Key Takeaways
- The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has criticized Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) for its handling of an incident involving an aging aerial truck in Auckland.
- The truck suffered a hydraulic leak, taking it out of service and further reducing Auckland’s emergency response capability.
- FENZ has acknowledged its aging fleet and is undertaking a fleet replacement program, with five new aerial trucks expected to be delivered by mid-next year.
- The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between FENZ and the NZPFU, with the union currently engaged in strike action over pay and conditions.
Introduction to the Incident
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has spoken out about a recent incident involving an aging aerial truck in Auckland, which suffered a hydraulic leak and was taken out of service. The union has criticized Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) for its handling of the incident, saying that it has further reduced Auckland’s already stretched emergency response capability. The NZPFU has stated that this incident is an example of the "emergency FENZ won’t talk about", referring to the aging equipment and repeated breakdowns that are affecting the service’s ability to respond to emergencies.
FENZ Response to the Incident
In response to the incident, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson acknowledged that the Auckland aerial truck had suffered a hydraulic leak, but stated that it had since been repaired and was operational again. The spokesperson also acknowledged that FENZ has an aging fleet, but said that the organization is currently undertaking a fleet replacement program. This program involves spending $20 million per year to replace older trucks, with five new aerial trucks expected to be delivered by the middle of next year. The spokesperson also noted that FENZ has replaced 317 trucks since it was established in 2017.
Ongoing Tensions between FENZ and the NZPFU
The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between FENZ and the NZPFU, with the union currently engaged in strike action over pay and conditions. FENZ has criticized the union, saying that paid firefighters are "rolling the dice on people’s safety" with their ongoing strike action. The union has responded by saying that FENZ is not taking the necessary steps to address the issues affecting the service, including the aging fleet and repeated breakdowns. The strike action has resulted in a reduction in emergency services, with FENZ saying that there were 22 calls for incidents during the hour that union-affiliated staff walked off the job during earlier strike action on December 12.
Impact on Emergency Services
The incident and the ongoing strike action have raised concerns about the impact on emergency services in Auckland. The NZPFU has stated that the aging fleet and repeated breakdowns are affecting the service’s ability to respond to emergencies, and that the strike action is a result of the union’s efforts to highlight these issues. FENZ has acknowledged that the strike action has resulted in a reduction in emergency services, but has said that it is working to minimize the impact on the public. The incident has also highlighted the need for FENZ to address the issues affecting the service, including the aging fleet and the need for more resources to ensure that emergency services are able to respond effectively to emergencies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the incident involving the aging aerial truck in Auckland has highlighted the ongoing tensions between FENZ and the NZPFU, as well as the need for FENZ to address the issues affecting the service. The incident has also raised concerns about the impact on emergency services in Auckland, and the need for FENZ to ensure that it has the necessary resources to respond effectively to emergencies. The NZPFU has stated that it will continue to push for FENZ to address the issues affecting the service, and that it will work to ensure that the public is safe and that emergency services are able to respond effectively to emergencies.