Fire and Emergency chief executive Kerry Gregory resigns after minister withdraws confidence

Union demands sweeping changes as Serious Fraud Office referral into levy scheme continues

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Kerry Gregory has resigned as chief executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand with immediate effect, after Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden publicly withdrew her confidence in him last month over an alleged year-long failure to provide her with significant information.

Kerry Gregory has resigned as chief executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), effective immediately, the board announced on Friday afternoon.

Board chairperson Raveen Jaduram said Gregory had resigned "effective immediately". According to Jaduram, Gregory said that, in light of the Minister of Internal Affairs' recent public statement that she did not have confidence in him, it had become untenable for him to remain in his role. Jaduram thanked Gregory for 36 years of dedicated service, including a lengthy period as an operational firefighter, and wished him well for the future. Darry Purdy will remain as acting chief executive and Megan Stiffler as national commander.

The announcement came after RNZ lodged enquiries about Gregory's employment status earlier this week. He had been on extended leave for more than a month before his resignation. FENZ declined to say whether the leave was paid or unpaid.

Minister van Velden, who said she was advised of the resignation by the board on Friday afternoon, said she expected the board to manage the leadership transition appropriately and ensure the organisation remained focused on delivering for firefighters and communities.

Van Velden publicly withdrew her confidence in Gregory on September 17, accusing him of withholding significant information from her for a year. She described his conduct as a "serious breach of trust", saying he failed to notify her despite being advised that he should. She has also said FENZ had been breaching the law governing its levy collections. The agency confirmed a "historical" matter relating to the administration of its levy scheme had been referred to the Serious Fraud Office. FENZ receives most of its funding through a levy on insurance policies covering property and vehicles.

The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union said the resignation should be the catalyst for massive and sweeping change for FENZ. National secretary Wattie Watson said Gregory's position was untenable and that it was "incredible" it had taken more than a month to happen. "Those that have been enabling him to undertake the damaging policies and in his words vision that he had also need to come under strong scrutiny," she said. Watson said FENZ was in a "dire situation" and that the board should stop the changes Gregory had been pushing through, including the restructure and what she called "attacks on emergency response". She said the union would welcome the opportunity to meet with the board to reset bargaining and decide where the organisation should head.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The resignation removes the senior figure at the centre of a political and governance dispute with the government, just as FENZ faces a Serious Fraud Office referral over its levy administration.
The firefighters' union is calling for a halt to restructuring and a reset of bargaining, signalling the potential for industrial conflict in a service that responds to emergencies nationwide.
The minister's claim that she was not kept informed raises ongoing questions about accountability between FENZ's leadership and the government.

Background

FENZ is New Zealand's national fire and emergency service, funded largely through a levy on insurance policies covering property and vehicles. The dispute became public on September 17, when Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden withdrew her confidence in Gregory, accusing him of withholding significant information from her for a year and describing his conduct as a serious breach of trust. FENZ has also confirmed that a historical matter relating to the administration of its levy scheme was referred to the Serious Fraud Office. Gregory had been on extended leave for more than a month before his resignation, and FENZ declined to say whether that leave was paid or unpaid.

Key Perspectives

Minister Brooke van Velden: She cites trust and accountability as the basis for withdrawing her confidence, accusing Gregory of failing to notify her of significant information despite being advised that he should. She now expects the board to manage the leadership transition and keep the organisation focused on delivering for firefighters and communities.

FENZ board chair Raveen Jaduram: The board accepted the resignation and thanked Gregory for 36 years of service, while confirming that Darry Purdy and Megan Stiffler would continue in their acting leadership roles.

NZ Professional Firefighters Union: National secretary Wattie Watson argues the resignation should herald "wide sweeping changes": a full investigation, scrutiny of those who enabled Gregory's policies, an end to the restructure and what the union calls attacks on emergency response, and a reset of bargaining with the board.

What to Watch

Whether the board responds to union demands to stop the restructure and reset bargaining, and whether industrial action follows if it does not.
The Serious Fraud Office's examination of the historical levy administration matter referred to it by FENZ.
The appointment of a permanent chief executive and whether the minister signals further changes to the board or the agency's leadership.

Sources

Fire and Emergency New Zealand chief executive Kerry Gregory resigns · RNZ New Zealand Headlines

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedGregory resigned after the minister withdrew confidence in him.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Van Velden publicly withdrew her confidence in Gregory on September 17, accusing him of withholding significant information from her for a year.”
SupportedThe union is calling for sweeping changes at FENZ.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union said Gregory's resignation should be the catalyst for massive and sweeping change for FENZ.”
Partly supportedA Serious Fraud Office referral into the levy scheme is continuing.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “The agency confirmed a "historical" matter relating to the administration of its levy scheme had been referred to the Serious Fraud Office.”
SupportedGregory resigned as FENZ chief executive with immediate effect.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Jaduram said Gregory had resigned "effective immediately" from his role.”
SupportedGregory said the minister's recent public statement that she did not have confidence in him made it untenable for him to remain in his role.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Mr Gregory says that, in the light of of the Minister of Internal Affairs' recent public statement that she did not have confidence in him, it has become untenable for him to remain in his role.”
SupportedThe minister accused Gregory of withholding significant information from her for a year.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Van Velden publicly withdrew her confidence in Gregory on September 17, accusing him of withholding significant information from her for a year.”
SupportedThe minister described Gregory's conduct as a “serious breach of trust”.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “She described his conduct as a "serious breach of trust", saying he failed to notify her despite being advised that he should.”
SupportedGregory had been on extended leave for more than a month before resigning.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Before Gregory's resignation he had been on extended leave for more than a month .”
SupportedFENZ declined to say whether Gregory's leave was paid or unpaid.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “FENZ declined to say whether Gregory was on paid or unpaid leave.”
SupportedThe union's national secretary said it was “incredible” that the resignation had taken more than a month.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: ““This is incredible it took more than a month to happen quite frankly.”
SupportedWatson said those who enabled Gregory's damaging policies and vision should come under strong scrutiny.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “Those that have been enabling him to undertake the damaging policies and in his words vision that he had also need to come under strong scrutiny,”
SupportedFENZ's levy scheme matter was referred to the Serious Fraud Office.RNZ New Zealand Headlines: “The agency confirmed a "historical" matter relating to the administration of its levy scheme had been referred to the Serious Fraud Office.”