The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) and Federated Farmers wrote to Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden last week, calling for an independent review just ten years after FENZ was first established.

The Minister has since confirmed a review of the insurance-based levy which provides most of FENZ’s funding.

NZFOA chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the review presents an opportunity to assess whether the 2017 fire services reform has achieved its intention of delivering improved fire capabilities and protection for rural communities. 

“Rural landowners carry substantial cost and risk under the current system, with limited evidence of delivering the efficiencies, transparency and service improvements that were originally expected,” says Elizabeth. “For example, has the merger of urban and rural fire services delivered the efficiencies and benefits originally intended when FENZ was established?

“Examining whether rural communities are receiving fair and effective fire and emergency services, relative to the risks they face, should be a central part of the review’s scope.”

NZFOA fire spokesperson Sean McBride says the forestry sector plays a critical role in managing fire risk.

“Forest owners and farmers are at the frontline of rural fire prevention and control,” he says. “The capacity and expertise that our people bring to fire management is a critical extension of our country’s response network."

Strengthening collaboration with FENZ during large-scale incidents, where local expertise is often essential for effective suppression, will be critical to ensuring this capability is fully utilised.

“With climate pressures increasing the frequency and scale of fire risk, the industry needs confidence that FENZ has the specialist knowledge, capability and focus needed to manage large-scale vegetation and landscape fires,” Sean says. “Spending decisions and performance measures must also reflect the very different risks and operating environments across rural New Zealand.”

NZFOA’s priority is to ensure New Zealand’s fire response system adequately supports frontline response, training and capability. 

“Forest owners understand risk and responsibility better than most,” Elizabeth says. “We are not asking for concessions. We are asking for a system that is transparent, evidence-based, and clearly demonstrates it is delivering the fire protection and capability it is funded to provide.”

She says the call for a wider review is consistent with questions being raised across the primary sector about whether expected gains from structural reform have been fully realised.

“Reviewing whether FENZ is delivering for levy payers is not a criticism of frontline firefighters or volunteers, who continue to do outstanding work,” Dr Heeg says. “It’s about giving landowners and rural communities assurances that the organisation supporting them is efficient, accountable and aligned to the risks it is designed to manage.

“As FENZ enters its second decade, it is appropriate to ensure those expectations are being met.”