A wide-ranging review is to be held into the running of the New Zealand Fire Service.
The government announced today that the functions and funding of the service will be reviewed.
Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain said an independent panel will provide advice on how the fire service can be improved and how it can operate more seamlessly with other emergency service providers.
"The panel will consider options for how fire services can be governed and structured to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.
"This will provide value for money into the future, in line with the government's focus on delivering better public services," Tremain said.
The review will assess future options for the funding of the fire service, which is currently on an insurance-based levy.
A key focus of the panel's work will be to take into account staff numbers and their location, as well as to ensure the fire service has the best mix of paid and volunteer firefighters.
The panel will also provide recommendations on how the service's operating model could be improved and how capital investments such as buildings and fire stations may be better managed.
However, Tremain says the review will not consider industrial relations framework for paid firefighters or whether the management of fire on forest and rural land should be provided by rural fire authorities.