1390 (2025). Lemauga Lydia Sosene to the Minister of Internal Affairs

1390 (2025). Lemauga Lydia Sosene to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Why was the Minister "not convinced" that an increase of 5.2 percent to the levy on insurance contracts to fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand was justified?

Hon Brooke van Velden: I considered that the proposed 5.2 percent increase in 2026, on top of a 12.8 percent increase in 2024, was not backed by sufficient evidence that Fire and Emergency New Zealand had considered potential efficiencies to mitigate the cost to levy payers. As a result I asked Fire and Emergency New Zealand to undertake further analysis. I am assured that the agreed levy rate increase of 2.2 percent accords with advice provided to me by Fire and Emergency New Zealand about the amount needed to fund the organisation to deliver its services.