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
27 February 2026
Ref: 20554
Mark Grayson
[FYI request #33514 email]
Tēnā koe Mark
We refer to your request of 15 January 2026 to Fire and Emergency New Zealand requesting
information relating to advertising expenditure regarding industrial action. Your request has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), and we copy and respond to each aspect
of your request below:
1. Total expenditure by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) of advertisement across
social media platforms, radio networks, television, bil boards and any other broadcasting
means;
As of 16 January 2026, the total expenditure Fire and Emergency has paid in regard to the paid
public information campaign about the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union (NZPFU)
industrial action is $868,639.72.
In addition, two staff members are wholly or partially involved in supporting the creation and
delivery of the paid public information campaign. The salary ranges for these employees are
$83,155 - $92,394 and $96,998 - $107,776.
2. Expenditure of advertisements identified by category (Social Media, Radio, Television etc)
The spend as of 16 January 2026 is as follows:
Category
Total
Online media
$ 154,189.94
Out of home digital
$ 244,837.85
Radio
$ 213,983.72
Social
$ 116,687.27
Total
$ 729,698.78
Please note, the totals do not include the fees (agency, ad serving and All of Government fees) to
deliver the paid public information campaign. This information is being withheld under section
9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA, to protect information where the making available of the information would
be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is
the subject of the information. In making this decision, we have considered the public interest
considerations in section 9(1) of the OIA.
3. Copies of all internal communications between the FENZ Social Media Team, and the FENZ
Executive Leadership Team relating to the advertisements, across all digital platforms
(emails, teams messages and calls);
Thank for your email of 21 February, refining this aspect of your request to be for communications
between the Fire and Emergency Executive Leadership Team and the National Manager
Communications and Engagement.
In line with our obligations under the OIA to make and communicate our decision on your request
within the statutory timeframe, we have decided to grant this aspect of your request. The
information wil be provided to you without undue delay and no later than 6 March 2026. Some
information will be withheld under the fol owing:
• section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of
deceased natural persons.
• section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA, to protect information where the making available of the
information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the
person who supplied or who is the subject of the information.
• section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA, to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the
free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or
members of an organisation or officers and employees of any public service agency or
organisation in the course of their duty.
• section 9(2)(f)(iv) to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which
protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.
4. A comprehensive list of all platforms and media outlets that FENZ contacted relating to the
advertisements;
The paid public information campaign is managed through our media partner Multi Market
Services New Zealand Limited. Fire and Emergency New Zealand did not contact any media outlets
relating to the advertisements.
5. The name(s) of the person(s) who authorised, or signed off for this advertising to proceed;
The paid public information campaign was approved by the Chief Executive of Fire and Emergency.
6. What budget or cost group did the money for this advertising come from?
The money for the paid public information campaign is sourced from central y held contingency
funding.
7. Were there any other means that FENZ considered as part of the advertising, that did not
get authorised or proceed?
8.
If yes, can FENZ provide the expenditures for this?
There were no aspects of the paid public information campaign that were proposed and not
approved. However, and in addition to the paid public information campaign, Fire and Emergency
is making use of our own social media channels and proactive media releases.
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
