Firemen on duty tomorrow are banned from attending memorials for September 11.
The New Zealand fire service management has forbidden any staff on duty from attending or participating in any 9/11 commemoration services because of a breakdown in pay negotiations, said NZ Professional Firefighters Union northern branch president Michael Powell.
Tomorrow marks 10 years on from the terrorist plane attack in 2001, which saw New York's twin towers fall and left thousands dead or injured.
Mr Powell said firemen have always attended memorial services as long as the region was adequately covered.
"It's essentially because we're in the middle of industrial action. It's something that would normally be allowed. We would obviously be in contact with the management in different areas as these things are organised to ensure we maintain coverage for operational regions. But this is something that would normally be done.''