Update on Project LIFT and lack of representation

Fire and Emergency NZ have formally acknowledged that there was no excuse for the total absence of volunteer, rural and UFBA representation in Te Hiku region’s Project LIFT. Project LIFT was established to identify and develop modern solutions to some of the key challenges facing us during FENZ operational response to large, complex and/or long duration incidents. 

FENZ have today instructed the Project Sponsor to correct this situation such that the voice of volunteers is represented in important business cases.  FENZ Regional Manager Ron Devlin thanked the UFBA for the professional manner in which the matter of representational gap was raised with him.

The UFBA’s approach to such matters is to work respectfully with Fire and Emergency, as a strategic partner, to address such matters of concern.  The UFBA acknowledges Ron Devlin’s responsiveness to correct this under-representation. While the UFBA await response from the Project Sponsor, we are working on identifying local candidates for representation.