In an effort to address fire-related injury and death
disparities amongst Māori, the New Zealand Fire Service runs a number of fire
safety education programmes aimed at promoting awareness and knowledge around
fire safety in Māori communities. This research investigates the effectiveness
of these programmes. The programmes assessed are Te Kotahitanga, a community based fire safety project aimed at
educating ‘at risk’ households to be ‘fire safe’, Protecting marae from fire: Ngā whakatūpato ahi mō te marae, a
marae fire safety project; and Māui Tinei Ahi, a school project for
Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori.
Interviews, document review, media review, telephone survey;
street based ‘intercept survey’ and an online survey were conducted and results
assessed.
All implemented programmes were found to be adequately resourced, were
achieving good community penetration in targeted areas and had achieved good
community awareness of relevant messages. In addition, research in areas of
relevance to Maori was assessed and found to be useful but somewhat dated.
Recommendations are made as to how each programme could be improved or
extended.