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Fire Chief to Withhold Pay Amid Strikes Impacting Response

3/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Fire and Emergency chief executive Kerry Gregory says the strike action has affected the public negatively and outlines plans to withhold pay from participants, with a Thursday afternoon confirmation deadline.
Non-participating employees will not have pay deducted.
Recent strikes coincided with incidents including a fire at Northcote College and a bakery fire in East Auckland, where response times were delayed.
New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union has been contacted for comment.

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Story summary

Fire and Emergency chief executive Kerry Gregory says the strike action has affected the public negatively and outlines plans to withhold pay from participants, with a Thursday afternoon confirmation deadline.
Non-participating employees will not have pay deducted.
Recent strikes coincided with incidents including a fire at Northcote College and a bakery fire in East Auckland, where response times were delayed.
New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union has been contacted for comment.