National Headquarters
Level 12
80 The Terrace
PO Box 2133
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone +64 4 496 3600
19 April 2021
Alan Thompson
By email: [FYI request #14940 email]
Dear Alan
Information Request – Lake Ohau Village fire costs
I refer to your official information request dated 18 March 2021 asking for the following
information:
Under the provisions of the Official Information Act I request a detailed breakdown of the
costs that FENZ incurred in controlling and supressing the Lake Ohau Fire.
In accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982, I have set out below the
information you requested. The table shows the invoiced costs to 21 March 2021 for the fire. It is
possible that total costs may increase as additional invoices are received. Please note that the
invoices represent the additional cost we incur beyond our fixed cost of maintaining a response
capability.
F3088958 - Lake Ohau fire costs to 21 March 2021
Hire of aerial services
$ 702,718
Employee payments
$ 185,273
Volunteer payments
$ 125,010
External fire-fighting services
$ 95,268
Plant and equipment hire - operational
$ 68,637
Travel, accommodation and meals
$ 58,302
Foam/retardant
$ 52,203
Incident catering
$ 48,146
Fuel
$ 1,442
Other costs
$ 4,934
Total
$ 1,341,933
Employee payments may include payments for overtime, travel reimbursements and salary.
Volunteer payments may include reimbursements for mileage, parking, petrol, travel costs or
meals.
External firefighting services are those resources that are not owned or, in the case of people, are
not employed by Fire and Emergency. They may include forestry company or Department of
Conservation personnel, and operators of heavy equipment such as diggers, bulldozers, water
tankers, etc.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Note also that this response (with your personal details removed) may be published on the Fire
and Emergency website.
Yours sincerely
Raewyn Bleakley
Deputy Chief Executive, Office of the Chief Executive
