Discussions are about to restart on merging several rural fire authorities in the Wanganui-Manawatu region.
Each council is currently responsible for its own rural fire crew, which is there to fight fire on the rural landscape.
About five years ago, the National Rural Fire Authority began discussing enlarged rural fire districts (ERFDs), merging the country's 120 authorities, made up of one from each city and district council, the Department of Conservation, the Defence Force and forest owners, into about 20.
The idea was endorsed by the Fire Service Commission and taken on as a directive from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Among the reasons for ERFDs are being able to have full-time staff, increased buying power, and standardising training and communication. More than half the country's rural fire authorities are merged including neighbouring Taranaki's city and district councils.