Hudson Brett: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHudson Brett: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 03 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4259. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What recent announcements has he made in regard to New Zealand’s Fire Services?Hon PETER DUNNE (Minister of Internal Affairs): Last week I announced what is potentially the most significant review of New Zealand’s fire services since the aftermath of the Ballantynes fire in Christchurch in 1947. The review concentrates on three main areas for change: an enhancement of the status quo; a move to coordinated service delivery which continues with separate rural fire districts; or the option of moving to one integrated national fire service.Brett Hudson: Why is this review necessary?Hon PETER DUNNE: There are a number of challenges currently confronting the Fire Service: a changing expectation of the way fire services are performed a lack of coordination and variable leadership and inconsistent investment for community needs. If I can put it in a nutshell much of what the modern Fire Service does it has no mandate for. The irony is that we have an internationally acclaimed urban search and rescue service that is mandated now by the United Nations but strictly speaking probably outside the mandate of the New Zealand Fire Service. That is clearly absurd.Clayton Mitchell: In light of his answers can the Minister explain why in the relatively short time since 1994 when the present funding arrangements came into force there have been no fewer than 16 reports and reviews—Rt Hon Winston Peters: How many?Clayton Mitchell: —16 reports and reviews—addressed at improving the commission’s funding arrangements and these reports were generally critical of the present funding arrangements and still nothing has changed?Hon PETER DUNNE: I make two points in response to the member’s question. Firstly just in the last 2 weeks there was a very significant Supreme Court decision relating to the way in which the levies were being applied by insurance companies and second as part of the current review we will be looking at a range of financial options excluding using general taxation. So the matters the member raises will be addressed as part of this review.Brett Hudson: Keeping that in mind will the review also look at how the Fire Service is funded?Hon PETER DUNNE: Yes it will. As I said in my previous answer we have ruled out looking at general taxation as an option but beyond that all other funding options are under consideration.Brett Hudson: What feedback has the Minister received on this announcement so far?Hon PETER DUNNE: It is early days. It has been just a week since the document has been released but so far the United Fire Brigades Association the Professional Firefighters Union and the Insurance Council of New Zealand in a range of public meetings I have been to have all expressed support for the notion of a review. Over the next 6 to 8 weeks while the review is going on I will be getting around the country and conducting a number of meetings with interested parties before decisions are made later in the year.