Inter-Agency Tensions Hamper Rescue Efforts Across Aotearoa
A series of recent incidents has highlighted significant friction between Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and Police, leading to delays and frustration in critical search and rescue operations. Emails and incident reports obtained reveal a breakdown in established protocols, particularly concerning the deployment of air support, which has left frontline rescuers feeling sidelined and hampered.
The most stark example occurred on Great Barrier Island in April 2024. FENZ rescuers were preparing to assist a man who had fallen down a cliff, requiring rapid access via helicopter. However, they discovered a new, restrictive protocol was in place: direct requests for helicopter support were no longer permitted. This bureaucratic hurdle meant they couldn't get to the scene, and ultimately, Police search and rescue did not sanction their attendance. While the individual was eventually rescued, the incident triggered a wave of internal communication within FENZ, with a national manager emailing the operational leadership team about the "lengthy response delays, non-response, and frustration" caused by the new process of mobilising requests through Police.
This isn't an isolated issue. Just days before the Great Barrier Island incident, a similar situation unfolded on Waiheke Island. A FENZ lines rescue team, requiring a helicopter for transport due to the nature of the rescue and the equipment they needed to carry, found their usual channels blocked. The airdesk at St John Ambulance informed them that rescue choppers, like the Westpac helicopter, would no longer assist with transporting FENZ lines crews, directing them to Police instead. This change, which had been in effect for 12-18 months, came as a shock to FENZ operational staff, who were only learning about it mid-rescue.
The "Clumsy" New Procedures
The underlying issue appears to stem from an agreement signed in August 2022, which clarified Police's authority in approving air ambulance helicopters for rescues. FENZ was not a direct signatory to this agreement with ambulance agencies, Maritime NZ, and the Search and Rescue Secretariat, and reportedly only became aware of its implications mid-rescue.
Lines rescuer Toby Kerr, an Auckland City Fire Station union representative, described the current helicopter procedures as "clumsy" and "not collaborative," leading to confusion. He highlighted that while these procedures used to ensure good accessibility for responses, they now create significant barriers.
A Fatal Incident and Missed Opportunities
The problems have even reached ministerial level, with the Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell receiving a briefing on the 'Police search and rescue aviation process' in March 2025.
One of the most tragic instances that brought these issues to light occurred in Hahei, Coromandel, in January 2025. A 12-year-old boy tragically died after a cliff fall, and a 13-year-old girl was trapped 10 metres up a cliff for four hours. Police in Waikato, mistakenly believing the girl had also died, refused to approve an air ambulance helicopter to transport a FENZ lines rescue team from Hamilton. Consequently, the team had to drive to Hahei, significantly delaying their arrival and the rescue attempt. This incident sparked a flurry of emails up to national command level at FENZ, with frontline rescuers and managers expressing dismay at being delayed due to Police not approving air ambulance helicopters for crew transport.
Other Instances of Delays and Friction
The newly released information details several other instances where rescue efforts were hampered or triggered inter-agency friction:
- Tāwharanui Peninsula, March 2025: Police attempted to stand down a FENZ lines rescue team that was responding to a woman trapped on a cliff late at night. The FENZ team proceeded and successfully rescued the woman.
- Taupō, December 2025: While details are less explicit in the provided text, this incident is listed as one of three previously reported on that involved issues with rescue coordination.
- Blockhouse Bay, September 2024: Tensions arose when Police questioned why a FENZ lines crew drove to a cliff fall rescue, as a Police lines team was also dispatched but ultimately not needed. The person was airlifted out. This prompted FENZ to question whether they now needed Police permission for road-based mobilisations.
- Tokomaru Bay, September 2024: A vehicle went down a bank, and while a helicopter was eventually deployed, the FENZ lines crew was not transported. The response indicated that funding for the helicopter needed to come from Search and Rescue, not ambulance services, as it wasn't a purely medical response.
Funding and Resource Allocation Concerns
The issue of funding has also surfaced as a point of contention. In discussions regarding a "car down bank" scenario, an Inspector from Police operations and emergency management stated that if it's not a formal Search and Rescue (SAR) operation, Police SAR funding wouldn't apply, and FENZ would be responsible for the costs. This raises concerns about how essential rescue resources are classified and funded.
Calls for Improved Collaboration
Deputy National Commander Brendan Nally of FENZ acknowledged in June 2025 that the Musick Point incident and others "could have been coordinated more efficiently and effectively." He stressed that inter-agency squabbles should not occur and must not affect response times, particularly when individuals are in trouble. Nally indicated efforts to bring together senior representatives from all involved agencies to ensure agreement on processes and the deployment of the "best placed and most capable resource." He also pointed out the need for a clearer system for prioritising, tasking, and deploying rescue helicopters.
Despite these high-level discussions, some frontline staff feel little has changed. Josh Nicholls, a lines rescue trainer and Auckland union representative, stated that since Nally's June 2025 email, "nothing has changed."
Agency Statements
When approached for comment, the agencies provided statements:
- FENZ stated in February that there were "no communication challenges" and that they "work well together." More recently, they acknowledged that incidents are "often complex and require coordination across multiple agencies," a task they noted is Police's responsibility, and that they meet regularly on these matters.
- The Rescue Coordination Centre indicated it had "prioritised conversation" to ensure the effective coordination of search and rescue assets.
- Police confirmed they and FENZ had "committed to meeting further to assess whether there are opportunities to improve inter-agency communications." They defended their deployment process, stating their incident controller assesses and deploys resources. They also emphasised that air ambulance helicopters should only be deployed if they offer specific capabilities that other assets lack, to keep them available for their primary medical role. Regarding funding, Police noted the importance of "all agencies [being] fiscally responsible."
The ongoing tensions and bureaucratic hurdles underscore a critical need for improved collaboration and streamlined protocols to ensure that New Zealanders in distress receive the swiftest and most effective rescue possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment