National Headquarters
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
National Headquarters
Spark Central, Level 7
42-52 Wil is Street
Wel ington Central
Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 496 3600
23 September 2025
Ref: 18987
A Whittle
[FYI request #31951 email]
Tēnā koe A Whittle
Thank you for your requests of 8 and 9 August 2025 to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
requesting information relating to the 2021 restructure and the effect of the July 2021 market rate
remuneration increase on ‘grandparented’ salaries.
The context you provided is
‘I understand that on 27 Sept 2021 the FENZ restructure took effect
and a number of affected staff had their remuneration protected by a 'grandparent' clause for a
two year period. By December 2021 a remuneration increase was negotiated and communicated to
staff with the increase backdated to 1 July 2021.’
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), and our response
is below.
1. How many staff who were to fall under the 'grandparent' clause from 27 Sept 2021,
received the salary increase for the period 1 July 2021 to 26 Sept 2021 (as a backdated
payment) but then reverted to their pre-1 July salary rate after 27 Sept 2021? (Ie the pay
increase was therefore removed from the 'grandparented' salary or was considered to not
apply).
We can advise that this was applicable to 32 staff.
2. Did any staff retain the 1 July annual increase once the 'grandparent' clause took effect?
We can advise that no staff retained the 1 July annual increase once the 'grandparent' clause took
effect.
3. If any staff reverted back to their pre-1st July salary rate from 27 Sept 2021, what was the
basis for this decision?
The remuneration packages of each of these employees were paid at the rate that was agreed
with each employee. This was based on their remuneration packages that were in place at the
time of those agreements. The agreement with these employees was that their current total pay
rate, inclusive of their base salary and any ongoing allowances would be grand-parented (i.e.
protected) for a period of two years. Therefore, that is what was implemented.
4. Did any staff on a 'grandparented' salary who did not retain the 1 July 2021 annual or
market rate salary increase after the restructure took effect from 27 Sept 2021, but were
paid the increase for the period 1 July 2021 to 26 Sept 2021, query why the increase was
not retained?
After a search of our records, we don’t hold any records/information of staff querying this at that
time. For this reason, we are refusing this aspect of your request under section 18(e) of the OIA, as
the document al eged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable
efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
5. Of those, how many were successful in retaining the 1 July 2021 salary increase through
the 'grandparent' period (beyond 27 Sept 2021)?
In light of the response provided for question 4, there is no record of any staff successfully
retaining the 1 July 2021 salary increase through this period (beyond 27 Sept 2021).
6. Did all 'grandparented' staff either revert back to, or remain on, their salary at the level it
was prior to the 1 July 2021 increase?
We can advise that remuneration packages of all employees were reverted to the amounts,
including grandparenting, that were agreed upon.
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
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
We trust that the information being provided is of assistance. If you require further information,
please email [FENZ request email].
Please note that because of the identified public interest in the information that you have
requested, we intend to publish this response (with your personal details removed) on our
website.
Nāku noa, nā
Aidan Saunders
Manager, Information Requests
