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
2 April 2026
Ref: 21116
Mark Grayson
[FYI request #33514 email]
Tēnā koe Mark
We refer to your request of 10 March 2026 to Fire and Emergency New Zealand requesting the
following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
1. 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. Please provide a weekly breakdown of this figure.
2. Please provide the current salary of a Firefighter.
3. Please provide the current salary of the Chief Executive Officer.
4. Please provide all phone messages (such as SMS, Messenger or Whatsapp) and emails
between 01 October 2025 and 11 March 2026, relating to the industrial action, strikes,
incidents during the strikes, or mention "NZPFU" or "Union", to or from the fol owing
persons:
Chief Executive Officer Kerry Gregory
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler
National Manager Communications Engagement
Minister Brooke van Velden
5. Please provide all phone messages (such as SMS, Messenger or Whatsapp) and emails
relating to the pay deductions for NZPFU members who are striking, between the
aforementioned persons. This should include any attachments. This should be between 01
January 2026 and 11 March 2026.
6. Please provide a total number on how many text messages were sent to employees
personal cel phones by FENZ, advising them to read their emails or the portal story, on 09
March 2026.
7. Please provide the total cost of sending these texts
8. Do FENZ employees use their personal phones for work-related purposes?
9. Please provide a total number on how many emails were received by "NHQ HR" relating to
the release of this notice to FENZ employees, specifically between 09 March 2026 and 11
March 2026.
10. Fol owing the withdrawal of strike action by the NZPFU, has FENZ issued any updated
statements, amendments, withdrawal or apologies to their employees? If no, does FENZ
intend on issuing something to their employees?
11. What immediate action did FENZ take fol owing the withdrawal of strike action?
12. Do the FENZ values apply to all employees, including the Executive Leadership Team?
This letter is to advise that Fire and Emergency needs to extend the timeframe of our response to
your request by 20 working days, under section 15A(1)(a) of the OIA, as the request is for a large
quantity of official information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere
with our operations.
For this reason, you can expect to receive our response no later than 8 May 2026. We will
endeavour to respond sooner than this date if possible. If you no longer require this information,
please let us know.
You have the right to request an investigation and review of Fire and Emergency’s decision to
extend the timeframe by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is
available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Aidan Saunders
Manager, Information Requests
