OIA21147 Wilson Appendix Two RELEASE.pdf

2 March 2026
Rebecca Keoghan
Chair, Board of Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Via email:  [email address]
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Dear Rebecca
We have received a complaint from the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union (NZPFU)
regarding  the  conduct  of  FENZ  leaders  and  the  use  of  CCTV  systems  during  industrial  action
undertaken by FENZ personnel.
The complaint states that FENZ has acknowledged that it accessed and used CCTV camera feeds
- primarily those operated by Auckland Transport - to view and monitor striking NZPFU members
and members of the public supporting them during strike actions. Media reporting also indicates
that FENZ confirmed reviewing CCTV footage, in response to complaints from members of the
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public and the Police about strikers’ behaviour.
The complaint states that on several occasions between October 2025 and January 2026, senior
FENZ leaders, including the Chief Executive and the Deputy National Commander, directed CCTV
operators  to  bring  up  and  monitor  cameras  showing  NZPFU  members  gathering  at  strike
locations.  It  is  also  states  that  FENZ  personnel  attended  the  Auckland  Transport  Operations
Centre on 2 January 2026 for similar purposes, with one instance reportedly described as “spying
on paid firefighters.”
The complaint also raises questions about whether the Board was aware of, or took steps to
address, this surveillance activity either before or after it became public; the extent to which CCTV
footage was accessed, viewed, or retained; and whether these actions were consistent with the
obligations  applying  to  Crown  entities  under  the  Code  of  Conduct  for  the  Public  Sector,  the
Information Gathering and Public Trust Model Standards, relevant privacy legislation, and FENZ’s
own  Code  of  Conduct.  Concerns  have  also  been  raised  that  the  organisation  may  not  have
policies or controls in place to ensure CCTV access is used solely for lawful and operationally
justified purposes.
We are currently considering what steps, if any, we might take in relation to the complaint we
received. I understand that the NZPFU has also written to you directly and that you are currently
considering the matters raised.
We would appreciate confirmation of what steps you are taking and any further information you
may  wish  to  provide  which  would  assist  us  at  this  stage.  This  information  will  support  the
Commission’s assessment of what further steps we may wish to take.
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Level 10,  Te Iho |   1 Lambton Quay |   PO Box 329
Wellington 6140 |   New Zealand
Phone 9(2)a

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who were striking. An Auckland Traffic Operations Centre camera was used to check that volunteer access
was not impeded as they were required to respond to an incident. I have been advised that the traffic
cameras were accessed to view the roadway outside of the station only. Again, no issues were found.

I am satisfied that in each instance, the purpose of accessing the traffic camera information was to assess
potential public safety risks and verify complaints. These were time-limited observations of live traffic feeds
at the Auckland Traffic Operations Centre. I have also been advised that no footage from these traffic
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cameras was recorded, downloaded, or retained by Fire and Emergency in relation to these incidents.
In light of the limited number and specific circumstances of the incidents described above, no separate or
formal privacy assessment was undertaken. The activity involved the short-term viewing of live feeds from
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publicly operated traffic cameras in response to specific complaints or operational safety concerns. On that
basis, the activity was considered proportionate and operationally justified, and consistent with Fire and
Emergency’s obligations under relevant privacy legislation, the Public Service Commission’s Code of Conduct
for the Public Sector, the Information Gathering and Public Trust Model Standards, and Fire and Emergency’s
own Code of Conduct.
I would also note that the Chief Executive rejects allegations that either he or the Deputy Chief Executive
directed anyone to monitor striking firefighters and supporters via CCTV. He also advised that he was not
aware of any other instances where traffic cameras, or any form of CCTV, had been used in this way. In
saying this, he also noted: “I have asked Megan Stiffler [Deputy Chief Executive] to ensure operational
leaders know that if they are partaking in this activity that it must cease immediately unless there is a
justifiable reason i.e. public safety concerns/complaints”.
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The Chief Executive subsequently confirmed that this direction had been re-issued by the Deputy Chief
Executive.
I discussed the fulsome matter with my Board during Board only time to discuss the investigation outcomes
at our last meeting and then further time with the Chief Executive. We were satisfied that the instances
outlined, which involved the use of CCTV viewing, were justifiable and that the Chief Executive had taken
sufficient action to ensure that operational leaders knew expectations regarding CCTV use.
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I have also discussed with my Minister the Hon Brooke van Velden at our monthly meetings. The Minster too
also received a letter from the NZPFU and requested similar investigation from the Chief Executive.
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Conclusion
The Board recognises the importance of maintaining public trust and ensuring that any information-
gathering activity is lawful, proportionate, and operationally justified.
The incidents described above were limited in number and undertaken for defined public safety purposes
during industrial action. They were not routine surveillance of striking firefighters.
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I trust this information assists the Commission in its assessment. I am happy to provide further clarification
should that be helpful.
Yours sincerely,

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Rebecca Keoghan MNZM

Chair

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board

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Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
www.publicservice.govt.nz | www.govt.nz
..........................................................................................................................................
Confidentiality notice: This email may be confidential or legally privileged. If you have received it by mistake, please tell the
sender immediately by reply, remove this email and the reply from your system, and don’t act on it in any other way. Ngā mihi.
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3

From:
Gregory, Kerry
Sent:
Wednesday, 21 January 2026 2:21 pm
To:
Keoghan, Rebecca
Subject:
RE: BREACHES OF PRIVACY AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Attachments:
210126 Letter to Minister on use of CCTV.pdf
Kia ora Rebecca
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Please see attached the letter I have sent the Minister today.
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Thanks
Kerry
From: Gregory, Kerry
Sent: Wednesday, 21 January 2026 9:15 am
To: Keoghan, Rebecca <[email address]>
Subject: RE: BREACHES OF PRIVACY AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Kia ora Rebecca
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.
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I was not aware that CCTV was being routinely used to undertake surveillance of striking and picketing during
industrial action. On receipt of your email and in case these al egations are in fact true, I have set my expectations
with Megan Stiffler, DCE Operational Response, that this activity is to be ceased immediately unless there is
legitimate concern for or complaints relating to public safety.
The instances of this occurring that I am aware of are as follows:
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 November 2025 – I have been informed that a traffic complaint was received by Police by a member of the
public concerned that picketing firefighters and supporters were causing a traffic hazard at a major
intersection near Auckland City Station. A District Manager viewed Auckland Transport camera footage
alongside Police at the Auckland Transpo
THE rt Operations Centre (ATOC) to determine the validity of this
complaint. No issues were detected.
 November 2025 - I have also been informed that a Fire and Emergency received a complaint for a similar
issue in Counties Manukau, this too was checked at ATOC with Police in the room and again nothing
untoward was found.
 19 December 2025 – I was visiting the RCC in Auckland with Megan during the strike hour as we were at
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region office to meet with one of our firefighters who has done a huge amount of mahi on ensuring our
firefighting kit is suitable for our female staff. We worked out of the RCC over that period but did not have a
role in the RCC during industrial action. I reject allegations that we directed anyone to monitor striking
firefighters and supporters via CCTV. As you are aware we had an incident in December where volunteer
firefighters at Silverdale were intimated when they responded to a call during industrial action. We were
also advised that their access to the station/trucks was impeded by those who were striking. I understand
from Megan that an ATOC Traffic Camera was used on 19 December to check that volunteer access was not
impeded at East Coast Bay Station as they were required to respond to an incident. There were no issues
found and as far as I am aware the access to the ATOC Traffic Cameras ceased at that point. Ensuring our
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volunteers can access stations is key to public safety during industrial action and our advice is this is not a
breach of privacy.
I was made aware of the occurrences in November 2025 through the media query received that you refer to in your
email. I was not aware prior to the media query coming in. I am not aware of any other instances where traffic
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cameras, or any form of CCTV, have been used however I cannot provide absolute assurance that this hasn’t
happened just because I am not aware of it. This is why I have asked Megan to ensure operational leaders know that
if they are partaking in this activity that it must cease immediately unless there is a justifiable reason i.e. public
safety concerns/complaints.
I have been advised by Megan that she sought advice from our Privacy Officer regarding the two incidents that were
subject to the media query and no privacy issues were identified as this was done for a specific operational purpose:
to ensure volunteer firefighters had clear access to stations when arriving by vehicle, that volunteer-crewed
appliances could respond without delay, and to identify any potential risks to the safety of volunteers, picketing
NZPFU members, and the public.
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During the one-hour strikes, the NZPFU have livestreamed their pickets in public spaces. Our teams have been
monitoring the NZPFU livestreams as publicly available resources which again is not a breach of anyones privacy.
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The Minister has also asked for assurance that we are not routinely monitoring striking and picketing firefighters. I
will be writing to the Minister this week with similar information and providing the same assurance around my
expectations. I will ensure to send you a copy for your information.

Should official complaints be received through the Privacy Commissioner or other relevant agencies I will keep you
informed and will ensure that the process for responding to those is managed appropriately.

Nga mihi
Kerry

Kerry Gregory (ia/he/him)
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Chief Executive / National Commander
Tumu Whakarae / Toihau a-Motu
Te Ratonga Ahi Me Nga Ohotata i Aotearoa / Fire and Emergency NZ

Executive Assistant – Tracey Morgan
[email address]


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Fire moves incredibly fast – a house fire can kill within three minutes.

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From: Keoghan, Rebecca <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 16 January 2026 5:03 pm
To: Gregory, Kerry <[email address]>
Subject: FW: BREACHES OF PRIVACY AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Importance: High

Kia ora Kerry,
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Please read below an email received from the 9(2)a
of the NZPFU.

I am aware of the alleged privacy breaches that you and your team have already informed me of this week.

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These were serious breaches of privacy, unlawful conduct,  and significant breaches of the
required good faith in the employment relationship.   Mr Gregory regularly claims a zero-tolerance
position for poor behaviour and this is unlawful behaviour that seriously damages any trust or
respect in him and his position.

Mr Gregory and Ms Stiffler as members of the Executive Leadership team must take responsibility
for these breaches.

We are in the process of finalising formal complaints to the appropriate Government
bodies  seeking a full investigation into these matters.

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We are first giving the Board an opportunity to inform the NZPFU what actions it intends to take to
hold the most senior of FENZ management to account.

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Yours sincerely,

_______________________________

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9(2)a

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New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union
Te Kāhui Kaipatuahi o Aotearoa
Email:    9(2)a
@nzpfu.org.nz
Mobile:
THE
9(2)a

Office:    [email address]
Web:      http://www.nzpfu.org.nz/


This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential or the subject of legal privilege.    If you
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        1. Please let us know immediately by return email and then delete the email and your reply.
        2. You must not use, copy or disclose any of the information contained in this email.
There is no warranty that this email is error or virus free.

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Fire and Emergency New Zealand
National Headquarters
Level 7, Spark Central
42-52 Wil is Street
PO Box 2133
Wel ington
New Zealand
Phone+64 4 496 3600

21 January 2026
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Hon Brooke van Velden
Minister of Internal Affairs
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Tēnā koe Minister,

As your office has been advised, last week Fire and Emergency received a media query relating to
two incidents where traffic cameras were used in Auckland to allegedly monitor picketing
firefighters and their supporters. This letter is to provide you with context on the three incidents
that I am aware of where traffic cameras have been used for specific operational purposes to
ensure volunteer firefighters had clear access to stations when arriving by vehicle, that volunteer-
crewed appliances could respond without delay, and to identify any potential risks to the safety of
volunteers, picketing NZPFU members, and the public.

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I am not aware of traffic cameras, or other forms of CCTV, being used routinely to undertake
surveillance of striking and picketing firefighters nor of any other incidents beyond those outlined
in this letter. However, due to the size and nature of our organisation I cannot provide absolute
assurance that there have been no further incidents just because myself or my leadership team
are not aware of them. Consequently, I have directed my DCE Operational Response, Megan
Stiffler, to ensure operational leaders know that if they have been partaking in this activity that it
must cease immediately unless there is a justifiable reason i.e. public safety concerns or
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complaints.

The three incidents that I am aware of are as follows:
•  November 2025 – I have been informed that a traffic complaint was received by Police by
THE
a member of the public concerned that picketing firefighters and supporters were causing
a traffic hazard at a major intersection near Auckland City Station. A District Manager
viewed Auckland Transport camera footage alongside Police at the Auckland Transport
Operations Centre (ATOC) to determine the validity of this complaint. No issues were
detected.
•  November 2025 - I h
UNDER ave also been informed that Fire and Emergency received a complaint
for a similar issue in Counties Manukau, this too was checked at ATOC with Police in the
room and again nothing untoward was found.
•  19 December 2025 –As you are aware we had an incident in December where volunteer
firefighters at Silverdale were allegedly intimated when they responded to a cal  during
industrial action. We were also advised that their access to the station/trucks was
impeded by those who were striking. I understand from my DCE Operational Response
that an ATOC Traffic Camera was used to check that volunteer access was not impeded at
East Coast Bay Station as they were required to respond to an incident. We had received
RELEASED intelligence that the picketers from Silverdale in previous weeks were going to be located
at this station. I have been advised that the traffic cameras were accessed to view the
roadway outside of the station only. Again, no issues were found.  Ensuring our volunteers

can access stations is key to public safety during industrial action and the advice we have
received is that this is not a breach of privacy.

The first two incidents were the subject of the aforementioned media query. Initially these were
thought to have occurred on 2 January 2026 however after further exploration of the matter we
have determined that these occurred in late November 2025.

While the NZPFU have stated that they have written to the Privacy Commissioner, we have not yet
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received notification from the Privacy Commissioner of this. Should official complaints be received
through the Privacy Commissioner, or any other relevant agency, I will ensure you are kept
informed and that the process for responding to those is managed appropriately.

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Ngā mihi
9(2)a

Kerry Gregory
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Tumu Whakarae - Chief Executive

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From:
Stiffler, Megan
To:
Gregory, Kerry
Subject:
RE: BREACHES OF PRIVACY AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Date:
Tuesday, 20 January 2026 4:22:07 pm
Attachments:
image004.png
image005.png
image006.png
image007.png
Kerry

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Dates are incorrect below. Any changes I have highlighted in yellow. The Auckland
Station and Counties complaints were received early in the industrial action either 21
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November or 28 November 2025.

Also, the incident when we were in the Te Hiku RCC was when cameras were directed
at the street outside East Coast Bay Station post the Silverdale allegations

Please note I have given direction today on your expectations and am confident we
have identified the incidents from the past and people are clear moving forward. I
have asked we document any times we use the traffic cameras during industrial
action and the reason for doing so to provide assurance to you that the direction is
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being followed.

Ngā mihi
Megan

Megan Stiffler
OFFICIAL
Deputy Chief Executive, Operational Response / Deputy National Commander
Tumu Whakarae Tuarua Whakahaere Urupare / Toihau a-Motu Tuarua

THE

Mobile: 9(2)a
Email: [email address]
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National Headquarters, Level 7, Spark Central, 42-52 Willis Street, PO Box 2133, Wellington, 6140

From: Gregory, Kerry <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 19 January 2026 12:50 pm
To: Stiffler, Megan <[email address]>
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Subject: RE: BREACHES OF PRIVACY AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Kia ora Megan

Can you have a quick look at this to ensure it is accurate before I respond to Rebecca.

9(2)(g)(i)
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9(2)(g)(i)
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Nga mihi
Kerry

Kerry Gregory (ia/he/him)
Chief Executive / National Commander
Tumu Whakarae / Toihau a-Motu
Te Ratonga Ahi Me Nga Ohotata i Aotearoa / Fire and Emergency NZ

Executive Assistant – Tracey Morgan
[email address]
INFORMATION

OFFICIAL

Fire moves incredibly fast – a house fire can kill within three minutes.

THE

From: Keoghan, Rebecca <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 16 January 2026 5:03 pm
To: Gregory, Kerry <[email address]>
Subject: FW: BREACHES OF PRIVACY AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
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Importance: High

Kia ora Kerry,

Please read below an email received from the Secretary of the NZPFU.

I am aware of the alleged privacy breaches that you and your team have already informed
me of this week.
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However, on receipt of this email, I need please an explanation of the serious allegations
below and the circumstances surrounding the strike action over the preceding few weeks.

From:
Gregory, Kerry
Sent:
Friday, 16 January 2026 7:12 pm
To:
Stiffler, Megan
Subject:
Expectations: Use of CCTV during industrial action
Kia ora Megan
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I understand that while I was away you managed a media query rela ng to the use of CCTV on 2 January during
industrial ac on and that this related to two public safety complaints with Police being present.
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I have today received allega ons that monitoring CCTV footage has happened on numerous other occasions in
Auckland including when you and I were present in the RCC in December.
I was not aware that CCTV was being rou nely used to undertake surveillance of  striking and picke ng during
industrial ac on. If these allega ons are in fact true, this ac vity needs to be ceased immediately unless there is
legi mate concern for or complaints rela ng to public safety - as you assured is the case with the two, we were
ques oned about.
Can I please ask that ahead of future strike ac vity you ensure opera onal leaders and RCCs/NCC across the country
are aware of my expecta ons around this.
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I will be providing the Board Chair and the Minister with assurance that I have made my expecta ons to you clear
that there is to be no improper or inappropriate surveillance or use of CCTV of striking NZPFU members.
Can you please conﬁrm back to me that our opera onal leaders and RCCs have been made aware of these
expecta ons.
OFFICIAL
Nga mihi
Kerry
Kerry Gregory (ia/he/him)
THE
Chief Executive / National Commander
Tumu Whakarae / Toihau a-Motu
Te Ratonga Ahi Me Nga Ohotata i Aotearoa / Fire and Emergency NZ
Executive Assistant – Tracey Morgan
[email address]
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Fire moves incredibly fast – a house fire can kill within three minutes.
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