Nelson City Council

Rural Fire Authorities

Much of the work in fire prevention and fighting around the country falls to Rural Fire Authorities (RFAs). RFAs are independent organisations that handle the prevention, detection and fighting of fires within their areas.

The 90 Rural Fire Authorities in New Zealand have responsibility for the fire suppression, prevention and protection of our forest and rural lands under the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and as such, monitor the daily fire danger, declare fire seasons and issue fire permits. Visit the National Rural Fire Authority's website.

Waimea Rural Fire Authority

Locally, the Waimea RFA is responsible for all rural land in the Nelson Land District. It takes a supervisory and supporting role for all the volunteer fire brigades in the area. In addition to focussing on rural fires, the teams are facing all kinds of other call-outs from motor vehicle accidents to cats up trees. They also play a significant role in responding to Civil Defence Emergency Management situations including floods and earthquakes. Go to the Waimea Rural Fire Authority's website.

Since its formation in 1992, the Waimea RFA has led the way with significant changes to the way they operate and support fire teams on the ground. Many of these changes have now been adopted nationally. The governing committee is made up of representatives from Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council, Nelson Forests Ltd, Tasman Bay Forests, Department of Conservation, Federated Farmers, and the NZ Fire Service.