Latest updates

Kia ora members

You may be aware of the further industrial action notice issued yesterday (4 August) by the NZPFU, advising that their members will stop work for one hour between 11am and 12pm on Friday 19th and 26th August.

The UFBA is seeking a representative to join the Fire and Emergency Women Firefighters’ Development Research Project Reference Group

The volunteer firefighters of Levin and Horowhenua brigades do an incredible job serving and protecting their communities.

We’re pleased to be launching our pilot Taitamariki Programme for 9-16-year-olds in August. This pilot has been delayed previously due to restrictions, which now gives us an exciting opportunity to reach out to more brigades who might be interested.

Since its inception, the UFBA A&S service has supported FENZ personnel in more than 365 cases, ranging from simple advice through to complex cases.

A strong key message came out of the meeting that UFBA CEO Bill Butzbach and Advocacy Advisor Megan Devine attended at the Hawkes Bay Fire Brigades Sub Association 62^nd Annual Conference on 2 July at the Norsewood Fire Station.

On behalf of members, UFBA’s Peter Dunne and Bill Butzbach have been successful in getting FENZ to make progress on resolving how volunteer payments for long-duration firefighting in the natural environment, and legacy payments to former voluntary rural fire forces are to be m

BREAKING NEWS - Health Order to be removed for firefighters

Yesterday, the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order (No 5) 2022 was published.

85% of the New Zealand’s frontline firefighters are volunteers who can be found in every NZ Community, whether remote, rural, provincial or metropolitan.  At the heart of volunteerism, is a person who willingly gives of their time to serve and protect their community.

DUNNE SPEAKS

While much of the focus this week has understandably been on our forthcoming inaugural Matariki Day, it is also National Volunteer Week.

Happy National Volunteer Week

Here is a message of appreciation to all volunteer firefighters from your UFBA Board Chair

The UFBA values and respects all our members. This includes paid firefighters and their right to act on matters of employment. 

The UFBA has purposefully adopted a neutral stance on current NZPFU industrial matters.

Kia ora fellow members

Welcome to my President’s diary, as there are lots of exciting updates coming and plenty to share with you, I will be posting more regular entries for the remainder of my term.

Thank you to members who participated in the consultation process to review the proposed UFBA Professional standards.

The UFBA is about affecting positive change in support of its members. 

The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 came into effect on 6 April 2022 and draft regulations are expected to be published before the end of 2022, these will also be available for public consultation.

We appreciate that UFBA members will be reading media reports which are highlighting the potential for strike action for paid firefighters.

UFBA representative required for Fire and Emergency's National Radio Procedure Working Group

Last July, the UFBA Board refreshed its strategic objectives into four key priority areas. This includes the UFBA driving change in the sector that will benefit our members and their communities.

Following the announcement in November 2021, where Fire and Emergency New Zealand advised all operational firefighters will be issued with firefighter illumination capability (FIC - torch).

UFBA Regulation 4.9.2 allows for relatives to wear, on the right side only, on ANZAC and similar days of remembrance, the service medals of deceased military personnel.  This applies only to service medals and decorations mounted on a medal bar (full-size or miniature) and not neck ba

Our Advocacy and Support case numbers are at record highs and as we address each individual case, we are also working hard to constructively review the processes with Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Tēnā koutou members

The UFBA has received many calls and emails from members expressing their concerns towards the Health Order applicable to firefighters, the Ministry of Health (MOH) restrictions on Fire and Emergency’s use of MOH issued RAT Kits, and Fire and Emergency’s recognition of privately

Kia ora members

Thank you all for your patience while we worked through this process and to the candidates who continued their exemplary leadership during this time.

In response to the changing Covid situation, Fire and Emergency has updated the service delivery protocols.

Please have a look to see how these affect you and your brigade.

Kia ora koutou

We have given much consideration to the Government’s COVID-19 Protection Framework (CPF) Red setting, the modelling for Omicron in our motu/country and the safety of our members.

We were very fortunate to be able to go ahead with our South Island Waterway Challenge on Saturday.

Thank you to all our participants, Officials and staff who made this day!

What you've all been waiting for...

Kia ora

Well, that’s a wrap!

The last day for processing fire shop orders is Tuesday 21st December 2021.

Orders placed after this date will be dispatched when the office reopens on the 10th January 2022.