Summary
Mission for fire management
The Department of Conservation is an effective rural fire manager. It protects life, property, and natural and historic resources on the land it administers as a rural fire authority. It works with others to minimise the occurrence and impacts of fires, and so achieves conservation outcomes.
Introduction
The Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and its Regulations cover the legislative requirements relating to forest and rural fires. Through delegation from the Minister of Conservation the department is responsible for public conservation land and a contiguous 1 kilometre fire safety margin where applied.
Fire is a threat to the natural and historic resources of New Zealand. To minimise this threat to public conservation land, the department will work within the legislation, collaborate with other fire agencies, organise its resources to best effect, including how to manage fire proactively, and be innovative. In preparing this strategy the department has worked with the National Rural Fire Authority (NRFA) and this strategy aligns with the NRFA strategy.
The Strategy has three themes: Collaboration, Efficient and Effective Fire Management, and Organisational Innovation and Learning.
The key activities under collaboration are:
- supporting the enlarged Rural Fire District proposal
- proactive engagement with the NZ Fire Service and National Rural Fire Authority
- undertaking removal of Fire Safety Margins
- developing and implementing agreements with other fire agencies and stakeholders; and
- support regional, national and international deployments
The key activities under effective and efficient management are:
- building staff capacity and capability
- manage and maintain the department’s fire resources efficiently
- undertake effective planning and fire management at a conservancy level
The key activities under organisational innovation and learning are:
- promote innovation, learning, and the distribution of knowledge
- develop the information basis to support a move to proactively use fire as a management tool
In the view of the General Managers, this strategy deals effectively with the challenge for the department of providing efficient, focussed and proactive fire services into the future. It is aligned with the Government’s intention to grow Enlarged Rural Fire Districts and position the department to respond to the challenge of drier fire seasons under climate change.
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