From: 9(2)a
Sent: Thursday, 14 January 2021 10:53 AM
To: [email address]; Wood, Russell <[email address]>
Cc: 9(2)a
Subject: FENZ CONTINUED FUNDING OF UFBA
Dear Paul and Russell (acting CE),
I refer to you the recent confirmation the UFBA investigations into UFBA CEO Bill
Butzbach will not be proceeding and he has been reinstated into his position. Mr
Butzbach was facing three separate allegations of misconduct made involving three
separate complainants. It has been reported that the UFBA abandoned the investigation
when the process could not be agreed with the complainants. The complainants are
reported to state that the issue was they would not be guaranteed being provided the
investigation report.
FENZ funds the UFBA costing about $4 million (not including significant additional
funding provided for training, conferences, and other volunteer-only costs) per annum.
The core funding is primarily for the UFBA to provide advocacy and support services
and volunteer capability development which includes leadership and psychological
wellbeing. In accordance with section 37 of the Fire and Emergency Act 2017 there is a
statutory obligation to provide volunteers with access to advocacy and support services.
FENZ has an obligation to ensure that any organisation it is funding to support and
advocate on behalf of volunteer firefighters, and to provide leadership and
psychological wellbeing support to volunteers, is a credible organisation that is
undertaking those obligations without fear or favour for all volunteers regardless of
rank, status or location.
FENZ CE Rhys Jones is on the public record stating that the Fire Service first became
aware of a complaint against Bill in 2016, that an independent barrister was appointed
to investigate the allegations but he could not discuss the findings. At the time the
UFBA investigation was announced last year FENZ was sitting on its hands stating that
UFBA was investigating the allegations. The UFBA investigation never negated FENZ’s
obligations, but now the UFBA investigation has collapsed the spotlight once again
firmly rests on FENZ and whether FENZ is fulfilling its responsibilities.
In 2016 Bill was the Fire Chief in Martinborough. He held that position for six years until
2019. Under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 2015 a volunteer comes within
the definition of a worker and FENZ has a duty of care to volunteers including as far as
reasonably practicable ensuring the health and safety of those workers. It has an
obligation to deal with these serious matters in the interests of those volunteers.
Have FENZ (or its predecessor the NZFS) investigated all complaints from the
three separate complainants? Rhys only referred to one.
under the Offical Information Act 1982
If not, why not and what is going to be done now?
Did each investigation produce findings?
Were the findings acted upon or implemented?
At the time of the alleged incidences Bill was a volunteer Fire Chief and currently he
heads the organisation funded by FENZ to support and advocate for volunteers. Any
way you look at this FENZ must act to preserve the integrity of its support for
volunteers. FENZ has a fiscal and statutory obligation to ensure the organisation it
funds to support and advocate on behalf of volunteers, and to provide development and
psychological support. That organisation must be credible and demonstrate
transparency, fairness as well as report that the funding has been used for the purpose
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it was provided.
What is FENZ’s position on the continued funding of the UFBA in the current
circumstances?
Does FENZ have any concerns about the continued operation and funding of the
UFBA in these circumstances?
Even if all allegations were fully and appropriately investigated and found not be
upheld, there are serious questions as to whether the UFBA is providing support and
advocacy services as it is funded to do so. After the Radio New Zealand broadcasted a
programme on complaints by women volunteer firefighters against other volunteers
firefighters and Chiefs, the NZPFU was contacted by a number of those complainants
and other women volunteers seeking support and assistance. At least one volunteer
did not know what the UFBA was, most did not know the UFBA was funded to provide
support and advocacy for volunteer firefighters, and the couple that had sought help
found the UFBA support woeful and biased towards rank.
According to the UFBA annual report the UFBA provided advocacy and support to 109
cases in 2019-2020 and made submissions on behalf of 4 members. That have been
provided millions to provide this support yet there appears to be no controls, monitoring
or transparency.
How do those reported statistics stack up against the number of volunteers
seeking support and advocacy?
What is the breakdown in rank in those the UFBA actually represented?
What is the gender breakdown in those the UFBA actually represented? Is the
support and advocacy provided on a professional basis?
The experiences of the women volunteer firefighters we have spoken with are deeply
concerning. There appears to be an ability for volunteer brigades to contain complaints
within the brigade without a requirement to notify FENZ of these complaints. These
leaves the complainant, particularly if the complainant is of a firefighter rank, a woman
or making a complaint against the Chief very vulnerable. There are publicised
complaints of one women being interrogated in a small office with her alleged abuser
and other male brigade members of higher rank standing over her to coerce her into
dropping her complaint. It appears that it is only if the complainant goes outside of the
Brigade, or if the Brigade itself seeks FENZ input that FENZ would even know about
these complaints. We are concerned that the UFBA may in fact be handling those
complaints, or know of these complaints and instances without any required notification
or involvement of FENZ.
Can you please confirm if all Brigades are required to notify of complaints and
allegations to FENZ, and if so what is that process?
We are very concerned that FENZ funding is not being used for its proper purpose,
under the Offical Information Act 1982
and/or that advocacy and support is not being afforded fairly and equitably, or that it is
even accessible to all volunteers, regardless of position, rank or gender. We request a
response to the issues raised above and request an opportunity to meet with you to
disc ss these serious matters including whether FENZ has re-assessed its funding and
obligations for volunteer support in light of the current circumstances.
Yours sincerely,
_______________________________
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