New Zealand’s fire service faces scrutiny over outdated tracking, but officials say response times remain strong despite maintenance concerns.

On November 6, 2025, New Zealand’s Acting Minister David Seymour addressed concerns over fire appliance breakdowns, citing an outdated 2017 tracking system that limits accurate data collection. A system upgrade is planned for the next financial year to improve fault reporting. Seymour noted that multiple fire trucks are typically dispatched per incident, minimizing delays, and emphasized that FENZ operates 1,300 vehicles across 180,000 annual calls. He questioned the validity of a reported 446 emergency callouts for Auckland’s fleet, suggesting it may include routine maintenance. Cost-saving efforts, including a $50 million annual target, are underway using public insurance levies, with Seymour affirming that safety and staffing remain priorities despite climate-related emergency challenges.