Rural brigades see benefits to merger with urban colleaguesCHERIE SIVIGNON Wakefield Volunteer Fire Brigade chief sees benefits to the new government organisation Fire and Emergency New Zealand. The region's rural fire brigades will be better equipped and able to handle a wider range of emergencies under a new fire service organisation, officers say. The country's fire services were amalgamated under one government-run organisation, Fire and Emergency New Zealand on Friday. The impact of the new structure will not be seen immediately, but smaller, rural brigades will see the most benefit with more resources and equipment that will align them with city stations, such as Nelson. The nine rural and 11 urban stations like Hira, Brightwater, Motueka and Collingwood now no longer have to rely on community, business and council generosity to fund emergency responses.

Source: Stuff July 03, 2017 04:30 UTC