The Parliamentary Governance and Administration Select Committee has formally launched an inquiry into FENZ’s fleet management.
NZPFU members are encouraged to participate by making submissions on matters they have information on set out in the terms of reference.
Please do not leave this to a select few to carry the burden of getting as much information as possible before the select committee.
We ask that every Local present a submission detailing the issues of fleet in their Local and any information they have, including the current and future needs of their communities.
The NZPFU will be briefing Locals this week on the types of issues to consider and to assist with ensuring the submissions meet the 30 April 2026 deadline.
The closing date for submissions is 11.59 pm on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
For more information on how to make submission go to Inquiry into Fire and Emergency New Zealand's fleet management and related issues - New Zealand Parliament
The committee will gather evidence through public submissions, and set down hearings, and stakeholder consultations (dates yet to be announced), before reporting its findings and recommendations to Parliament.
The terms of reference for the inquiry are:
1. Current state
- Understanding the current status of FENZ professional and volunteer appliance fleet.
- Understanding any current short-falls or opportunities.
- Understanding the lifespan of different appliances and the projected rate of replacement to meet current and future demand.
- Examining any current faults, breakdowns and serviceability issues with the current fleet.
- What are the emergency response capacity differences between the professional and volunteer appliance fleets?
2. Current and future needs
- Assessing the current fleet requirements to meet the needs of all New Zealand communities across all five FENZ outputs classes.
- This includes volunteer and paid output classes, and all types of appliances, including aerial.
- Understanding the future needs of FENZ over the next 5-10 years.
3. Procurement issues
- Reviewing procurement procedures and systems, including opportunities, capacity and challenges.
- Understanding the opportunities for New Zealand businesses to be part of new acquisitions.
- Understanding the cost/benefit of overseas purchases, including associated travel and transportation costs and logistical through-life support.
- Investigating opportunities for cost-effective and timely future procurement.
4. Introduction into, and return to, service
- Investigating the reason for delays with current Type 3 Appliances, including the cost of ‘parking up’ vehicles for a number of years.
- Investigating projected timelines and requirements to fully introduce into service or retire all current FENZ appliances
- Understanding acceptance issues body cracking and other unfit-for-purpose issues.
- Understanding all aspects of new aerial appliance introduction.
- Reviewing broader introduction into service for all types.
5. Communication
- Investigating the reasons for variations in answers to questions over recent months.
The NZPFU fully supports and welcomes this inquiry into the fleet management as it is a very important first step in having FENZ held to account.
The NZPFU is still calling for a full inquiry into the capacity and capability of FENZ. To support the NZPFU members please go to www.direemergency.nz/help to sign the petition for a broader public inquiry.
In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary
