Parliamentary Privileges Committee declines full probe into leaked FENZ draft report

The Governance and Administration Committee prepared a confidential draft report examining Fire and Emergency New Zealand's fleet, procurement and asset management, which was leaked to The Post. Speaker Gerry Brownlee reported that National MP Tim Costley raised a privilege issue after the newspaper ran a story accusing FENZ leadership of dysfunction. The Privileges Committee, acting as Parliament's court, can recommend punishments for breaches of standing orders, but with only three sitting days left in the term, its chair Chris Bishop called an unscheduled meeting and concluded that a full inquiry would not be a worthwhile allocation of time.

Members noted that many individuals had potential access to the draft, reducing the likelihood of pinpointing a single source. The committee has sent a reminder to all MPs emphasizing the importance of respecting the confidentiality of select-committee proceedings.