1. An overview
This presentation is an abbreviated version of the full presentation.
We suggest you use this version if you want a “headline” overview of the transition or your time is limited.
26 September 2016

2. Key decisions
The Government announced it would bring urban and rural fire services together into one unified fire services organisation, as a result of the Fire Services Review (November 2015).
The new organisation will have local committees to advise on local risks and needs and provide a regional voice in the delivery of services locally.
A new Board was appointed, chaired by Hon Paul Swain (April 2016).
The proposed name of the new organisation, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, was announced (April 2016)
The Government released the detailed policy design and a funding package of $303 million to implement the transition (April 2016).
Read the speeches, media statement, fact sheets and other background information at Go to the ‘Information’ tab.
The Fire Review Panel in 2012 and the Fire Services Review in 2015 found a growing awareness of the need for change and growing support from stakeholders for change.
Cabinet agreed to bring urban and rural fire services together supported by up to 16 local committees. No decisions have been made yet. Committee members will be appointed by the Board. The committees have an advisory function only, not governance or management, nor will they make operational decisions for FENZ.
There will be public consultation on the committee boundaries. The Government wants to see better alignment with boundaries of other organisations such as civil defence and other emergency services agencies. This cannot happen until after 1 July We will test the concept of local committees before 1 July with one or two pilots.
The Board of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission is chaired by the Hon Paul Swain, who led the Fire Review Panel in The deputy chair is Dr Nicola Crauford. Other Board members are Peter Drummond, Angela Hauk-Willis and Te Aroha Cook. The Board becomes the Board of FENZ after 1 July 2017.
The proposed name is in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill before the House of Representatives.
The Government has committed up to $191 million over four years to fund the ongoing support costs of the new organisation. It has also committed up to $112 million over four years to fund the costs of transition to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

3. Proposed structure of FENZ
The Board of Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Minister of Internal Affairs
Appoints
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Responsible for delivery of 4Rs for fire and 2Rs for mandated emergency service functions
Responsible for training and competencies
Local Committees
Advise organisation on regions' risks and needs
Regions based on principles of efficiency, risk and public consultation
Local Government
Land owners
Department of Conservation
Emergency Services
New Zealand Defence Force
3 year
Agreements
Unified Workforce
DOC
Contractors
Forest Owners
New
Zealand Defence Force
Industry Brigades $
It is proposed that the new unified fire services organisation will be called Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).
It will deliver fire services in both rural and urban areas.
FENZ will retain supporting infrastructure, for example, contractors, Industry Brigades.
FENZ will have three-year Operational Service Agreements with the Department of Conservation and the NZ Defence Force.
There have not been any decisions made about the organisational structure for FENZ. The FENZ Project team understands that people need to know who they will report to from Day One. As soon as information is available, it will be communicated.

4. Bill proposes new funding model
A new, mixed model is proposed to fund fire services. It is
less complex
transparent
linked to business planning and accountability processes
sustainable and provides a stable source of funding for rural and urban
fairer as more people pay and the broadened levy better reflects the range of non-fire work we do.
Transitional year for levy in 2017/18 – public consultation later this year on new levy rate. (The levy rate hasn’t increased in eight years.)
Levy broadened from 2018/19 – public consultation.
Fire Services Mixed Funding Model
Levy broadened to include insurance on material damage
(not just fire damage)
Levy from insurance on motor vehicles (extended to third party)
Government public good contribution
The proposed mixed funding model will fund the urban and rural fire services that FENZ will provide. There will no longer be multiple sources of funding for rural fire services.
The fire levy is a levy calculated on insurance for contents, property and motor vehicles.
The fire levy will become the primary source of funding for FENZ.
In addition to the fire levy the Government has committed up to $40 million of Crown funding over four years from 2017/18 to Fire and Emergency New Zealand to help fund the cost of non-fire activities. Fire services undertake non-fire activities that provide a public good (such as responding to medical emergencies or natural disasters). This is the first time there has been funding explicitly for this purpose.
The 2017/18 year is a transitional year for the levy. Changes to the levy cannot be made for this year because more information is needed about the impacts of the proposed changes. However in late 2016 there will be consultation on a new rate of levy for the 2017/18 year.
From the 2018/19 year the levy will be broadened to include insurance on material damage, not just fire damage, and to include third party motor vehicle insurance. There will be deterrents for those who attempt levy avoidance, such as anti-avoidance powers, late payment penalties etc.
The proposed mixed funding model will provide FENZ and the sector with increased oversight and transparency.

5. FENZ from Day One
Our priority is to ensure that business as usual continues seamlessly from 1 July 2017 – our Day One. This means:
making sure trucks go out the door
people know who they report to and what they’re supposed to do,
people get paid, supported, and
everyone has access to information and equipment to do their jobs.
Day One is the beginning of the story, not the end.
Integration of the fire functions currently provided by 40+ organisations and 14,100 people will happen from Day One, and full unification is expected to take 4 years.
What Day One may look like is outlined in the Day One Blueprint. It also provides an indication of what work is required over the next 9 months.
Read the Blueprint, fact sheets and other background information at Go to the ‘Information’ tab.
The Blueprint sets out the  high level plan for what the FENZ Transition Project needs to achieve by 1 July 2017 and gives people a clear guide to what FENZ will look like on Day One.
It lays out what FENZ will look like in terms of functions, operational processes and policies, and what changes people inside and outside FENZ can expect to see from 1 July 2017.
The Blueprint reflects the intentions of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill along with feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, and those who attended the 7 July stakeholder forum and subsequent workshops.   
The Blueprint is not set in stone. It can change to reflect feedback or new considerations uncovered as we move further into the transition process.
Any feedback should be sent to

6. Get involved
Fire services leaders, subject matter experts, sector representative groups, and other interested parties were involved in the Review.
They will continue to be part of designing and establishing our new organisation.
The FENZ Transition Project Team aims to keep us involved and informed throughout this transition.
You can find out more:
Talk to your team leaders
Reading the material on the project website: fenzproject.co.nz
Have your say:
the FENZ Transition Project Team on:
We are all responsible for creating the new organisation.
Make sure you have your say, now.
I can feedback to the FENZ Transition project team any questions or concerns you have, or you can contact the team directly.