Latest news with #Fenz
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Southland bus crash passengers were Chinese tourists
Passengers on a bus that crashed in Southland yesterday were Chinese tourists, Christchurch's Chinese Consulate-General has confirmed. Seventeen people were on board the bus when it crashed on the Mossburn-Five Rivers Road (State Highway 97) about 3:45pm on Wednesday. Police say three people were hurt - one of whom was taken to hospital in a serious condition and two others in a moderate condition. St John said the remaining 14 passengers were uninjured and did not require transportation to hospital. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokeswoman said crews from Lumsden and Mossburn responded to the crash. The bus had rolled on to its roof, the spokeswoman said. No people were trapped and Fenz helped the other emergency services and assisting with traffic management. The highway was closed near Diack Rd while the bus was moved. The consulate has warned tourists that South Island roads can be dangerous in winter because of rain, fog and black ice. - RNZ/Laine Priestley
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
First responder to help with NSW flood relief
Michele Poole. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Dunedin emergency responder Michele Poole will form part of a team of six specialist personnel to assist with the ongoing flood response in New South Wales. On Friday, a record flood cut through eastern Australia, caking houses in silt, washing out roads and separating 50,000 people from help. Today, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) personnel from around the country will be deployed across the Ditch to provide on-the-ground support to people affected by the flooding after being asked for help by the New South Wales State Emergency Service. Ms Poole, a Dunedin-based community liaison officer, said being deployed overseas could "certainly be more intense" simply because the environment was less familiar. "Nobody gets into a job with Fire and Emergency without really wanting to help the community when they need us. "Our job really is to make sure that the people who have been immediately affected by this flood are getting the support that they need. "The principles of what we practise are exactly the same — you expect to work long days supporting the community." Ms Poole said the flooding in New South Wales was beyond what would be seen in New Zealand, "even when compared to the largest floods we've had". This is not the first time she has been deployed to Australia. In 2023, Ms Poole was sent to Queensland to help local communities during the bush fires. Fenz has arrangements with Australia and North America to provide mutual assistance. "We go when we're able to and when they need support, with the knowledge that one day in return, if we need international support, it's available as well."
Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Holy smoke
PHOTO: RUBY SHAW The congregation waits outside St Patrick's Basilica in Dunedin while Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel investigate inside yesterday evening. Fr Jamie Lalaguna said firefighters arrived at the South Dunedin church after incense from a thurible set off the smoke alarm. The church's Filipino community was celebrating Santacruzan — the last day of the Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) festival — at the time. About 100 people left the church and waited outside while firefighters secured the premises. A Fenz spokesman said two units from Dunedin Central Station and one from St Kilda responded to the false alarm just after 7pm.
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Gisborne council moves forward with Regional Response Team funding
'Tairāwhiti's very own Response Team will be a great addition to support us as a region when times get tough.' At last Wednesday's meeting, National Emergency Management Agency director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Price said the team would be deployable regionally and could surge to support other response teams nationally. Price said there were 16 New Zealand Response Teams (NZ-RT) and last year there were 24 deployments, including support for fire emergencies, flooding, rope rescues, water rescues, oil spills and search and rescue. A total of 424 people nationwide volunteered for NZ-RT teams and received weekly training, he said. 'Think of it a bit like Fenz [Fire and Emergency New Zealand], where Fenz have their volunteer firefighters. It's the same sort of model, but for emergency management.' In Canterbury, they were used to evacuate the Selwyn huts during the recent flooding weather event, Price said. Team members were highly trained and there was a strong certification model. Tairāwhiti CDEM manager Ben Green said filling the team would be easy. 'I could fill that team today. I'm talking whānau across regions that are looking for something a bit more than within the community response space. 'Those are the sort of people we want. You've got to be motivated and understand what the role requires of you.' Green said the region did not have any equivalent to NZ-RT. 'When we need to supplement or deploy a group of trained people that can work in an environment that is austere and presents risk – they are trained to a level to be able to do that.' A council report (prepared by Green) detailing the funding model noted that community and iwi groups were self-resourcing to deploy in response situations, independent of CDEM. This presented considerable health and safety risks to those groups, other emergency responders and the organisations mandating the groups, the report says. 'There are concerns that such groups would not have the training, experience or equipment needed to effectively and safely respond to emergency situations.' NZ-RT allows for co-ordinated, trained teams of volunteers providing surge support to CDEM groups and their communities during and after emergencies, the report says. It notes financial details regarding the team's set-up and the programme's financial sustainability. It recognises a phased approach, with expansion contingent on funding. Phase 1, which encompasses the first two years, will establish and accredit the Tairāwhiti NZ-RT, based in central Gisborne. The team could support two deployments to two separate locations. The costs for phase 1 can be covered within the 2024-27 three-year plan and would use the Civil Defence Disaster reserve. According to the report, as of July 2024 there was $390,000 uncommitted funds within the reserve, which the financial modelling assumes will be used to cover the first two years of phase 1. Phase 2 encompasses year three and onwards and looks to establish more teams. The second phase initially focuses on two teams: Team West (Patutahi) – covering the Poverty Bay River catchment; and Team East – covering Te Tairāwhiti. However, during the meeting, Green confirmed the location's details would be decided following community engagement. 'The area of responsibility would be the Gisborne flood plain. Where that team sits and resides in there would be a phase 2 consideration.' When asked how the centrally located team would be used when parts of the region became isolated, a problem experienced during Cyclone Gabrielle, Green said they would know in advance if it was a severe weather event. 'We set our chessboard for more than three days out, and we would then look to deploy that group to support with that immediate response.' The third year of the phased implementation is forecast to require an increase to CDEM budgets or ratepayer funds of between $93,000 and $147,000, which is a 0.17% increase to rates, the report says. Chief financial officer Pauline Foreman said the increase would have 'minimal impact' and be less than $10 per property per year. 'Most of the costs for the volunteer services are around capital costs, such as vehicles and personal health and safety equipment,' the report says. After this rate rise, ongoing costs should, by and large, be covered without the need to have any further increases. The financial model assumes external funding will be between $25,000 to $40,000 per year, obtained through either grants or donations. The Tairāwhiti CDEM group – which comprises Stoltz, Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga and councillors Debbie Gregory, Rawinia Parata, Ani Pahuru-Huriwai and Rob Telfer – approved the report's recommendations. This included instructing the chief executive to investigate the use of the Disaster Relief (charitable) trust to allow the trust to accept donations for rapid response during disasters. It will run like established rescue entities, such as Westpac helicopters, Auckland Rescue, Land Search and Rescue, and NZRT groups around the country, Green's report says. Additionally, the CDEM group voted to incorporate phase 1 costs into the draft 2025/26 annual plan, with the costs conditional on the adoption of the draft.
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
‘Gutted' over fire at restaurant
The owner of a Dunedin restaurant destroyed in a fire says she's "absolutely gutted" and does not know what she will do next. Brazen resturant owner Jacinda Reid, PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON About 8am yesterday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) crews from Dunedin, Willowbank and Roslyn responded to the fire in Filleul St, while a command unit arrived separately. An Otago Daily Times photographer at the scene said smoke was coming from the second floor of the property and from a large industrial chimney. The premises have been home to various restaurants over the years, including 95 Filleul and Bracken. It became Brazen Eating House, serving tapas-inspired international fusion food with a Kiwi twist, earlier this year. Restaurant owner Jacinda Reid said she had seen the damage done by the fire and was "absolutely gutted". "I'm in tears — I don't know what I will do next." Crews had left the scene by early afternoon. Smoke billows from the Brazen Eating House fire in Filleul St yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Fire investigator Matt Jones said he would visit the scene of the fire over the next day or so to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage. "It appears there was moderate damage to the interior. "As for repairing and rebuilding, that's up to the building owners and insurers." Mr Jones said the quick action of both the Fenz team and people near the building prevented the damage being more extensive. "This was significant when you're dealing with a building of this age."
