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What evidence does Fire and Emergency New Zealand have to support or rebuff claims that any delay in turnout of appliance, for whatever reason, has a direct impact on the outcome for life and property involved in an emergency, if any?

Answered Question 439 (2026)
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Asked by

Ingrid Leary

Member for Taieri · Labour Party

Question

  • What evidence does Fire and Emergency New Zealand have to support or rebuff claims that any delay in turnout of appliance, for whatever reason, has a direct impact on the outcome for life and property involved in an emergency, if any?

Answered by

Hon Brooke van Velden

Member for Tāmaki · ACT Party · Minister of Internal Affairs

Answer

I am advised that outcomes at emergencies are influenced by a range of factors and cannot be attributed to any single element in isolation, including turnout time. Timely response is nonetheless a fundamental operational principle for Fire and Emergency. This is why it maintains a nationwide station network and dispatches the closest appropriately trained and equipped appliance to each incident.