National Headquarters
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
National Headquarters
Spark Central, Level 7
42-52 Wil is Street
Wel ington Central
Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 496 3600
19 June 2023
Steven
By email: [FYI request #22597 email]
Tēnā koe
Information Request – Approved fire station developments, nationwide
I refer to your official information request dated 28 April 2023 asking for all information we
currently hold regarding planning of fire stations for a list of 18 stations. After some
correspondence you refined your request to ask for details of all projects-in-flight or approved
business cases for upcoming works nationwide.
In accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), please find below a
detail list of the projects that fall within scope of your request, by region. Please note:
• Projects in-flight are those projects we have work underway on and approved business
cases are those where we have an approval to get underway but are not yet at a stage
where work has begun. The list includes both.
• The list only includes capital work and therefore does not include planned and
programmed maintenance (PPM).
• There are no capital works that are either projects-in-flight or approved business cases in
the Ngā Tai Ki Te Puku or Te Kei regions.
Te Hiku
1. Parnel
A new fire station is being built in Parnell where the old station was demolished, as it was no
longer fit-for-purpose and an earthquake risk. It is currently in construction and is expected to be
completed in 2024.
A new training tower is proposed to be attached to the west of the building. The new building wil
be two storeys in height and wil have a maximum height of at least 9 metres with the tower
having a maximum height of 12.5 metres.
The new building is designed to have two main areas. The first area, located to the north, will be
two storied and contain the main living quarters and offices of the fire station. The front of the
first area is setback from Balfour Road by at least 2 metres. The main living quarters have their
main orientation to the north. At ground level, the main living areas will open out to a new
outdoor BBQ area to the north facing the reserve. The second main area, located to the south, wil
be single storied and will contain the appliance bay to store the fire trucks. The front of the second
area is setback from Balfour Road by at least 11 to 14 metres. Materials in the new build include
precast panels, vertical cedar cladding, aluminium horizontal and vertical louvres, aluminium
joinery, and steel roofing.
2. Otara
The Otara Fire Station has received a seismic upgrade and refurbishment because it was
earthquake prone and the required age-related refurbishment. Reconfiguration of the station was
required to accommodate the new decontamination zoning requirements and to become more
ergonomic and fit for purpose. It was completed on 27 January 2023.
However, it is currently still in “defects stage”, hence the inclusion on this list. The ‘defects stage’
or liability period is an amount of time – often a year – during which if you notice anything wrong
with the work done by contractors, or the materials they used, you can notify them of what is
wrong, and they must put it right at their cost.
The seismic upgrade and refurbishments included the following:
• Removal of asbestos
• Half-life refurbishment of current fire station to ensure fit for purpose facility
• Ergonomical y designed to meet decontamination zoning requirements
• Upgrade ablutions to accommodate non-gender specific firefighters (pod design)
• Upgrade bedrooms
3. Houhora
The Houhora Fire Station appliance bay is being demolished and a new one is being constructed
because the existing bay poses health and safety risks to Fire and Emergency operational
personnel. The new bay is designed to meet both NBS IL4 seismic requirements and Fire and
Emergency design guidelines. This upgrade has been approved and is expected to be completed
during 2024.
Te Upoko
4. Hastings
The Hastings Fire Station is receiving a seismic upgrade and refurbishment because it is
earthquake prone and the required age-related refurbishment. This upgrade is currently in
construction and is expected to be finished by February 2024.
The seismic upgrade and refurbishment include:
• Bedroom upgrade – windows, room heating, and ventilation
• Partial roof upgrade
• Office/admin area upgrade
• Kitchen upgrade
5. Waverly
The Waverly Fire Station is receiving an appliance bay extension to create a locker room. It is also
having a fire alarm and smoke separation installed. It is getting these upgrades because of safety
issues regarding personal protective equipment, and because there are inadequate transitional
areas. These upgrades have been approved and are expected to be completed in October 2023.
6. Trentham
The Trentham Fire Station is undergoing an upgrade of the no longer fit-for-purpose bedroom
areas. This upgrade includes seismic strengthening and enhanced fire separations. It has been
approved and is expected to be completed during 2024.
Te Ihu
7. Kaiapoi
A new station is being built in Kaiapoi because the old Kaiapoi Fire Station was damaged beyond
repair in the Canterbury earthquakes. It was also at the end of its service life. The new building is
currently in construction and is expected to be completed in September 2023.
The new fire station has a floor area of 633m² and is comprised of 3 appliance bays, operational
decontamination, storage and BA filling facilities, operations room, training room, separate
kitchen/canteen space and associated personal decontamination/ablution facilities. There is also a
resource garage which has a floor area of 130m². The station design is an asymmetrical gable form
utilising portal frames for the structure. It is clad in a prefinished vertical aluminium weather board
with >50-year durability and hardwood timber highlight elements with a forty-year durability, and
insulated panel roof.
8. Kaikoura
A new station is being built in Kaikoura because the old Kaikoura Fire Station suffered structural
damage because of the November 2016 Kaikoura 7.8 magnitude earthquake and required
replacing. It was completed in late February 2023 and the brigade moved into the station on 4
March 2023. It is currently in defects stage.
The new fire station has a floor area of 650m² and is comprised of 3 appliance bays, operational
decontamination, storage and BA filling facilities, operations room, training room, office, separate
kitchen/canteen space and associated personal decontamination/ablution facilities. There is also a
resource garage which has a floor area of 205m². The station design is an asymmetrical gable form
utilising portal frames for the structure. It is clad in a prefinished vertical aluminium weather board
with >50-year durability and hardwood timber highlight elements with a forty-year durability, and
insulated panel roof.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa nā
Julia McCook-Weir
Manager, Information Requests
