Section 47C (2) of the Fire Service Act 1975 authorises the New Zealand Fire Service to charge for attendance at a hazardous substance emergency, whether or not that hazardous substance emergency involves actual or suspected fire. Under the Act, costs include the charges incurred in securing contractual assistance or in obtaining supplies of materials required in stabilising or rendering safe the hazardous substance emergency.

Fire Service Charges

The charges are aimed at recovering some of the costs of the Fire Service response given, and should not be considered a fine.

Hazardous Materials are specifically exempted from Fire Service Levy and given the number of incidents, it is appropriate that some of the costs involved with the incident be recovered by the NZFS. The costs of attendance are outlined in the Schedule 7.2. of fees. In addition to these costs, the Act provides that the costs of materials used or destroyed in dealing with the incident may also be charged

Hazardous Substance Charge Administrator

The Commission decides whether to charge for attendance at a hazardous substance emergency in each case based on the advice of NZFS personnel in the region in which the incident happened. Once the Commission decides to charge, it raises an invoice which is sent to the relevant party. The Commission will consider comments from that party about whether a particular invoice is appropriate and should be charged to that party.

You can contact the Accounts Receivable Team Leader at NZFS NHQ in Wellington with initial enquires about invoices.

Contact details are:
Phone 04 496 3661
Fax 04 471 1791