Minister backs down after criticising fire service

Economic Development Minister Chris Bishop called Fire and Emergency New Zealand "incompetent" but softened his words after Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden reminded him the fire service runs independently of government. Bishop told RNZ he was frustrated the Hutt City fire station shut in 2021 with no replacement five years later. Van Velden said FENZ plans to spend $700 million on property over 10 years.