As Canada grapples with one of its most devastating wildfire seasons on record New Zealand has stepped in to assist, deploying a seven-member specialist team to Manitoba. Announced by Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden, the move underscores New Zealand’s deep commitment to global emergency cooperation.
The team, from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), will not engage in direct firefighting. Instead, their mission is critical: coordinating safety, managing logistics, and overseeing Canadian fire crews on the ground. Their expertise aims to bolster the effectiveness and safety of front-line operations amid a rapidly escalating crisis.
Canada’s wildfire emergency has displaced over 20,000 people, with blazes scorching vast swaths of land across multiple provinces. One fire alone has consumed 300,000 hectares, an area nearly twice the size of Stewart Island / Rakiura, illustrating the magnitude of destruction.
Responding to a request from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), the New Zealand team joins a long history of trans-Pacific cooperation. Since 2017, FENZ has sent over 330 personnel to assist in North American wildfire operations.
Van Velden praised the contribution saying, “Their efforts will make a real difference to the communities in Canada.” She also hinted that a larger task force from New Zealand could be deployed later this week depending on evolving needs.
This deployment is a testament to New Zealand global solidarity and the strength of its emergency response capabilities. As climate-driven disasters grow in intensity and frequency international collaboration like this offers a vital lifeline to affected regions and a model for shared resilience.