Over the next three years it will cement further changes to build a modern, nationwide service integrating what are currently separate urban, rural, volunteer and paid firefighting forces. The project will also set up local advisory committees to ensure Fire and Emergency New Zealand is linked strongly to the communities it serves and protects.
It also gives fire services legal powers to attend medical, accident and other emergencies.
For residents in Tararua there will be no noticeable changes in the service.
Even the fire fighters will not notice much in the way of change apart from new badges. All equipment stays within the Tararua and for the next three years the existing rural and urban services will operate side by side.
Structurally the Tararua Rural Fire Service has a few changes, the first being an amalgamation with the Wairarapa Rural Fire District to become the Wairarapa-Tararua District for Fire and Emergency.
The Principal Rural Fire Officer is Phil Wishnowsky, based in Masterton, and Clayton Locke is his deputy in Tararua.
Tararua's Principal Rural Fire Officer Paddy Driver is retiring from his role to focus on his responsibilities in charge of Emergency Management.
Clayton says he is taking on this role confident things will work well with Wairarapa and Tararua's Urban Fire Services.
"Running side by side with Dannevirke's CFO Peter Sinclair and the urban service has always been smooth," he said. "Working with Wairarapa could allow firefighting volunteers to attend a wider range of emergencies and we could receive greater assistance from them should a disaster happen."
Tararua Rural firefighters will attend a dinner on June 28, provided by the Tararua District Council in recognition of all the great service they have provided, attended by Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne.
To celebrate the change the Tararua urban and rural fire services are holding an open day for the public on Saturday July 1 from 10am to 2pm when people can tour the Dannevirke Fire Station and inspect the fire trucks, some of which will be provided from Rural Fire.