Business as usual for Whanganui's Rural Fire team

Rural and city firefighters are (from left) Rural Fire Officer Peter Tantrum, Senior Station Officer Craig Gardiner, Rural Fire Officer Barry Broadhead and Rural Firefighter Troy Hesketh.

Whanganui District Council has been assured there will be no change to the level of service from the rural firefighting team as it becomes part of new agency Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).

Established on 1 July 2017, FENZ is an amalgamation of more than 40 rural fire authorities, including the former Whanganui Rural Fire Authority, along with the New Zealand Fire Service, the National Fire Authority and rural fire districts.

At a full council meeting last month, councillors agreed the rural firefighting assets, including a crew-response vehicle, tanker, utility vehicle, trailer and quad bike, along with other firefighting equipment, would be transferred to FENZ at no cost.

The motion included an amendment from councillor Alan Taylor asking for a written guarantee from FENZ that there would be no decrease in Whanganui District's level of rural firefighting service.

In a letter from FENZ, integration director David Strong said FENZ is committed to ensuring that communities will continue to match the resources to the risks in the area, while the former rural and urban fire services are integrated.

"In the case of the Whanganui District we have been successful in increasing the staffing level by making what was a part-time Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer position into a full-time role with Fire and Emergency New Zealand."

Response assets transferred to Fire and Emergency New Zealand which had been built up from fundraising and community donations would continue to be used in the community which bought or fundraised for them, Mr Strong said.

The council, as the former Whanganui Rural Fire Authority, will no longer be responsible for funding or managing rural firefighters and services. This will result in a direct savings to ratepayers of $145,000 in the 2017/18 financial year.

Not only are there savings to council's operational budget, but also with future vehicle and equipment replacements.

Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Gavin Pryce says there will be no change to the provision of assistance and fire response for the Whanganui community.

"Our local structure and response capability isn't changing, and we have been at pains to ensure the ability to meet our rural community's needs with local knowledge, equipment, personnel and skills has been maintained.

"The specialised Rural Fire team is still committed to being an integral part of the local Civil Defence response. Team members were adamant this was to continue, and this has been supported by both the Council Emergency Management team and Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Additionally, all the local response assets we have built up to meet our local community needs will remain local.

Mr Pryce has moved to FENZ in his full-time role, while the remainder of the volunteer rural fire crew, as casual council staff, will transfer to FENZ as volunteers (with matching or similar remuneration conditions).

"I'm proud of the team and their commitment to service, and am honoured to be leading them into the new organisation alongside our urban colleagues and in continuing the work we do in support of Whanganui," Mr Pryce says.

The Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill 2017 repeals the two acts governing fire services, the Fire Service Act 1975 and the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977. This bill marks the most significant change to New Zealand's fire legislation in 70 years, with full integration expected to take four years.

In an emergency, call 111. To apply for a rural fire permit, call 0800 658 628 or visit www.checkitsalright.nz

For an urban fire permit (required in all urban areas, 365 days a year) call the Whanganui Fire Station on 348 0103.