Mayors challenge FENZ ban on use of watercraft in Waikato River emergencies

Source: Radio New Zealand

Three Waikato mayors have written to the chief executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) urgently requesting the immediate reinstatement of watercraft used in river rescues.

However, FENZ has told RNZ it isn’t going to happen.

In May, FENZ banned the use of all powered watercraft used by local fire stations to rescue people during water emergencies. The decision means Ngāruawāhia and Huntly volunteer fire stations are no longer able to use their jet skis and boat during emergencies on Waikato river.

The three mayors said this decision, in their view, was putting lives at risk.

Waikato District Council mayor Aksel Bech, Waipa District Council mayor Mike Pettit and Hamilton City Council mayor Tim Macindoe said they have had no substantive response on the issue from FENZ leadership since the end of July. They have told FENZ’s chief executive Kerry Gregory that has not been good enough.

“While we appreciate the efforts made to date, we remain concerned that the pace of progress and clarity around next steps has not matched the urgency of the risk – and now what appears to be a firm decision made in isolation of any collaborative approach,” the mayors wrote.

Though advocating for their districts, they pointed out that the issue went beyond their borders.

“The Waikato River is a lifeline for many communities – culturally, recreationally, and economically. The ability to respond to emergencies on the river is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” they wrote.

Most appropriate agency needs to respond – FENZ

FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said Gregory had received the letter and FENZ was working through it.

“However, we will not be implementing an interim agreement or permanent framework because Fire and Emergency does not have the capability to operate powered watercraft safely or in a manner compliant with the Maritime Transport Act 1994 or Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (H&S). We also don’t have the capacity to stand up this capability.”

The mayors said this was a FENZ problem, not a community one.

“That lack of ability to comply with H&S and Maritime requirements is at the FENZ level, NOT the local Brigades who have obtained all appropriate certifications and we understand have appropriate H&S training and procedures in place,” they wrote.

“Put bluntly, the two local Brigades have taken all appropriate steps and appear to be fully compliant – and have successfully completed many potentially lifesaving rescues. It is FENZ that has taken the decision that it itself is not compliant and have instructed the Brigades not to respond, leaving no alternatives in place.”

Stiffler said FENZ wanted everyone to be safe on the Waikato River, but such incidents needed to be responded to by the most appropriate agency.

“Police, Surf Lifesaving NZ, and Maritime NZ are the lead agencies and organisations for operation and oversight of this activity,” she said.

But the mayors said the local volunteer stations were the only agencies locally who could respond.

“The FENZ claim that others will respond to a swift water rescue is not consistent with our local knowledge; Police are equipped for recovery, not rescue operations in the timeframes required. Coastguard and Surf Lifesaving do not have jurisdiction or any ability to respond. The Harbour Master is not equipped to respond nor is LandSar.”

Stiffler said finding a safe and effective solution for the community involved working with a range of key stakeholders, including councils, which would take time.

Yet with warmer temperatures and more people in the river, the mayors said an interim arrangement was needed that enabled the local stations to respond.

“Our communities expect that together we will find a way to protect lives on the Waikato River and we welcome the opportunity to do so,” they told FENZ.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand