My Account
Peter Dunne praised the New Zealand fire service and, in particular, the number of volunteers.
The impending Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) amalgamation was discussed during a visit by Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne to the Puhoi Fire Station on March 6.
Members of the Puhoi and Silverdale Fire Brigades, as well as Auckland deputy principal rural fire officer Scott Marchant, attended the meeting.
The amalgamation, which is aimed at streamlining urban, rural and volunteer fire services, will take effect on July 1. The Minister’s visit provided brigade members with an opportunity to ask questions about how the change will affect their brigades.
Mr Dunne said it seemed logical to bring all services together under one national structure.
He said that operationally, not much would change for the rural brigades but clarity around responsibility would improve, as well as access to resources that could potentially save lives.
Puhoi chief fire officer Russell Green said the change was long overdue and would put all brigades on a level playing field in terms of resources and training.
He said Auckland Council had always done a good job of looking after the Puhoi Volunteer Fire Brigade, but other rural brigades would benefit from the amalgamation.
Mr Dunne said that the reform was recommended by the Royal Commission in 1948 and would be the first big change to the fire service structure since the 1930s.
He said a bigger merger between ambulance, civil defence and fire was a possibility in the future.
As part of the change, the new Puhoi Fire Station must be completed by July 1 and was on course to meet that date, with the framework up and roofing on. Mr Dunne was given a tour of the new station during his visit.
The $1.2 million station is expected to be finished around the middle of next month.
The cost of a carpark is still to be factored in, but Russell says the estimated cost was about $100,000.
This would be the brigade’s first dedicated headquarters since forming in 2007.
Puhoi attended around 100 call outs a year with one third medical, one third vehicle related and one third fire related.
To donate to the station construction visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/pvrff
