David Seymour said there had been only one fire truck breakdown in the previous "several months". Photo: RNZ
A former All Black turned firefighter says at least one fire truck each day breaks down in New Zealand.
Firefighters have bristled at Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour's statements in Parliament last month saying there had been only one fire truck breakdown, which delayed getting to a fire, in the previous "several months".
"I've been advised that, for example, there has only been one recent breakdown that led to a two-minute delay in getting to a fire-that's in the past several months, at least. So, I think the characterisation of routine breakdowns and danger is simply not sustainable," Seymour said.
"I do note that due to current industrial negotiations, there appears to be a concerted campaign by some in the fire service, and particularly the New Zealand Professional Fire-fighters Union, to try and emphasise any incident and present it as being routine when, in fact, that characterisation is not true," Seymour said during questions on 23 October.
A sign Auckland City Fire Station is changed to read 'Dire Station' as firefighters have complained of fire truck breakdowns. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
Former All Black Steve Devine said he could point to multiple incidents where fire fighters and the public had been put at risk by faulting fire trucks.
"Our truck's been through five intercoolers this year alone and - on a truck we were on last week - the siren stopped working on the way to a call. Then a spotlight in the cab caught on fire.
"Whangarei's truck - over the weekend - broke down on the way to fire where fire fighters almost died during a fire," Devine said.
FENZ has rejected the criticisms. It said the truck were Devine is stationed in Avondale is a 2016 model and has not had five new intercoolers replaced this year. The high-pressure intercooler has been replaced once and while seals on the low-pressure intercooler have had to replaced the intercooler itself has not.
It said a siren stopped working on a relief appliance being used at Avondale due to a plug coming loose and this has since been repaired. The spotlight referred to had a damaged cord which was not reported and therefore not fixed before it caught alight.
The Whangarei truck had a broken hose reel which failed when firefighters were outside and not at risk.
During the parliamentary session last month, Seymour said FENZ was spending up to $25 million on upgrading fire appliances each year.
David Seymour said FENZ was spending up to $25 million on upgrading fire appliances each year. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
"The replacement schedule for fire appliances I traversed in detail yesterday, but the Government currently has, I believe, 78 appliances on order. They tend to take 18 to 24 months to deliver because they're highly specialised equipment," Seymour said.
But Devine said many of those trucks were older trucks - upgraded or refurbished - and he hadn't seen a brand new truck delivered in 14 years as a fireman.
"The fire trucks that are arriving have been sitting in a yard in Auckland for five years. They've been sent to London to have cabs and pumps put on them and now they're coming back.
"These fire trucks are going to have the same issues as the one's they've got right now," Devine said.
Devine challenged Seymour to meet him at any station in the country and said he would be able to highlight issues each station's crews were facing due to underfunding.
"He can pick a station and I'll meet him there. I will pay my way to get to any fire station he wants to do," Devine said.
In response to Devine's challenge, Seymour said he would meet with FENZ for clarification on the extent of the breakdowns.
"As the acting minister, FENZ officials briefed me before question time. I explicitly asked if the Ponsonby Road breakdown was the only one in recent months. I was told it was," Seymour said.
Seymour said he would be happy to meet with Devine to discuss the issue.
"I think it would be useful to have a two-way conversation about what he sees from his point of view, and what the government is doing from its point of view," Seymour said.
FENZ and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union are in a planned bargaining session this week to continue negotiations.
FENZ declined RNZ's request for an interview.
"It is extremely important for both parties and that we are bargaining in good faith. We believe both parties are committed to reaching a fair, sustainable and reasonable settlement without disrupting the services communities rely on. For this reason, we will decline your request for an interview," FENZ Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said.
In a further statement FENZ said it's been investing in replacing its fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 78 in the pipeline. "All the trucks are new, they have never been driven and are not old trucks that have been refurbished. 28 of the 78 are using chassis that are approximately five years old, but those chassis have not been used and were sent offshore for the new appliances to be built."
The remaining 50 appliances are being built on new chassis fresh from the factory.
"With a fleet or around 1300 trucks, faults are expected especially as they age, and they are reported most days, but that doesn't mean to say trucks "break down every day." We have service providers right across the country that maintain our fleet to a high standard through a robust servicing programme and they ensure our appliances are repaired and compliant when they do break down outside normal servicing."
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