
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is being accused of jeopardising community safety in Kāpiti by preventing firefighters from delivering fire education and smoke alarm installations while wearing union t-shirts.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) told KCNews that firefighters in the region, along with others across the country, have been instructed not to carry out home fire safety visits, school programmes, or community events if they are wearing NZPFU-branded t-shirts instead of official FENZ clothing.
“FENZ management have issued instructions that firefighters wearing NZPFU t-shirts instead of FENZ t-shirts are not to undertake usual fire safety duties including installing smoke alarms and school visits,” the union said.
The union-branded “Dire Emergency” t-shirts are part of lawful industrial action that began on 11 August. The NZPFU said firefighters have continued to provide hundreds of fire safety visits and FireWise programmes without incident during that period. “The only difference is they are wearing a NZPFU t-shirt rather than a FENZ t-shirt,” the union said.
The NZPFU has criticised FENZ for undermining essential community safety work. “This is a shockingly petty call by FENZ management to try and pressure firefighters at the expense of necessary fire safety programmes that particularly benefit children and the elderly.”
FENZ confirmed it had asked firefighters not to wear union t-shirts at public events but said it respected their right to take industrial action. “We do believe that it is not appropriate for our firefighters to attend medical or community events, such as a school visit, wearing t-shirts that promote industrial action,” a spokesperson said.
The union has urged FENZ to reverse the decision, warning that it affects both morale and public trust. “Fire safety is more important – and putting firefighters to the test like this is only harmful to their morale and wellbeing,” the NZPFU said.
FENZ has not disclosed how many public education sessions or home visits in Kāpiti or nationally have been cancelled or delayed as a result of the directive.
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