Speech to the Forest and Rural Fires Association (FRFA) Annual Conference

Thank you for inviting me to speak at your Conference.  It’s a pleasure to be here in Dunedin.

Before I start, can I congratulate Dave Adamson, the Southland District Council Chief Executive, who has recently received a Queen's Service Medal for services to the New Zealand Fire Service.

Dave has been the local government representative on the National Rural Fire Advisory Committee for 11 years and led the establishment of the Southern Rural Fire Authority.

On top of that, Dave also has served as chairman of the Fire and Rescue Services Industry Training Organisation (now known as EMQUAL) and helped develop the National Rural Fire Authority's strategic plan.

Today I’d like to give you an update on some issues facing rural fire services, over the last year and into the future.

Enlarged Rural Fire District Strategy

One of the priorities for me since becoming a Minister two years ago has been the Enlarged Rural Fire District Strategy, and I’m pleased to report it’s progressing well.

The first new, enlarged district came into being on the 1^stof July this year. This is a merger of the Far North District Council, Department of Conservation and forest company assets, with the Fire Service involved as well.

I understand that Marlborough/Kaikoura will be the next area to see a merger.

In other areas, Rural Fire Steering Committees have been set up to lead discussions. I’m hopeful we’ll see a lot more progress in the future.

I receive regular updates from Murray Dudfield and I’m impressed with the effort that people are putting in.

Conference Theme

This strategy fits in well with your conference theme - “Firefighters – Recruitment, Training and Retention.”

We all know that resources are stretched in some Fire Authorities. By combining resources we can improve how we manage our people, and how we tackle challenges in the future.

The most important resource Fire Authorities have is their staff.  They are the repository of local knowledge; they know about fire behaviour, and they know their local communities.

This willingness to serve has to be supported.  Not just by the communities and employers, but by a structure that can develop and retain the staff we need.

The Enlarged Rural Fire District Strategy provides a framework for Fire Authorities to look at their current resources and what, if any, changes need to be made.

Consideration of how to attract and retain staff should be an important part of this process.

Volunteers

When it comes to fighting fires, volunteers are crucial in both urban and rural areas.

We are lucky in New Zealand to have people willing to serve their communities as firefighters, and in roles that support the firefighters.

The Fire Service Commission is undertaking a study of volunteer involvement and Rachel De Haas will be talking to you this afternoon about it.

This is an important study because volunteers make up 75% of firefighters.

This will provide some in-depth analysis of the current situation of volunteers, and give us a firm basis for decision-making around volunteers.

This study should provide an important resource for the ERFD Steering Committees when considering the role of volunteers.

Earthquakes

This time last year, I spoke to your conference about some of the major rural fires such as the Mt Allan fire near Dunedin and in Northland.

Back then, none of us could have guessed the challenges that lay ahead. None of us could have seen how emergency services would be dominated by one place - Christchurch and one word - earthquake.

Rural Fire services played a valuable role in the response to the earthquakes and I want to thank you and your members for that.

An NRFA National Incident Management Team was deployed, and volunteer rural fire forces were deployed by the Fire Service, or in some cases deployed themselves.

4 wheel drives were given to USAR teams, and fuelling trailers and water tankers were also put into use.

I see there are speakers today and tomorrow talking about the role of Rural Fire in the Christchurch earthquakes.

We saw that times of crisis bring out the best in people.  Christchurch certainly was a time of crisis and we saw the best of New Zealanders to the fore.

Once again, we saw just how much people depend on emergency services in times of need.

All firefighters and rural fire managers can be proud of their role in responding to the needs of the people of Christchurch during those days of need.

Pike River tragedy

Rural fire also had a role in the other major tragedy of the last twelve months. 

Many people might not realise that the Pike River Coal Mine is in a Rural Fire District.

The 28 November blast set fire to the vegetation surrounding the ventilation shaft, and a National Incident Management Team was deployed to help contain this fire.

Of course, this tragedy had a much bigger impact on the Fire Service than just the fire.

The Ngahere Brigade lost its Deputy Chief Fire Officer Milton Osborne in this tragedy. 

Firefighters also lost loved ones - Kane Nieper was the son of Brian Nieper, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Reefton, and David Hoggart was the son of Tony and Christine Hoggart from Foxton.

Vegetation Fires

Of course, in addition to these disasters we’ve also had the usual workload of rural fires to deal with.

Surprisingly, even though we’re in the middle of winter months, two extended wildfires have occurred close to Christchurch.

The bigger event was on Banks Peninsula in early July where over 400 hectares of planted natural forest was lost. In addition, last week just west of Christchurch 130 hectares of young plantation was destroyed.

There were other major fires over the summer including mosquito gully in Kaipara, Waiuku in the Auckland Conservancy, Ashworth in Canterbury and the Papatotara Complex in the Southern Rural Fire District.

New Commission Chair and Member

We’ve also seen some major changes in leadership over the last 12 months.

Just a few days ago, on 31 July, Dame Margaret Bazley retired as Chair of the Fire Service Commission and I have appointed Wyatt Creech to replace her.

David McFarlane is the new Deputy Chair, and Angela Hauk Willis is the new member of the Commission.

Dame Margaret has achieved a great deal in her 12 years.  Under her leadership the Commission has recognised the importance of its role as the National Rural Fire Authority, and improved the grants system to assist Fire Authorities.

Fire History

Finally, I want to mention that the NRFA, with input from FRFANZ members, has commissioned a book on the history of rural firefighting in New Zealand.

This will be a great tribute to the efforts of firefighters over the generations, and a way of honouring those who have come before. I’m looking forward to seeing a copy.

All the best for the rest of your conference.