Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 (No. 17 of 2017).

The purpose of this Act, consisting of 200 sections divided into four Parts and completed by two Schedules, is to perform the following activities: a) reform the law relating to fire services, including by strengthening the role of communities and improving the support for volunteers in the provision of fire services, and, to that end: (i) to unify Fire Services by establishing Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ); (ii) to provide for FENZ’s objectives, functions, and operating principles; (iii) to provide for FENZ’s powers; and (iv) to provide for a levy-based system to fund FENZ; b) provide for local advisory committees to influence and advise FENZ; c) improve support for volunteers and enable them to communicate directly with FENZ; and d) provide new offences and penalties to improve fire safety.