National Headquarters
Level 12
80 The Terrace
PO Box 2133
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone +64 4 496 3600
12 October 2022
Harwood Wilson
By email: [FYI request #20243 email]
Tēnā koe Harwood
Information Request – Ward Volunteer Fire Brigade
I refer to your official information request dated 16 August 2022 where you have requested
information regarding the Ward Volunteer Fire Brigade.
In accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982 (“OIA”), please find below a
response to your request.
For context the Ward Brigade and the Flaxbourne Brigade were next to each other (one was
urban, and one was rural).
1. The reason for a number of recent degradations in resources amongst rural townships (I do
not mean rural brigades, just rural towns), despite the risk of wild fire being reported as
increasing.
The Ward/Flaxbourne communities wildfire capability has increased with the arrival of the new
medium double cab appliance, replacing Ward 281 and the Flaxbourne 4WD Toyota Ute. They
have retained their medium 4WD appliance, that is used for response on the State Highway and to
access remote properties and narrow farm tracks in the area.
2. The reason for the closure / merger at this station.
Prior to the Ward Volunteer Fire Brigade combining with the Flaxbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade,
the Ward Volunteer Brigade had low membership. This has been caused by two key factors. Firstly
the Ward Brigade was unexpectantly without a Chief Fire Officer and the 2016 Kaikoura
earthquake impacted the Ward village significantly, with several residents moving out of the
community. The brigade membership for the 18 months before the amalgamation had been sitting
at four fire fighters, with one Senior Firefighter. The brigade has responded short crewed to over
80% of the call outs for the past five years.
3. The reason for the removal of urban resources on a major State Highway at this station.
With the Ward Brigade merging with the Flaxbourne Brigade, Ward’s urban appliance was
removed. It was replaced with a new fit for purpose larger rural appliance. This appliance has off-
road capability, more water and is fit for purpose for the risks in the area such as the state
highway. For all significant events or those that require specialist urban equipment, the
neighbouring brigade in Seddon can respond. Seddon is an urban brigade with a specialist rescue
tender.
4. The volunteer crew numbers per year, over the last 5 years for the Ward and Flaxbourne
Brigades.
Find below the volunteer crew numbers per year, over the last five years for the Ward and
Flaxbourne Brigades.
Flaxbourne Voluntary Ward Volunteer
Date
Rural Fire Force
Fire Brigade
Total
Notes
30-Jun-18
12
8
20
30-Jun-19
11
14
25
30-Jun-20
12
8
20
30-Jun-21
16
0
16
Merged with Ward VFB
30-Jun-22
15
0
15
5. What capacity will the Flaxbourne Brigade have to respond to rescue calls on the State
Highway and will they be turned out to these calls.
The Flaxbourne Volunteer Brigade has been responding to incidents in Ward for five years. They
are trained for medical co responses and motor vehicle crash pump appliance support. This is
including appropriate equipment for first arriving appliances at motor vehicle crashes. The
neighbouring towns of Seddon and Kaikoura have specialist rescue appliances.
6. Does FENZ consider it safe to remove a urban resource from this station given that the southern
neighbouring urban resources on this state highway are 100km apart.
The appliance has not moved, the specialist pump rescue tender appliance has always been in
Seddon and Kaikoura.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is availab
le at 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.
Nāku noa nā
Julia McCook-Weir
Manager, Information Requests
