Emergency services formalise working relationship

St John and the New Zealand Fire Service today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which formalises an agreement between the two emergency service providers to work together more closely.

The MoU was signed at Fire Service National Headquarters in Wellington by New Zealand Fire Service Commission Chairperson Dame Margaret Bazley, St John Chairman Rob Fenwick, St John Chief Executive Jaimes Wood, and Fire Service Chief Executive / National Commander Mike Hall.

“St John and the New Zealand Fire Service are community owned. This is all about both services working even closer together to deliver greater value to New Zealanders,” Mr Wood said.

“Everyday throughout New Zealand there are numerous examples of the two services assisting each other which has to be in the best interests of patients and the wider community, ” said Mr Hall. “This MoU simply adds to the already excellent relationship we have with St John.”

The MoU sets out areas in which two providers will collaborate more:

§ Co-location: St John and the Fire Service will seek opportunities to share facilities whenever either party is contemplating new facilities

§ Training: St John will be the preferred provider of first aid training to the Fire Service, and the required provider of paramedic and first responder training to the Fire Service

§ Civil Defence: St John and the Fire Service will co-operate for the benefit of the public and each other in any civil defence situation requiring combined planning and/or response skills.