From:
Jones, Rhys
To:
9(2)a
Cc:
Bleakley, Raewyn; Gregory, Kerry
Subject:
Tangata Matatau
Date:
Friday, 19 February 2021 9:00:00 am
Kia oraout
f
Last week our Chair Paul Swain wrote to your 9(2)a
regarding Tangata Matatau. In
the letter Paul indicated that I would be contacting you directly about some further operational
matters we wish to raise with you.
There are two issues to raise. First, we were very surprised and somewhat disappointed to see
recently a website launched with no communication with us. This website appears to use a
number of images of our Fire and Emergency people, as well some with legacy organisation
branding. We have not supplied these and were not contacted about this. Furthermore the use
of so many Fire and Emergency (and legacy) branded images makes this appear as a site that is
endorsed or managed by Fire and Emergency. It would be preferable for more generic rural
firefighting imagery to be used where our brand/ logo is not visible. The use of images in this way
may breach our brand policy, and we would request they be emoved. This is outlined in our
Brand Policy. We ask that your communications team engages with our National Manager
Communications and Engagement, Nicky Chilton, to discuss how to address this situation as soon
as possible.
The second issue relates to reports that 9(2)a
has contacted Service Delivery staff to
al Information Act 1982
discuss Tangata Matatau matters and seek their support and views. We would have expected
that preceding any such meetings there would have been discussions with our Executive Leaders
and also that they would not take place in the absence of a formal agreement about how we will
work together. These meetings have put our people in a very difficult position as they have not
been briefed on either Tangata Matatau or our guidance on how FENZ should engage with that
organisation, so are not authorised to commit to a position on behalf of Fire and Emergency. I
ask that these meetings cease mmediately and that you and others, as the official
representatives of Tangata Matatau, meet with myself, the National Commander and the DCE
OCE urgently to clarify how we will engage from here.
Regards,
Rhys Jones
Chief Executiveunder the Offi
National Headquarters
Level 12 80 The Terrace
PO Box 2133, Wellington, 6140
sed
9(2)a
Rele
25 February 2021
Rhys Jones
Chief Executive
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
80 The Terrace
Wellington
Per email
Tēnā koe Rhys,
9(2)a Act 1982
Further to your email message 19th February, I refer to Paul Swains recent letter to
in
relation to Tāngata Matatau establishment costs and the assurance his Board requires that FENZ
funds were not used for that purpose. I can assure you that no levy money was used to establish
the Association.
I also confirm that FENZ imagery is no longer on the Tāngata Matatau website. On behalf of
Tāngata Matatau, I apologise for this oversight and any unintended concern this may have caused
FENZ.
Tāngata Matatau welcomes the FENZ invitation to re-engage with you to discuss how FENZ and
Tāngata Matatau will continue to develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the near future. In
preparation for that meeting, I take this opportunity to provide a summary of background
information about Tāngata Matatau for FENZ, most of which FENZ is aware of from prior
discussions.
About Tāngata Matatau
Tāngata Matatau members are independent specialist organisations that are relied upon to
partner with Fire and Emergency to serve and protect New Zealand from unwanted fire, and
other emergencies. Amongst other capability they have a particular expertise in wildfire and
specialist heavy industry such as petro-chemicals. Many of these organisations within Tāngata
Matatau are FENZ Contractors who are importantly one of three workforce groups that make up
the FENZ Personnel in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act, 2017.
Tāngata Matatau brings together individuals, organisations and agencies associated with fire
services, emergency services and emergency management together to provide constructive,
influential and expert advice, to shape desired outcomes for the sector. As a collective body of
expert organisations Tāngata Matatau does this by working with members to:
•
provide strategic input into Sector policy and law, standards and Codes of Practice, training
and research;
•
facilitate Sector engagement and coordination, where useful to unite Members (and/or
under the Offical Informatio
Chapters of Tāngata Matatau) to advance a common need in areas of wide interest;
•
lead and facilitating Sector training, professional development and research, and
•
engage constructively with relevant government agencies1 and other organisations to
provide strategic leadership, and an independent perspective, that represents the interests
of the members.
•
Tāngata Matatau is an Incorporated Society governed by a Membership Council.
1 Fire and Emergency New Zealand; MPI; MBIE; Maritime NZ; Civil Aviation Authority to name a
Released
few.
TĀNAGATA MATATAU – Bringing expert partners together in emergency management
C/O 86 Main Road, Tawa, Wellington, 5028 •
Tāngata Matatau encourages wide participation of the sector in this forward-thinking and
connected organisation, striving for better outcomes for New Zealand. The broad membership
aims to represent inclusion of the wider community, cultures and industries and to acknowledge
the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua.
A need for an independent association for FRFANZ members not merging with
the UFBA
In 2017, United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA) and Forest Rural Association New Zealand
(FRFANZ) membership voted for change – to merge the two Associations to align better with the
changes happening in Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), to provide for a unified volunt er workforce
to engage in an orderly manner with FENZ and the emergency sector generally.
In 2018, a roadshow saw UFBA and FRFANZ engage with members from both Associations across
New Zealand. Members gave a clear message that if UFBA and FRFANZ were to be dissolved and a
new entity was created, this would be overly disruptive, costly and not likely to be efficient.
Secondly, the membership felt that non-brigade FRFANZ members such as helicopter crews,
forestry organisations, and similar, would not feel a natural affinity with the proposed
(UFBA/FRFANZ) merged Association. The concept of establishing a separate independent entity
(a Peak Body), to the UFBA, for these members was raised and then formed part of future
communications with members, FENZ, the previous Ministe for the Department of Internal
Affairs, and relevant others in the sector.
The development of the Peak Body and other UFBA constitutional changes required assurance
that the merged association addressed member needs. This led to extensive Peak Body
interviews with non-brigade FRFANZ members, past presidents of the UFBA and representatives
from across membership. This meant both FRFANZ non-brigades, FRFANZ brigade members and
UFBA members were all covered, within reason, when it came to representation.
Following the UFBA/FRFANZ merger, the decision to proceed with the establishment of an
independent organisation for these members was confirmed.
A Peak Body Members’ Council was formed in April 2020 with former FRFANZ non-brigade
entities and leaders from organisations with vested interests in the developments affecting the
fire and emergency sector and to begin the process of determining how best to proceed.
UFBA members, and non merging FRFANZ members, were notified of the Peak Body’s
development through e-newsletters throughout 2020. Information on the process can also be
accessed in the UFBA Annual Report and the proceedings at the UFBA’s AGM, held November
2020.
Given UFBA’s responsibility to former FRFANZ members not merging with the UFBA, the
Association offe ed to provide temporary assistance to establish the Peak Body. Establishment
under the Offical Information Act 1982
work was disrupted by Covid-19 imposed lockdown during 2020.
Tāngata Matatau is here for the benefit of its members and partners that wish to engage with the
Association to achieve mutual goals. It is not formed to engage solely with FENZ. Tāngata
Matatau is not a union. It is an Association of professional organisations.
Legal entities established in 2020
The Peak Body was then formally established as an Incorporated Society on 23 July 2020, and
named Tāngata Matatau. The organisation’s sole shareholder is Tāngata Matatau Incorporated.
Released
TĀNAGATA MATATAU – Bringing expert partners together in emergency management
C/O 86 Main Road, Tawa, Wellington, 5028 •
On 3 August 2020, Tāngata Matatau was registered as a limited liability company and
incorporated with two Directors;
and
, by way of the respective “acting”
Chairman and CEO roles they held on the Peak Body Members’ Council.
Tāngata Matatau Ltd is a non-trading company. As a common practice, registration as a company
helps to secure naming rights etc. If Tāngata Matatau decides in the future to implement a
trading arm to help sustain the Association, provisions are in-place. This would be a matter solely
for the Members’ Council to decide in the future.
The UFBA Board vigorously refute any mischievous and false public allegations made by the New
Zealand Professional Firefighters Association (NZPFU) and disaffected members of the UFBA, that
the Chair and CEO have acted in an improper manner in dispensing its duties to assist the
establishment of Tāngata Matatau as a close-out action following the merger of UFBA and
FRFANZ Associations.
Legal obligations to FENZ Contractors
FENZ has a diverse service delivery workforce comprising employees, volunteers and contractors.
As mentioned, Tāngata Matatau members includes two of the three important workforce
personnel groups being volunteers and contractors.
The Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act, 2017 formally recognises contractors as FENZ Personnel2
with a clear expectation that FENZ recognise the critical role these organisations play in supporting
FENZ to deliver on its mandate. It is of concern to Tāngata Matatau members that this group
appear not formally recognised in the FENZ 10-year plan
FENZ Contractors are a diverse group of independent o ganisations. As discussed with FENZ, the
forming of Tāngata Matatau is designed to assist its members to have a cohesive voice within FENZ,
and to aid FENZ in their engagement of a diverse and widespread group of organisations.
Tāngata Matatau has assured FENZ previously, and its members, that it seeks to engage positively
and proactively with FENZ to achieve reform outcomes and key improvements designed to benefit
all New Zealanders.
Funding of Tāngata Matatau
Tāngata Matatau has made it clear to FENZ on at least two occasions that it has no intention of
asking FENZ for money to establish the Association. This position remains unchanged.
FENZ support of Tāngata Matatau
Tāngata Matatau have met with the FENZ Chair, yourself and other ELT members on two to three
occasions to update the organisation on the establishment of Tāngata Matatau and the progress
and intentions of the Association, importantly that it seeks to be a positive and proactive sector
under the Offical Information Act 1982
partner
It is from these meetings and discussions with FENZ that we were of the understanding that FENZ
were supportive of this Association’s establishment, particularly following a sector survey run by
2
Subpart 2 – (6)
FENZ personnel or personnel, in relation to FENZ, includes-
a)
employees;
b)
volunteers;
c)
contractors.
Released
TĀNAGATA MATATAU – Bringing expert partners together in emergency management
C/O 86 Main Road, Tawa, Wellington, 5028 •
