Posts

Posted on

Ombudsman publishes findings on Ministry of Education sensitive claims scheme

Source: Office of the Ombudsman

The Ombudsman has found that parts of the Ministry of Education’s scheme to assess sensitive claims are unreasonable for people who were abused or neglected in some state schools.
John Allen’s findings follow a complaint by Cooper Legal in 2023.
Mr Allen acknowledges the enormity and complexity of the task faced by the Ministry and other agencies in assessing whether to accept claims of historic abuse in care.
However, he says some aspects of the way the Ministry administered the scheme were inconsistent and unreasonable.
“It has taken far too long to process claims and there have been unjustifiable delays before the Ministry has published information about its framework around how those claims will be settled,” Mr Allen says.
“There are limits to the types of claims the Ministry will accept. We found that while the Ministry is following the rules under the current legal regime, the way this is done, excludes the cases of claimants who attended state secondary schools before 1 October 1989 where the schools still remain open. Instead, those excluded claimants must pursue their claims with the school directly.
“This creates significantly different experiences for those who meet the criteria to have their claim assessed by the Ministry and those who don’t.”
Mr Allen says the claims raise a host of difficult legal, ethical, and financial issues and pursuing them can have profound emotional and financial consequences for claimants.
“The scheme must be consistent with the principles of good administrative decision-making regardless of the complexities involved,” he says.
“The Ministry’s process and decisions must be transparent and justifiable. It must engage with individual claimants so the claimant understands how their claim is being assessed and understands what information they should provide to support their claim.”
The Ombudsman made three recommendations for improvement including that the Ministry finds ways to streamline the sensitive claims process, publishes its guidance, and makes sure (relevant) Ministers are advised on whether claims that are usually dealt with by schools could be incorporated into the state redress system.
Other aspects of Cooper Legal’s complaint have not been upheld.
The Ombudsman considered the Ministry’s approach was reasonable in terms of access and entry into the Ministry’s claims process, the role of claim reviewers, the Ministry’s position on not providing the claim reviewers reports to claimants and the scope of information accepted for consideration of a claim.
Additionally, the Ombudsman considered the application of the standard of proof, and its position on frameworks for breaches of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 was reasonable.
Mr Allen also made observations and suggestions on how the Ministry’s claims process could be improved. These include making information in its guidance and on its webpage clearer and ensuring the Ministry decisions on claims are adequately explained to claimants. 
Posted on

Northland News – Free BusLink travel for ages 5-24 during Youth Week

Source: Northland Regional Council

Northland Regional Council’s BusLink services are pleased to announce increased support for Youth Week, running from 18-23 May 2026.
To mark Youth Week 2026, BusLink will extend its usual free travel offer, with free bus services available to all young people aged 5-24 across the entire BusLink network for the week.
All BusLink services across the region will be free from Monday 18 May to Saturday 23 May for eligible young people. This includes CityLink, SchoolLink, and all regional BusLink services.
Chair of the Regional Transport Committee, Councillor Joe Carr, says the expanded offer encourages young people to make greater use of public transport.
“We hope this year’s enhanced Youth Week offering will encourage young people and families to try our region’s bus network,” says Mr Carr.
“Using public transport is good for the environment and good for families’ pockets – especially at a time when fuel prices are putting pressure on household budgets.”
“CityLink and Far North Link services run every weekday, and our regional BusLink services play a vital role in keeping communities connected.”
He says youth passengers can visit buslink.co.nz for service information and ticket details.
Free tickets will be available as digital downloads or paper tickets. One ticket is valid for the entire week and must be shown to the driver, either on a mobile phone or in paper form, in line with the terms and conditions.
Tickets can be obtained from week beginning 11 May:
– at Northland Regional Council offices
– at the Rose Street bus terminus
– from local BusLink operator offices
– at participating schools in Whangārei
– by scanning the QR code on posters
– via the BusLink website at buslink.co.nz
Posted on

Politics – A new political party has formed to combat New Zealand’s ongoing complicity in crimes against the people of Palestine

Source: PFFRS Party (Palestine Free From the River to the Sea Party)

A political party named “Palestine Free From the River to the Sea” has been formed to contest the upcoming general election.

The party explicitly supports a single democratic state with equal rights for all from the river to the sea in the historic land of Palestine.

“We chose the party name to reflect our belief in freedom for all people,” says party President Paul Hopkinson, “but also to challenge the creeping fascism that seeks to silence our speech as a thought crime. Our party name itself is illegal in Queensland and Germany. They fear that the public will realise that we only ask that Palestinians have the same human rights that we all enjoy and our government claims to support.”

Aotearoa/New Zealand has a special responsibility to the Palestinian people as one of 33 nations to vote for the partition of Palestine in 1947. This precipitated the violent ethnic cleansing process known as the Nakba or Catastrophe.

As a direct result, millions have lived for generations with statelessness, grinding poverty, dispossession, persecution, and untold acts of brutality that include torture and rape. Palestinians live constantly with the fear of sudden injury or death. Parents face the anguish of being unable to keep their children safe from harm.

Under UN Resolution 194, and the UN Refugee Convention, refugees (including descendents) have the right to return to Palestine. Aotearoa voted in favour of this.

“Our government has repeatedly sought to assuage its guilt by voting to uphold the law in the UN,” says Paul Hopkinson, “but it never lifts a finger to act. We pretend to have morals, but for nearly 80 years we have acted like cowards while a whole nation cries for simple justice.”

People who believe in human rights and people who believe that the government of Aotearoa must live up to its obligations are invited to visit the party website at palfree.nz. Those eligible to vote in New Zealand can join the party for a fee of $2.00.

The objectives and principles of Palestine Free From the River to the Sea are all described at https://palfree.nz. According to the website the aim is to: “Build a broad, democratic party that unites supporters of Palestine from all traditions, allowing different ideas and perspectives to be discussed in an environment of tolerance and respect.”

You are all invited to join the fight for what is right.

Posted on

Research – Shock survey result – one in four public service workers thinking of leaving NZ – PSA

Source: PSA

Govt attacks on workers taking toll
Key findings from PSA survey:
– 27% of public service workers are thinking of leaving NZ for better pay
– Nearly half (49%) of workers under 25 are considering leaving – rising to 44% for those aged 25-34
– Health sector and public service department workers most likely to be looking to leave (29%); Auckland workers highest at 33%
Shocking new findings from a major PSA survey show more than one in four public service workers are thinking about leaving New Zealand for better pay – with the figure rising to nearly half of all workers under 25.
“These figures are a damning indictment of this Government’s relentless attacks on public service workers. We are staring down the barrel of losing an entire generation of the skilled workers New Zealand needs to deliver the services our communities depend on,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
The 7,600 members who responded were asked whether they either agreed or strongly agreed that they were thinking about leaving the country for better pay.
“Nearly half of workers under 25 are thinking about packing their bags. These are the nurses, social workers, corrections officers and home support workers who should be the future of our public services – instead they’re looking to Australia where they’ll be paid thousands more and treated with respect.
“A mental health nurse starting on $77,000 in New Zealand can earn the equivalent of $93,000 in Melbourne. A prison officer starting on $70,000-$80,000 here can earn the equivalent of $97,000 in Victoria.
“We represent 8,000 home support workers who look after our most vulnerable people who were crushed when the Government betrayed them and cancelled their pay equity claim. About a quarter of them are thinking about leaving for Australia, where they would earn between $6 and $10 more per hour for the same work, with better conditions and allowances.
“It’s no wonder people are voting with their feet.
“The Coalition Government has launched attack after attack on workers’ rights, pay and conditions. The cuts to thousands of public service jobs have left public service workers fearing for their job security. Taken together, these attacks amount to the most comprehensive assault on working people in a generation:
– Slashing public sector spending, axing thousands of jobs and gutting the services New Zealanders rely on
– Ripping up pay equity rules, denying more than 180,000 mainly female workers the pay they deserve and making it harder to lodge claims in the future
– The Employment Leave Bill, which will cut sick leave and holiday pay for part-time and irregular workers – hitting women and low-paid workers hardest
– Weakening personal grievance protections through the Employment Relations Amendment Act, making fire-at-will a reality for every worker
– Changing the Health and Safety at Work Act that will water down employers’ safety obligations and put workers at greater risk of injury, illness and death
– Axing Fair Pay Agreements and reinstating 90-day fire-at-will trials
– Suppressing the minimum wage while handing tax breaks to landlords, business and tobacco companies
“Behind these survey numbers sit thousands of stories of lost potential. These are people educated in New Zealand who have developed critical skills and experience – scientists, care workers, meat inspectors, health professionals, corrections staff. Once they’re gone, that expertise walks out the door and may never come back.
“We used to tell ourselves it didn’t matter because most people came back. That’s no longer true. The pay gap with Australia is so large, and conditions here are deteriorating so fast, that people are making permanent moves.
“The Government cannot plug these gaps by recruiting from overseas when our pay rates are so far behind. You can’t underpay your own workforce and then expect to attract talent from abroad.
“This Government’s priorities are crystal clear – tax breaks for big tobacco, landlords and businesses while the workers who keep our hospitals running, protect vulnerable children and deliver frontline services are left feeling they have no future here.
“ACT, NZ First and National have systematically come after working New Zealanders. These survey results and talent drain are the consequence. The Government needs to wake up before it’s too late – you cannot build a prosperous country by driving away the people who make it work.”
Survey results
The PSA represents over 98,000 workers across New Zealand’s public sector, local government and community organisations.
The survey was conducted in March 2026 with 7,600 PSA members responding. Key findings:
  • Across the full spread of public and community services, 27 % of those
who responded said that they either agreed or strongly agreed that they
were thinking about leaving the country for better pay.
  • People working in the health sector (29%), for public service
departments (29%) and in the State services (28%) were slightly more
likely to agree or strongly agree with this than people working for local
government (23%) or community providers (25%).
  • Of those living in the most populous regions, people living in
Auckland were the most likely to agree with this (33%)
  • Younger people were significantly more likely to agree with this than
older people (49% of those under 25, 44% of those 25 – 34, compared with
25% of 45 – 54 year olds 17% of 55 – 64 year olds and 9% of those over
65).
  • There was no significant difference by gender that was not a factor of
age.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Posted on

NGOs – Every day life in Gaza – new ChildFund film

Source: ChildFund New Zealand
A new short film that follows families living in Gaza, and supported by New Zealand donations, has won a prestigious film award in Italy.
‘Everyday in Gaza’ was filmed in the Gaza Strip in spring 2025, and tells the story of families determined to keep things as normal as possible in one of the world’s most challenging humanitarian contexts. A local barber for example, continues to serve customers among the rubble.
“It’s a beautiful story of how people try to hold on to everyday routines, fragments of human dignity, in the middle of war,” says Josie Pagani CEO of Childfund New Zealand.
The film also introduces Wafa, a woman caring for orphaned and disabled children. She not only provides care, but also education, and moments of normal childhood for these children.
“It's important that Kiwis can see where their donation goes, and to be reassured that it is not being politicised in any way, and is reaching children and families who need support the most.”
The film is made by ChildFund’s Italian partner, WeWorld, who work directly with these families in Gaza, with the help of donations from New Zealanders.
According to the United Nations, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and 172,000 injured since October 2023. Displacement remains near-total, with approximately 1.9 million people displaced, many repeatedly, and more than 1.2 million people having lost their homes.
The conflict has pushed human development in Gaza back by an estimated seventy-seven years, according to UN and EU reporting. Families remain reliant on emergency water trucking and humanitarian support, provided through ChildFund partners.
“For children, routine matters. Care matters. Play matters. Education matters. When everything around them has been disrupted, these moments help children hold on to a sense of safety and hope.”
In April, ChildFund New Zealand, in partnership with WeWorld, distributed water to support 18,000 people and provided dignity or hygiene kits to 7,540 families.
“The film will give Kiwis a better understanding of the daily reality for children and families in Gaza,” says Josie Pagani.
“New Zealanders care deeply about children caught in any conflict. This film gives us a direct view of what daily life looks like, and why support for children and local communities remains urgent in Gaza, Israel, the Middle East and in any conflict area.”
‘Everyday in Gaza’ is available to watch here:  https://youtu.be/L_Tnj2H0_fY?si=j2RB-vF1G7IWNSvG
ChildFund New Zealand’s Children of Gaza Appeal is here:  https://childfund.org.nz/children-of-gaza/
Posted on

Advocacy – Global Sumud Flotilla Legal Team Confirms that Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila will be Released in the Coming Hours

Source: Aotearoa Delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla

ASKALAN, OCCUPIED PALESTINE – The legal team of the Global Sumud Flotilla has confirmed that Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila will be released in the coming hours. Both will ultimately be transferred to an immigration detention center in Egypt, where they will remain in custody until their deportation is carried out. The GSF legal team is still actively coordinating through diplomatic channels the release of both to happen in the same transport.

We celebrate this news as a victory and a reminder that international mobilization and sustained pressure exerted worldwide has an impact. We ask the world to continue to pressure for their release until Saif and Thiago are safely returned home. We also ask for the same sustained pressure to be applied to the release of our Tunisian friends and the nearly 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners and hostages being held illegally in israeli prisons.

We demand explanations from the European Union, and specifically, Greece, after days of silence and complicity, and we call for immediate sanctions against Israel for this illegal abduction and for the constant violations of international law and the human rights of the Palestinian people.

These detentions are not exceptional. They are an extension of the same system of imprisonment, administrative detention, torture, and impunity imposed on the Palestinian people for decades, now expanded beyond Palestine’s borders into international waters.

We will remain mobilized until all Palestinian political prisoners and hostages are freed; and in the same spirit, until our Tunisian comrades are freed. Free Palestine.

Posted on

Advocacy: Gaza – Governments of the World: History Will Record What You Did Not Do

Source: Aotearoa Delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla

As Israel continues its genocide in Gaza, abducts civilians in international waters, and tortures international activists, the Global Sumud Flotilla demands governments choose between accountability and complicity.

MARMARIS, TÜRKIYE, 8 May 2026 – This is a decisive moment in the history of international solidarity. Governments can no longer evade the question before them: What will you do? Whose interests do you truly serve?

We ask: what will the New Zealand government do?

We know what complicity looks like. We have watched it continue for decades, but more recently, it has been carried out openly and in plain sight. Arms transfer after arms transfer, political and diplomatic cover, and political posturing have created the conditions that have not only allowed Israel's crimes to continue, but have facilitated the continued abduction and torture of Palestinians for decades; and more recently the abduction of international activists from international waters over 1,000 km from Gaza.

Palestinians have long warned the world what unchecked impunity leads to: escalating violence, deepening brutality, and even greater violations carried out without consequence. That reality has never been confined by imposed borders. From Palestine to Lebanon, and now off the shores of Crete, this system of impunity is exposing itself to the world in real time.

Condemnations Are Not Enough

As videos and photos of Palestinians being forcibly starved, sniped in the head, raped and abused flooded digital media platforms in 4K, we heard the condemnations. We read the carefully crafted statements. Yet often, the condemnations intended to posture as progress lacked any substance and action.

Not one of these strongly worded letters or speeches has produced a single consequence for a regime that has extended its violence into international waters, more than 1,000 kilometres from Gaza.

When governments abandon their obligations, their citizens are forced to confront the consequences. That is why the Global Sumud Flotilla had to sail and mobilise. When governments fail to act, people of conscience are called to place their bodies between a genocide and impunity. That is not heroism to be celebrated. It is the consequence of political inaction, moral failure and institutional collapse – failures for which governments must be held accountable.

What the Israeli Regime Has Done: From Palestine to International Waters

The Israeli regime has demonstrated, in full view of the international community, that it will reach far beyond its borders to silence those who confront it. It abducted civilians in European international waters off the coast of Greece. Israeli agents have tortured, sexually violated, and abused participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla while holding them as hostages aboard an Israeli navy vessel. They have threatened the children and families of Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila as they kidnapped them and forced them into the dungeon prisons in Occupied Palestine. They are now using “secret” evidence to extend their imprisonment without charge.

As of today, Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Swedish citizen of Palestinian origin, and Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian citizen, remain detained without charge. Both are on hunger strike. Saif is no longer drinking water, and his condition may deteriorate quickly. Their protection is the responsibility of the international community.

Our Plan

The Global Sumud Flotilla will convene its General Assembly and Legal Symposium in Marmaris on 10 and 11 May. We will engage governments and world leaders directly to establish, concretely and on the record, what actions they are prepared to take to secure the release of detained participants and protect the continuation of the mission.

We are pursuing legal actions against those responsible for, complicit in, and accomplices in, the kidnapping, torture, and sexual violence inflicted on our participants. We are documenting the full architecture of complicity: the political decisions, arms transfers, diplomatic cover and institutional failures that made these crimes possible. That record will follow those responsible wherever they go.

On 12 May, we will hold a press conference in Marmaris where we will present the commitments made by governments. We will outline our legal and accountability strategy. And we will announce the next phase of the mission.

What We Require

We are calling on every government with citizens on board, and every government that claims to uphold international law and human rights, to deliver the following:

  • Formal accountability measures for the abduction, torture, and sexual violence inflicted on civilian participants in international waters.
  • Formal recognition that civilian maritime missions in international waters are lawful and protected under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
  • A clear and public declaration of what concrete actions your government will take if your citizens are attacked or abducted again.
  • A clear and public declaration of what concrete actions your government will take if the Israeli regime continues the illegal detention of Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila.

The Horizon Is Not Negotiable

We remain unwavering in our commitment to Palestinian freedom and liberation. We remain undeterred. The interception of this mission has clarified the stakes, exposed the machinery of impunity, and revealed who is willing to act.

The world is watching. No government will be able to say it did not know.

History will record where every government stood.

Posted on

Advocacy – The Global Sumud Flotilla Remains Undeterred As Over 30 Boats Depart for Türkiye

Source: Aotearoa Delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla

MEDITERRANEAN SEA – The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) has officially departed Crete, with more than 30 vessels now cutting a path across Greek territorial waters toward Marmaris, Türkiye, for a technical stop. This departure is not merely a logistical shift, but a profound statement of persistence. Despite the illegal abduction of our comrades, the psychological warfare of the occupation, and the looming presence of military surveillance and aggression, the fleet remains intact and the goal remains the same: to stand alongside the Palestinian people in their pursuit of freedom and fundamental rights.

Four New Zealanders continue to sail with the flotilla. Participants Samuel Leason and Hāhona Ormsby continue on in their original vessels. Participants Julien Blondel and Mousa Taher, who were illegally abducted in international waters off the coast of Greece, are set to rejoin the flotilla. The four participants will continue on toward Gaza to attempt to break israel's illegal siege.

A Solidarity of the Sea: Honoring the Arctic Sunrise

As we press forward, the GSF honors the indelible mark left by Greenpeace and the crew of the Arctic Sunrise, who depart the mission today to answer the call of their next global campaign. Their engineers and mechanics were integral to this fleet, refusing to let the beauty of solidarity be stalled by exhaustion or external interference.

  • Engineering Resistance: The Greenpeace crew executed over 50 technical operations, ensuring that engine failures and electrical gaps never became obstacles to our mission.
  • The Architects of Readiness: From the docks of Sicily to the open sea, they prepared 25 ships and fortified the communication infrastructure that allows our voice to reach the world.
  • Courage Under Fire: In the harrowing aftermath of the illegal boarding of 22 vessels by the IOF, the Arctic Sunrise and Open Arms acted as our primary emergency responders, stabilizing the fleet and restoring the power, water, and spirit required to continue.

“We moved from ship to ship, fixing everything from engines to electronics, ensuring no one was left behind .It has been an honour to ensure every one of these vessels is ready for their approach to Gaza.” — Robin Ristjouw, Chief Engineer, Arctic Sunrise.

The Current Carries Us Forward

While the Arctic Sunrise turns toward new horizons, the steadfastness they helped build remains with us. We sail on with Open Arms, carrying the weight of nearly 80 years of Palestinian struggle and the immediate, urgent need to end israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people.

The GSF and Greenpeace stand united in an unwavering demand for:

  • The immediate freedom of Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, whose detention is a hollow attempt to intimidate a movement that cannot be broken.
  • The release of the nearly 10,000 Palestinian hostages and political prisoners who are being illegally held, some for decades without access to a real justice system.
  • A real, permanent ceasefire and definitive end to the illegal siege of Gaza and the absolute protection of civilian maritime missions.
  • Accountability for the violence committed against our participants as well as for the countless war crimes and crimes against humanity israel has committed against the Palestinian people.

Representatives from over 50 countries will gather in Marmaris for a legal symposium and general assembly on May 10th and 11th, where our resolve will be utilized to finalize strategic plans for this current mission. The occupation may steal our boats, belongings, and loved ones, but it cannot steal the horizon.

Every wave we break is a testament to the world's refusal to look away. The siege is crumbling; the movement for Palestine continues.

Posted on

Government Cuts – Government proposes more job cuts at Kāinga Ora – tenants and workers in regions pay the price

Source: PSA

– Maintenance staff to be ripped out of 40+ regional offices and centralised to Auckland and Christchurch
– 138 roles impacted, net loss of 46 positions
– More than 1,100 Kāinga Ora jobs axed since 2024 as Govt. dismantles public housing
The Government’s relentless gutting of Kāinga Ora continues with a new restructure plan that proposes to cut maintenance staff in regional offices across the country and centralise them in Auckland and Christchurch – putting tenants’ access to timely repairs at risk.
Kāinga Ora is proposing to centralise their response to maintenance requests by establishing two Maintenance Operations Centres in Manukau and Addington. This impacts 138 roles with a net loss of 46 positions proposed.
Maintenance supervisors and administrators in more than 40 regional offices could lose their jobs, with only those in Auckland and Christchurch retained and many existing workers will be forced into precarious work on fixed term roles for up to 12 months
“This is all about government cost cutting. It’s already gutted Kāinga Ora, sacking over a thousand workers in just two years. Now it’s coming for the people who keep the lights on and the roofs watertight for tenants – it’s heartless and immoral,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“These are the people who triage repairs and get tradespeople into homes. When a tenant calls because their roof is leaking or their water heating has failed, it’s the regional maintenance teams who know the local contractors, know the properties, and can get someone there fast.
“Replacing that local knowledge in regional offices with staff hundreds of kilometres away is a recipe for slower repairs and worse outcomes for tenants. Under this proposal, a maintenance supervisor in the regions will no longer be able to visit a property to assess what’s needed – that flexibility will be lost.
“With more severe storms and weather events hitting communities across the country, the ability to respond quickly to urgent repairs is more important than ever. Centralising these services risks slowing down emergency responses when tenants need help most.
“Many of these workers are in regional towns where unemployment is already high. Losing their jobs will devastate families in already tough times.
“Kāinga Ora has already lost more than a thousand jobs since 2024 – over a third of its workforce. The Government has stopped building new public houses, is selling off state homes, and now it’s cutting the teams that keep existing homes liveable. This is a deliberate dismantling of public housing in New Zealand.
“This again exposes who the Government really cares about. It made a choice to fund billions of dollars in tax breaks for landlords while turning its back on vulnerable families who rely on the state for a roof over their heads.
“The PSA will fight the latest cuts and will keep reminding voters that come November they have a choice to change this heartless government.”
Background on latest proposal
Kāinga Ora is proposing to centralise maintenance operations currently spread across more than 40 regional offices including Wellington and Dunedin into two Maintenance Operations Centres based in Manukau (Auckland) and Addington (Christchurch).
The proposal impacts 138 roles with a net loss of 46 positions. Roles to be disestablished include Regional Managers – Assets and Maintenance, Team Leaders – Maintenance (outside Auckland and Christchurch), Maintenance Supervisors (outside Auckland and Christchurch), and Maintenance Administrators. Final decisions are expected by 17 June.
Previous Kāinga Ora job losses
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Posted on

Fire and Emergency received calls for 19 incidents during today’s strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 19 incidents between midday and 1pm today, Friday 8 May, the thirty-first time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action.
Of the 19 incidents, eight were in areas impacted by the strike.
Six were for alarm activations and one was for a medical event, which a volunteer crew responded to.
One was a small kitchen fire at a Wellington property. A District Commander was the first to arrive following reports of smoke coming from the building.
“Upon arrival the Commander safely gained access and assisted the occupant to safety, before volunteer crews arrived and extinguished the fire,” Deputy National Commander Ken Cooper says.
“We continue to call on the NZPFU to call off these strikes while we remain in discussions to progress negotiations.
“The NZPFU’s continued industrial action puts the community at risk.”
Ken Cooper reminds the public to be extra careful during periods of industrial action.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of the volunteers, Operational Commanders and notably our Communication Centre Managers who consistently support our front line,” Ken Cooper says.