15 Dec 2020

Fenz facing $12m deficit due to Covid-19

7:06 pm on 15 December 2020

Fire and Emergency says Covid-19 cost it lost revenue of $42 million, some 7 percent of its income.

Fire service

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

The information came in the department's post-election briefing to its incoming minister.

It said it sought to make up for the loss by cutting travel and non-operational training, and reducing its capital expenditure.

Even so, it expected to be in a deficit of $12 million as a result.

The briefing said any further reduction in income would require financial support from the Crown.

Fire and Emergency gets its revenue mainly from a levy on insurance premiums.

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