September 29, 2021
Kaupapa Māori highlighted in new Fire and Emergency rōpū
Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s new Northland district manager wants to incorporate more te reo Māori and tikanga in the way the organisation works.
The new structure brings together 24 urban areas and 18 rural fire districts into 17 new districts.
In Northland, Wipari Henwood will manage almost 800 paid and volunteer kaimahi in 42 stations, with Whangārei being the only paid brigade.
He says the service’s mandate has evolved so it now includes paramedic activities alongside its past menu of fires, motor vehicle accidents and chemical soils.
The service is also rolling out a Hiwa i te Rangi protocol to recognise Māori as tangata whenua.
“We’re going out to engage with our isolated Māori communities. They want to be able to recognise themselves in the people delivering those services so I’m all for supporting that kaupapa. It’s part of our everyday business here in Te Taitokerau,” Mr Henwood says.