Bullying claims upheld by fire chief
by Brendan Manning A former deputy chief fire officer with 28 years’ experience has backed up a young female volunteer’s claims of a culture of bullying at Feilding Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The May pin- up girl for the 2013 Female Firefighter Calendar, Jo- Anna Dalby, 22, resigned from the Feilding brigade after three and a half years because of alleged verbal attacks, gossip and an incident in which someone tried to run her over.
‘‘ Ever since I joined the brigade I’ve been bullied, really, and I’ve just had enough,’’ she said.
Feilding’s former deputy chief fire officer Graeme Spiers said he left the brigade after serving for 28 years — eight as a deputy chief officer — because of the bullying culture.
‘‘ I resigned in 2012 citing a dysfunctional environment.’’
The allegations centred around financial mismanagement, he said.
The bullying culture was not limited to the Feilding brigade and pockets existed throughout the national service and spread to national headquarters in Wellington, Mr Spiers said.
He was an honorary life member but as a result of his ‘‘ standing up’’, the Feilding brigade tried to have his membership revoked. He had since sought legal help to work through his allegations.
Ms Dalby said she was pleased Mr Spiers had backed up her claims of bullying.
New Zealand Fire Service regional manager and assistant national commander Ian Pickard said all complaints about behaviour within brigades were taken extremely seriously and investigated thoroughly.
‘‘ We have investigated and dealt with the matters that were raised by Jo- Anna Dalby and she has been informed, within the bounds of privacy, as to the outcomes.’’
A separate external review was under way into the Feilding Volunteer Fire Brigade processes and actions relating to the brigade’s management, Mr Pickard said.