New Zealand firefighters are preparing for another round of industrial action next month.

The first one hour stoppage is planned for November 4, with others planned for November 7, 11 and 14.

Firefighters first lot of strike action was back in August to protest against ‘resource issues, understaffing and low wages,' in which some local firefighters are working upwards of ‘100 hours per week.' Read more here.

In a statement on the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union website, national secretary Wattie Watson says the NZPFU and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have been in bargaining for 16 months and 'FENZ is yet to put up a reasonable offer for settlement”.

'Recently the parties have been in a mediated facilitation process with former Employment Court Judge Graeme Colgan.”

Judge Colgan has recently released a report with recommendations for the settlement of the collective agreement negotiations to the parties.

'The NZPFU believes there is a solid foundation of principles in the report to reach a fair and reasonable settlement.”

Watson says they are due to meet with FENZ on October 27.

'As the first of the notified strike does not occur until after October 27 meeting, the ball is in FENZ's court to genuinely demonstrate it will value and respect the work of all of our members and the critical role they have in protecting the community.”

FENZ cehief executive Kerry Gregory says they recognise Judge Colgan's recommendations as a key step towards settling a new collective agreement and rebuilding of trust and confidence with career firefighters and their union.

'Our aim is for a collective agreement that's fair for our professional firefighters, as well as being affordable and sustainable for Fire and Emergency so that our career firefighters can continue to serve our communities.

'I had hoped the firefighters' union would have respected Mr Colgan's recommendation that strike strategies should be held off while both parties work through the recommendations and focus on reaching settlement instead of escalating strike action and putting New Zealanders at risk.

'I urge them to reconsider and put all their focus into this opportunity for us, our career firefighters and all involved to find a way forward and focus on our shared commitment to serving the community.”

What this means for you

'Fire and Emergency will continue to respond during this hour, but in city areas we'll have significantly fewer firefighters and we will take longer than usual to respond to some emergencies,” says a statement on the FENZ website.

'We also may not attend less serious events like private fire alarms where there is no evidence of a fire, small rubbish fires or animal rescues.”

Part of the organisation's contingency planning includes not responding to less serious incidents in career zones during the hour of the strike.

For example, this would include private fire alarms where there is no evidence of a fire, small rubbish fires or animal rescues.

'This will ensure our resources are focused where they are needed most.

'Volunteers from almost 600 fire stations nationally will respond to emergencies as they do now and provide the services they are trained to do.”

The below map shows the areas primarily covered by NZPFU members (career firefighters). The red dots are career stations, where NZPFU members will stop work.

The yellow dots are composite stations, which are staffed by career and volunteer firefighters.

The blue dots represent volunteer stations.

You can also help in the following ways:

• Do NOT call 111 unless it is a genuine emergency.
• If there is a fire, get out and dial 111. Don't go back in.

Volunteer firefighters' reassurance

The United Fire Brigades Association, which is the largest association representing New Zealand's firefighters, is reminding New Zealanders that 85 per cent of the country's frontline firefighters will remain on deck during November's strike action.

Volunteer firefighters make up 85 per cent of New Zealand's frontline fire services and are the first responders across 93 per cent of New Zealand's land mass, says a statement from UFBA.

The NZPFU, which represents 1739 employed firefighters, has issued strike notices announcing four one-hour work stoppages from November 4.

The UFBA membership comprises 14,000 members – including both paid and volunteer firefighters.

It's chair, Hon Peter Dunne, says their 12,000 volunteer firefighter members want the public to know they'll continue to turnout for their communities during the strike action.

'Volunteer firefighters are not part of this industrial dispute between the union and Fire and Emergency New Zealand – they have not and do not go on strike.

'That means the majority of New Zealand will continue to be in safe hands during the planned industrial action.”