Tauranga and Hamilton to get more firefighters

Tauranga and Hamilton are going to get another 27 full time firefighters, Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker said today.

Tauranga will have 18 new staff from January next year and Hamilton nine from April 2008.

Mr Barker said both centres had grown significantly over the last few years.

It was the first time in 20 years that the number of career firefighters had been increased, Mr Barker said.

He expected further increases over the next two or three years to keep pace with the expanding and moving population.

The Fire Service currently employs 1680 career firefighters and more than 7000 volunteer firefighters in 430 stations around the country.

- NZPA