FENZ is deducting wages for strikes yet to occur, which is not lawful or reasonable.
The NZPFU is calling for an independent inquiry into FENZ to examine why FENZ has failed to manage funding to ensure that it has the capacity and capability for reliable emergency response to the New Zealand public, now and in the future.
Due to the moving extreme weather events warranting civil emergencies and deployments of additional resources including USAR and water rescue teams, and clean ups in the aftermath, the NZPFU has cancelled todays strike.
The Whanaungatanga Programme Wellbeing Survey will be sent to all FENZ staff on Monday 30 March 2026 and closes on 27 April 2026.
Yesterday the NZPFU wrote to Kerry Gregory setting out our concerns with FENZ’s attacks on our membership through its attacks on the union, the fact there are currently no plans to get back to bargaining, and warned that the current path FENZ appears to be on will have disastrous impact on emergency response to the New Zealand community.
In November 2025, FENZ dropped a 260-page document that affected more than 700 positions and more than hundreds of roles to be
disestablished.
The NZPFU and PSA filed an urgent action last year in a bid to stop the restructure claiming FENZ had failed to consult in accordance with
the provisions of the collective agreement.
Today the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) released its decision finding that FENZ failed to consult in accordance with the collective
agreement provisions, that it failed to consult on whether change should occur or at a time when the Unions could influence an outcome, and
failed to consult in a manner driven by a desire to reach consensus. It also found FENZ’s conduct breached the obligation of good faith.
Our members serve their communities to protect and preserve life, property and the environment. NZPFU representatives are based on all career fire stations. There are also 19 Union Locals in the major metropolitan and principal centres where career firefighters are employed.
