Firefighters descend on ASB Arena

Around 500 firefighters have gathered at ASB Arena this weekend for the United Fire Brigades' Association 2014 Annual General Meeting and Conference.

The conference began yesterday and saw Internal Affair Minister Peter Dunne promising a stalled industry reform process will be revived.


Firefighters are at the Baypark arena this weekend.

Current fire service legislation dates back to the 1970s, when a firefighter's role was largely to put out fires, says Peter in his speech to the conference yesterday.

That legislation in the main nationalised the Fire Service, but did not really address the basic structure which has not changed too much since the 1940s, and the legislation has not been overhauled since 1975.

'We now have very different-looking fire services,” says Peter.

'Fire services today deliver a wide range of non-fire functions, crucial to community safety, but which are not mandated for in the current legislation. These include rescuing people from car crashes, dealing with severe weather events, and urban search and rescue.”

The Government set up a Review Panel in 2012 to advise on how New Zealanders can have a 21st century fire service operating seamlessly with the roles performed by other emergency service providers. This resulted in the independent report known as the Swain Report.

Because of the early election, the legislative process lost momentum, says Peter.

'I am working on getting things back in motion and in front of Cabinet in the very near future.”

Officials are continuing to look at the issues and have released a report on the Department's website on the sources of funding and services provided.

The Fire Service Commission has also started to implement the recommendations of the Swain Report, says Peter.

'The positive result of this minor hold-up is that now we have had time to take a step back and take a fresh look at whether there are additional things that will help firefighters and the community, in addition to the Swain Report.

'The Swain Report received a high level of support across stakeholders, and I am hoping to now capture any outstanding ideas, suggestions or concerns you and other stakeholders may have.

Reform is long overdue, and always arouses fears of change, but I know we have acceptance for change from stakeholders across the sector. That support is essential in building the understanding, momentum and buy-in required for reform to happen.

'The review I'm proposing will be broad-based, covering rural and urban fire services, the volunteer framework and their associated governance structures. I'll be working through the terms of reference for the review with my Cabinet colleagues, and we'd like to get the process underway in the next few months.”

FACTS

Tauranga has 50 volunteer and 52 career firefighters who attend about 1,600 calls annually. The firefighters help protect a population of more than 120,000 people, as well as New Zealand's largest export shipping port, heavy industrial businesses, state highways, residential and rural areas.


A look inside one of the trucks.


A new tanker bound for Greerton station.


Firefighting equipment displayed at the arena.

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