Bill’s Blog - Mental health, merger and FENZ consultation
Mental health and wellbeing UFBA management are committed to supporting good mental health and wellbeing and actively advocating to put the issues of mental health and safety in the workplace on the map. Raising awareness of and tackling the “stigma” around mental health is of prime importance through a range of interventions to tackle the issue. This is
FENZ Independent Workplace Review
An independent review into Fire and Emergency NZ workplace policies, procedures and practices to address bullying and harassment has now started. Retired Judge Coral Shaw will lead the review supported by a reference group including sexual violence advocate Louise Nicholas, Samantha Turner (Partner at Simpson Grierson), Dr Carol MacDonald (Researcher) and Mike Freely (Independent mediator). UFBA CEO Bill Butzbach recently
New Zealand teams claim victory at Australasian Rescue Challenge
We are delighted that New Zealand teams from volunteer brigades have claimed victory this year over competitors at one of Australasia’s leading international challenges – the ARRO Australasian Rescue Challenge. The event held in Warragul, Victoria, 26-29 July, saw 18 teams from three countries (Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong) compete in a number of scenarios designed to replicate

2018 UFBA South Island Waterway Challenge
UFBA South Island Waterway Challenge on 24 February was a great success
Having the big conversations about wellbeing
UFBA Leading Psychological Wellbeing Workshop February 2018
Outstanding feedback on the Australasian Rescue Challenge!
Message from Bill Butzbach, Chief Executive Officer Hosted by the UFBA, the Australasian Rescue Challenge (ARC17) at Claudelands in Hamilton from 20-23 July 2017 was an outstanding success. Kiwi teams did us proud, taking out eleven accolades at the presentation dinner on Sunday night. The ARRO Executive conducted a survey of all teams at the Challenge to gauge their thoughts and
2018 UFBA North Island Waterway Challenge
2018 UFBA North Island Waterway Challenge
14th UFBA Leadership & Governance Workshop develops leadership skills
Around 220 personnel from around the country have now graduated from the highly valued UFBA Leadership and Governance Workshop
2017 Australasian Firefighters Championship: Matamata Wins
Congratulations to the New Zealand teams for doing so well (it was a clean sweep!) at the Australasian Firefighters Championship in Carterton from 17-19 November with Matamata taking out first place overall.
Supporting the psychological wellbeing of our firefighters
As part of our commitment to supporting volunteers, the UFBA has invested considerable resource over the last year on developing a new Leading Psychological Wellbeing Workshop which focuses on the wellbeing of brigade members.