you have not already done so, go to https://members.nzpfu.org.nz/nzpfu-submission/ to make your submission now or email wellington@nzpfu.org.nz.
In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary
