Greater insurance bill for fire services?

Submissions are being called on levy increases on fire insurance contracts, to help fund New Zealand’s fire services. They are funded from a levy on fire and motor vehicle insurance contracts, which hasn’t increased since 2008. Parliament was considering whether to merge Fire Service, the National Rural Fire Authority, and 38 other rural fire authorities. It was expected the levy would need to increase by about $36 per year for the average homeowner, or 70 cents per week.