The Professional Firefighters' Union has decided to stop Boxing Day's one-hour strike that was meant to begin at noon. The withdrawal meant volunteers who would feel obligated to respond during the strike could relax. Collective bargaining between Fire and Emergency and the Professional Firefighters' Union broke down, and the Employment Relations Authority this month sent them into facilitation. Meanwhile, firefighters have put out a grass fire on the bank of the Waimakariri River near Swannanoa, north of Christchurch. The fire was reported just after 11pm on Thursday and when firefighters arrived, they found a blaze of about 80m by 10m.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 26, 2025 10:13 UTC