Minister Brooke van Velden loses confidence in Fire and Emergency CEO over withholding information

Minister for Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has accused Fire and Emergency NZ leadership of a "serious breach of trust". Photo / Mark Mitchell

Minister for Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says she has lost confidence in Fire and Emergency’s chief executive Kerry Gregory, who she says kept information from her about a “seriously significant incident” for a whole year.

Speaking to media from Parliament this afternoon, van Velden revealed Fire and Emergency has been referred to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

“I have become aware of a serious breach of the no surprises within Fire and Emergency, it is of a nature that is so significant that I no longer have confidence in the chief executive of Fire and Emergency or have confidence that the information that I’m receiving is correct,” the minister said.