Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is committed to good faith bargaining with the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) that achieves a fair outcome.
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says the NZPFU has made the right decision to withdraw its threat of strike action for today for one hour at midday, ahead of scheduled bargaining on Monday and Tuesday next week (17 and 18 November).
“Every time the NZPFU strikes, they compromise public safety,” Megan Stiffler says.
“We are very pleased communities will not be disrupted again today, and we urge the NZPFU to withdraw its strike notices for Friday 21 and Friday 28 November.
“We are pleased that our application for facilitation is being considered by the Employment Relations Authority today. Facilitation, if granted, will assist in trying to progress bargaining to conclusion, which is in the best interests of the New Zealand public and our people.
“Fire and Emergency ‘s goal is, and has always been, to reach a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the NZPFU. We are doing everything we can to achieve an agreement without disrupting the services communities rely on,” Megan Stiffler says.
Bargaining with the Union:
Megan Stiffler says on 3 November 2025, Fire and Emergency tabled a revised offer that included an increased pay offer, as well as several additional provisions focused on addressing some of the key elements of the Union’s settlement proposal tabled in September.
“The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union made a counter proposal which was well outside Fire and Emergency’s bargaining parameters,” she says.
“Following a robust and useful discussion, and further testing of possible components of a settlement, the NZPFU tabled a new pay proposal.
“While Fire and Emergency shared with the Union the concern that the proposal was highly likely to be outside of Fire and Emergency’s bargaining parameters, this represents a step forward in negotiations.
“Fire and Emergency is meeting with the NZPFU to continue bargaining on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 November 2025.
“Any settlement must be sustainable; balance cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and be consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been negotiating a collective employment agreement for career firefighters since 16 July 2024.
- Fire and Emergency has improved its original offer of a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances.
- Fire and Emergency considers the offer is sustainable, balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.
- The previous 2022 collective employment agreement settlement provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for career firefighters.
- Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 78 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training.
