New Zealand firefighters to hold first ever strike over staffing and equipment ‘crisis’

Professional firefighters will walk off the job for an hour in culmination of 13-month dispute over pay and conditions

Nearly 2,000 professional firefighters will walk off the job for the first time in New Zealand's history, citing a crisis" within the sector and ongoing problems with poor pay, understaffing and unreliable fire equipment.

Members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have voted to strike for an hour on Friday morning in a complete work stoppage, after talks with employer Fire and Emergency (Fenz) broke down last week.