Ex-All Black Firefighter Challenges David Seymour Over Fire Truck Breakdown Claims
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Former All Black turned firefighter Steve Devine has publicly challenged Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour over his claim that only one fire truck in New Zealand has broken down in “several months,” calling the statement “completely out of touch with reality.”
Seymour made the remark during Parliament on October 23, stating that there had been only a single recent incident — one that caused a two-minute delay in reaching a fire.
“The characterisation of routine breakdowns and danger is simply not sustainable,” Seymour said, suggesting that reports of widespread faults were being exaggerated by the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) amid ongoing industrial negotiations.
But Devine, now a firefighter based in Avondale, said breakdowns happen almost daily, putting both firefighters and the public at risk.
“Our truck’s been through five intercoolers this year alone,” Devine said. “Last week, the siren stopped working on the way to a call, and a spotlight in the cab caught on fire. Over the weekend, Whangārei’s truck broke down on the way to a fire where firefighters almost died.”
FENZ Disputes Devine’s Account
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) disputed several of Devine’s claims, saying the Avondale truck — a 2016 model — has only had its high-pressure intercooler replaced once, not five times.
The organisation also said:
The siren failure was due to a loose plug on a temporary relief truck, which has since been repaired.
The spotlight fire was caused by a damaged cord that had not been reported.
The Whangārei truck’s failure involved a broken hose reel, but firefighters were not at risk at the time.
Fleet Replacement and Funding Dispute
Seymour said the government is investing heavily in upgrades, with $25 million per year being spent on replacing appliances and 78 new trucks currently on order.
“They tend to take 18 to 24 months to deliver because they’re highly specialised equipment,” Seymour said.
But Devine countered that many of the “new” trucks are refurbished or built on old chassis, claiming he hasn’t seen a truly brand-new truck delivered in his 14 years with the service.
“These trucks have been sitting in a yard for five years, sent overseas to have cabs and pumps fitted, then shipped back. They’ll have the same issues we already have now,” he said.
Devine Challenges Seymour to See for Himself
Devine issued a public challenge to Seymour to visit any fire station in the country to witness the state of the fleet firsthand.
“He can pick a station and I’ll meet him there. I’ll even pay my own way,” Devine said.
Seymour responded that he would be willing to meet with Devine and also planned to seek clarification from FENZ on the extent of breakdowns.
“I think it would be useful to have a two-way conversation — what he sees from his point of view, and what the government is doing from its point of view,” Seymour said.
FENZ Defends Its Record
FENZ Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said the agency is bargaining “in good faith” with the firefighters’ union and is committed to improving conditions.
In a statement, FENZ said it had replaced 317 fire trucks since 2017, with 78 more being built. Of those, 28 use five-year-old unused chassis, while 50 are entirely new builds.
“With a fleet of around 1,300 trucks, faults are expected as they age,” FENZ said. “We have service providers nationwide who maintain the fleet to a high standard through a robust servicing programme.”