Internal Affairs rejects firefighters' claims FENZ culture of sexual misconduct and bullying is worse than ever

Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti has been assured FENZ is making "every effort" to fix its issues.
Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti has been assured FENZ is making "every effort" to fix its issues. Photo credit: Getty Images

Internal Affairs has rejected firefighters' claims sexual misconduct, bullying and mishandled complaints are as rampant now as they were three years ago, when a damning review of the workplace culture at Fire and Emergency (FENZ) was published.

A group of firefighters told Newshub a 'boys club' culture still lingers at the organisation, enabling poor behaviour from co-workers and protecting those in positions of power.

That's despite the release of the scathing Shaw report in January 2019, which showed bullying and harassment was rife at all levels and across all regions, and that staff faced discrimination and violence.

The firefighters argued FENZ prioritises its reputation over victims, and that recent measures to address misconduct - such as the establishment of a Code of Behaviour, a Behaviour and Conduct Office and an external complaints body - have failed.

FENZ acknowledged that it hadn't done right by its staff in the past, but said the organisation has committed to "building a respectful and positive workplace culture" and no longer accepts bullying, harassment or unwanted behaviour.

Now Internal Affairs - the Government agency responsible for monitoring FENZ's performance - has backed them, saying "substantial progress" has been made on creating a better culture for staff.

"This includes implementing permanent processes that are best practice and centred on the complainant," a spokesperson said.

"We regularly seek assurance that FENZ is building a respectful and positive workplace. The Department remains satisfied that FENZ is making every effort to properly address long-standing complaints and follow best practice in the permanent Behaviour and Conduct Office.

"The Department will continue to focus on FENZ's approach to complaints and broader work to build a respectful and positive workplace."

Firefighters told Newshub a 'boys club' culture still lingers at FENZ, enabling poor behaviour from co-workers and protecting those in positions of power.
Firefighters told Newshub a 'boys club' culture still lingers at FENZ, enabling poor behaviour from co-workers and protecting those in positions of power. Photo credit: Newshub.

Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti told Newshub she's been assured FENZ is trying to address its issues.

She says all workplaces should be free from bullying and sexual harassment and strongly encourages anyone who has experienced sexual assault to complain directly to the police.

The comments come while Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes is in the process of considering a complaint involving FENZ.

It's understood the complaint relates to a firefighter who alleges FENZ and its board badly mishandled its investigation into allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and bullying by a senior colleague.

A spokesperson for the Commissioner said while he "takes these matters very seriously", it's not appropriate at this stage of the process to comment further and he will have more to say when the process is complete.

Firefighters speak out against FENZ

Newshub was told a poor behavioural culture and failings within the complaints process are something of an open secret among FENZ staff.

A number of unflattering news stories have emerged over the past year about the culture at FENZ and investigations the organisation has botched. Most recently, RNZ this week exposed the organisation for retaining a staffer who was accused and later convicted of child sex abuse.

One firefighter, Bridget*, told Newshub the complaints process at FENZ was so drawn out, unfair and painful she became suicidal, and she knows of at least five others in the same boat.

Bridget said finding others going through the same thing gave her "the will to live again", but she's still haunted by what happened to her. She says working at FENZ amidst her ordeal is "not nice".

"I can detach myself from what happened before, but in reality, it has changed the very fabric of my brain. It changed who I am, particularly with what the organisation did afterwards," she said.

"I would never, ever encourage anybody to become a volunteer with FENZ, because - and I know this sounds really awful - but basically, if you're a sexual predator, then you know you can get away with it."

Internal Affairs says "substantial progress" has been made on creating a better culture for staff.
Internal Affairs says "substantial progress" has been made on creating a better culture for staff. Photo credit: Newshub.

Another, Fleur*, came forward with an allegation of sexual misconduct of her own against a colleague more than two years ago.

But when she told her officer about what she'd been through, she was immediately placed on leave from her brigade - a move firefighters told Newshub is a common tactic employed by FENZ - and hasn't been able to go back since.

Like it did for Bridget, the process has dragged on and on - and despite an independent investigation being launched and an official complaint being lodged, there is still no resolution in sight.

"It's been exhausting," she said.

"[My complaint is] still in the process of transcripts and reports being written and things. So it's just been just quite tiring, I guess, because I feel like I've had to fight at every turn for fairness rather than it being offered, unfortunately."

A third firefighter, Christina*, alleges she was routinely the victim of bullying, unwanted behaviour and sexism in her brigade, which only worsened when she called the perpetrators out on their behaviour.

But much like Bridget and Fleur, when she complained about her treatment to FENZ, things became even worse.

"It's been horrific, it's caused me distress; physical issues, emotional issues. It's really horrible and has affected everything."

Her complaint has now been deemed historical, but was never resolved.

Christina says it's not like everyone who works for FENZ is a bad egg, but there's still "plenty of really bad behaviour happening and it's not getting dealt with".

"My problem could be solved overnight if someone would have the courage to do their job properly, to call it out and just say, 'stop this behaviour or you're done'. But no one will do that."

Multiple firefighters attribute the lack of action to a rampant 'boys club' culture that seeks to protect those in power.

Christina says people are encouraged by FENZ to come forward with allegations, but when they do are not supported and instead become a "massive target".

"As much as the people up the top in the offices might think, 'call these guys out, it'll be great', the ones in all these brigades around New Zealand are very much still in the old boys club - and it's the old boys club supervising the old boys club, so not a lot gets done."

Bridget says many of those at the top of the organisation are ex-military, so "they look after each other and we as complainants become an issue to be gotten rid of".

Responding to the allegations, FENZ deputy chief executive Raewyn Bleakley told Newshub the organisation is committed to "building a respectful and positive workplace culture".

"Bullying, harassment or any unwanted behaviour is never acceptable," she said.

"We continue to make that very clear to our people - we want to do right by them. We acknowledge and regret this hasn't always been the case in the past. We expect every complaint of such behaviour to be taken seriously and addressed in a fair and timely way.

"Everyone at Fire and Emergency should feel safe, welcome and included."