Marlborough-Kaikoura Rural Fire Authority Launch

The Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Chris Tremain and the Fire Service Commission Chair Rt Hon Wyatt Creech will be guest speakers at the official launch of the new Marlborough-Kaikoura Rural Fire Authority tomorrow.

Guests will include Fire Service Commission members Bob Francis and Dave McFarlane, NZ Fire Service National Commander Paul Baxter and the National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield.

The chairman of the transition board for the new Fire Authority Mark Wheeler says the launch marks the restructuring of our regional rural fire services into an organisation which can better coordinate the training of the region’s fire fighters and give a higher profile to the important work of educating the public and key industries on issues around the often high fire risk in this part of the South Island.

“We will still be very dependent on all our rural fire fighting forces and our volunteers but this will maximise the use of education and training budgets. At present there are varying standards across the two provinces. The new Authority is tasked with lifting standards equally,” he said.

The new Authority brings together the management of the previous Marlborough and Kaikoura District Council and the Department of Conservation rural fire functions giving the Authority overall responsibility for governance and management of rural fire services in the two districts under the leadership of new general manager/PRFO Richard McNamara.

Mr McNamara has indicated he wants to raise public understanding of the fire risk faced by Marlborough and the region-wide preparedness for a major fire.

A small group of invited guests will attend the official opening and reception on Thursday 19 at 6.30pm at the Marlborough Emergency Operations Centre, Wither Road Extension, Blenheim.