Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
A volunteer firefighter who made a complaint of sexual harassment against a senior officer has been stood down for two years waiting for the case to be resolved, while the respondent involved has continued in the brigade.
Jane (not her real name) lodged her complaint with the Behavior and Conduct Office within FENZ in 2020.
It is one of 58 unresolved complaints of sexual harassment and bullying reported to Fire and Emergency in the last three years - around a third of all complaints.
The BCO was established in wake of the damning 2019 Judge Coral Shaw report, which found bullying and harassment was rife at all levels and across all regions within FENZ.
An independent review last year found that while the BCO is well resourced and has support from senior leaders, unresolved historic complaints damage its perception among fire fighters. Jane says after what she's been through, she has little faith in the BCO and she doesn't believe anything has changed within the culture at FENZ since the Shaw report.
She speaks with Lynn Freeman, along with the Secretary of the Professional Firefighters Union, Wattie Watson. FENZ Deputy Chief Executive Raewyn Bleakley responds.
