(i) identify designated officials in charge of Wildland Fire Management and methods
for contacting said officials;

(ii) set forth specific criteria and procedures for lodging and responding to requests
for Wildland Fire Management Assistance;

(iii) establish procedures for communication of relevant information between
designated points of contact;

(iv) identify the procedures and documentation required to allow entry into the territory
of each Agency for Wildland Fire Management Resources;

(v) specific the conditions, costs, and procedures for the reimbursement of the
Sending Agency(ies’)’ expenses incurred in the sending, refurbishing, or
replacement of Wildland Fire Management Resources;

(vi) provide for the acceptance or establishment of equivalent standards for
qualifications, including physical fitness, training, and experience;

(vii) provide the procedure for the withdrawal of Wildland Fire Management Resources
by the Sending Agency(ies) from the territory of the Receiving Agency(ies); and,

(viii)include provision on the status of personnel engaged in Wildland Fire
Management.

7. Differences

The Agencies intend to resolve any differences resulting from the interpretation or application of
this Wildland Fire Arrangement through consultations with one another.

8. Status

(a) The Agencies understand that this Wildland Fire Arrangement does not preclude an
Agency from working independently or with other institutions or organisations.

(b) This Wildland Fire Arrangement is not intended to be legally binding or legally enforceable.

9. Final dispositions

(a) This Wildland Fire Arrangement is intended to become operational on the date of the last
signature by the Agencies.

(b) The Agencies may modify this Wildland Fire Arrangement upon their mutual signed written
consent.

(c) An Agency may discontinue its participation in this Wildland Fire Arrangement at any time
by providing written notice to the other Agencies. The Agencies understand that, in the
event of withdrawal from this Wildland Fire Arrangement, the withdrawing party would use

5


(i) The Receiving Agency(ies) intend to reimburse the Sending Agency(ies) for the
expenses incurred in the sending, refurbishing, or replacement of Wildland Fire
Management Resources;

(ii) The Receiving Agency(ies) may organize and direct the Sending Agency(ies’)'s
Wildland Fire Management Resources as necessary to meet the Receiving
Agency(ies’)'s Wildland Fire Management objectives effectively and efficiently,
except that the Sending Agency(ies) consent may be required for certain
assignments;

(iii) The Sending Participant(s) may withdraw some or all of their Wildland Fire
Management Resources.

(e) The Agencies understand that activities carried out under this Wildland Fire Arrangement
should be determined:

(i) by the appropriate officials of the U.S. Agencies to be in the best interests of the
United States; and,

(ii) by the appropriate officials of the FENZ to be in the best interests of New Zealand.
(f) The Agencies understand that provision of all resources and services provided for by this
Wildland Fire Arrangement is subject to the availability of their respective Agencies’ funds
and resources.

5. Entry and Exit of Resources for Wildland Fire Management
The Agencies intend to use their best efforts to facilitate entry into and exit from their respective
territories for all Wildland Fire Management Resources used, or intended for use, in Wildland Fire
Management activities consistent with this Wildland Fire Arrangement (including the waiver or
reimbursement of any entry fees, duties or taxes imposed by reason of importation or exportation).

6. Operating Plan

(a) The Agencies intend to prepare an Operating Plan, which should include the specific terms
and process of any such requests for Wildland Fire Management Resources.

(b) The Agencies intend to:

(i) Prepare and obtain signatures for the Operating Plan as soon as possible following
the signing of this Wildland Fire Arrangement;

(ii) Review the Operating Plan annually, or as otherwise decided;
(iii) Prepare and obtain signatures for any modifications(s) to the Operating Plan.

(c) The Participants intend that the Operating Plan:


all reasonable endeavors to minimize any adverse effects of that withdrawal on any
Wildland Fire Management activity initiated prior to such withdrawal, and that any Wildland
Fire Management activity initiated prior to any Agency’s withdrawal will continue until it
has been completed.

Signed at on in duplicate in the English language.

For the Department of Agriculture of the United For Fire and Emergency New Zealand:
States of America:

Y S Lor = — —

For the Department of the Interior of the United
States of America:

F



ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ON
THE ONE SIDE, AND FIRE AND EMERGENCY NEW
ZEALAND, ON THE OTHER SIDE, CONCERNING THE
EXCHANGE OF WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
RESOURCES

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior of the United States of America
(together, the “U.S. Agencies”) and the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (“FENZ’), hereinafter
individually referred to as an “Agency” and jointly referred to as the “Agencies”,

CONSIDERING the common shared values and the breadth and depth of collaboration between
the United States and New Zealand in foreign policy, trade, and development issues, including in
the areas of natural resources and safety and security;

WISHING to enhance their collaboration with a view to provide mutual wildland fire assistance
and exchanges on firefighting issues;

CONSIDERING that successful wildland fire management depends on effective fire prevention,
detection, and pre-suppression, having an adequate fire suppression capability, and
consideration of fire ecology relationships;

RECOGNIZING that it is desirable and in the public interest to formalize the provision of mutual
assistance in wildland fire management, including pre-suppression, suppression, post-fire
restoration, information sharing, training, research, innovation, and exchange of resources for
combating fire;

Have reached the following understandings:


1. Purpose

The purposes of this Arrangement concerning the Exchange of Wildland Fire Management
Resources (“Wildland Fire Arrangement’) are:

(a) to set out the procedures for the exchange of Wildland Fire Management Resources
between New Zealand and the United States; and,

(b) to establish a framework encouraging the Agencies to support mutual assistance and to
facilitate cooperation between the Agencies.

This Wildland Fire Arrangement is intended to serve as the primary arrangement between entities
that handle wildland fire management in the United States and New Zealand.

2. Definitions
For the purposes of this Wildland Fire Arrangement:

(a) “Operating Plan” means the operating plan referred to in paragraph 6 of this Wildland
Fire Arrangement:

(i) after it is signed by all Agencies, the operating plan referred to in paragraph 6 of
this Wildland Fire Arrangement; and,

(ii) prior to (i), the letter regarding Deployment of New Zealand Resources for Wildfire
Assistance signed and dated 21 August 2015 (incorporating the Annual Operating
Plan for the Wildfire Arrangement between the Department of the Interior and the
Department of Agriculture of the United States of America and the New Zealand
Participating Agencies);

(b) “Receiving Agency” means an Agency receiving Wildland Fire Management Resources
under this Wildland Fire Arrangement;

(c) “Sending Agency” means an Agency providing Wildland Fire Management Resources
under this Wildland Fire Arrangement;

(d) “Wildland” means an area in which urban developments essentially non-existent, except
for roads, railroads, power lines, and similar transportation facilities and where structures,
if any, are widely scattered;

(e) “Wildland Fire” means any planned or unplanned fire occurring in Wildland, regardless
of the ignition source;

(f) “Wildland Fire Management” means all activities for the protection of forest and other
vegetation values from fire, and the use of fire to meet natural resource management goals
and objectives. It involves, but is not intended to be limited to, the strategic integration of
such factors as knowledge of fire regimes, probable fire effects, values at risk, level of
forest protection required, cost of fire-related activities, and prescribed fire technology into
multiple-use planning, decision-making, and appropriate activities to accomplish stated
resource management objectives;


(g) “Wildland Fire Management Assistance” means assistance in the prevention or
management of wildland fire, including providing personnel, Wildland Fire Management
information, technology, skills, training, research, and innovations for the purpose of
improving their Wildland Fire Management capabilities and knowledge to provide effective
assistance to one another when necessary;

(h) “Wildland Fire Preparedness” means all activities in advance of fire occurrence to

ensure effective suppression action, including participation in prescribed burns, planning

and organizing Operating Plans, recruiting and training personnel, procuring equipment
and supplies, maintaining fire equipment and fire control improvements, and negotiating
cooperative and mutual assistance arrangements; and,

(i) “Wildland Fire Management Resources” means human resources, equipment, and
supplies, including aircraft, available or potentially available for Wildland Fire
Management.

3. Request for Wildland Fire Management Resources

The Agencies may request Wildland Fire Management Assistance in the manner set out in this
Paragraph or as otherwise jointly determined to be appropriate by the Agencies.

(a) The Agencies intend to transmit and receive such requests to each other consistent with
any terms and processes set out in the Operating Plan. Unless otherwise mutually
determined, the Agencies intend that all requests be transmitted and received through the
National Interagency Fire Center for the U.S. Agencies.

(b) In cases of urgency, the Agencies may make requests for assistance verbally, provided
such requests are lodged in writing within 24 hours after the verbal request.

(c) The Agencies intend for requests for assistance for Wildland Fire Management Resources
to meet the requirements set out in the Operating Plan.

4, Providing Assistance for Wildland Fire Management Resources

(a) The Receiving Agency(ies) are expected to lodge a request for Wildland Fire Management
Resources consistent with any terms and processes set out in the Operating Plan.

(b) The Sending Agency(ies), should immediately consider the request for Wildland Fire
Management Resources from the Receiving Agency(ies), and, to the fullest extent
practicable and reasonable, promptly respond to such request.

(c) The Sending Agency(ies) should provide their personnel with all the safety equipment
required to meet their requirements. If additional safety equipment is requested by the
Receiving Agency(ies), it should be detailed in the request for Wildland Fire Management
Resources.

(d) Consistent with the Operating Plan: