Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade
Waikato MP Tim van de Molen has written to internal affairs minister Brooke van Velden raising concerns over the beaching of the region’s swift water rescue craft.
Waikato MP Tim van de Molen, centre, with Huntly Chief Fire Officer Kerry Holland, left, and Ngāruawāhia Chief Fire Officer Karl Lapwood, right, with one of their grounded rescue boats.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) banned Huntly and Ngāruawāhia fire stations from using rapid response vessels after Maritime New Zealand told Fenz it was not certified to task fire stations to make water rescues. Fenz decided not to complete a safety management plan to become compliant.
“I would like to see common sense prevail,” the Tamahere-based MP said.
Megan Stiffler
Fire fighters have been told not to respond to calls for help in the river, despite having been involved in 81 rescues since 2019.
“They have been doing it for decades,” van de Molen said.
As a member of the Governance and Administration Select Committee, he pushed back against Fenz chief executive Kerry Gregory’s claim last week that it would cost millions to build watercraft capability in New Zealand.
Fire fighters had fundraised for the Waikato River craft, completed training, and operated the vessels for decades, he said.
“It’s unacceptable,” van de Molen told The News. “Fenz is putting a health and safety check list ahead of the safety of the community.”
In his letter to van Velden, van de Molen said he had asked Fenz for an outline of the issues relating to the use of the vessels.
“Their response to my enquiry is pending,” he said. “My concerns are that with geographic considerations, staffing, resourcing, and operational challenges, the suspension of these vessels may result in rescue delays, potentially leading to loss of life.
“It would be extremely disappointing to discover that the perception of risk on a health and safety register was taking priority over the proven community safety benefits these vessels deliver.”
Asked whether Fenz would rethinks its position after the death of a 25-year-old man in the river in January, Megan Stiffler said in a statement: “my thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the family of the deceased. Fire and Emergency wants everyone to be safe on the Waikato River, but we cannot support our brigades operating their motorised watercraft because we don’t as an organisation have the capacity or capability to support motorised watercraft being deployed safely”.
Stiffler said she understood and acknowledged the wish of volunteer fire fighters to use their own watercraft to serve their communities in an emergency.
“Such incidents need to be responded to by the most appropriate agency,” she said. “Police, Surf Lifesaving NZ, and Maritime NZ are the lead agencies and organisations for operation and oversight of this activity.
“We are continuing to work with the relevant organisations including local councils to find a solution as to who could own the capability for Waikato River rescues and ensure it is delivered safely, legally and effectively in an emergency.”
