Sexual harassment, intimidation allegations against United Fire Brigade Association Executive Director Bill Butzbach

By Clare Sziranyi for RNZ

The executive director of the volunteer firefighters association is the subject of an independent investigation related to two allegations of sexual harassment and bullying.

The board of the United Fire Brigade Association (UFBA) appointed Kristy McDonald QC to carry out the investigation of its CEO, Bill Butzbach.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand funds UFBA $ 4.3 million a year to represent 550 volunteer brigades and 11,500 firefighters.

The two complaints against Butzbach relate to incidents that occurred several years ago when he was Fire Marshal in Martinborough and on the UFBA board.

One complaint relates to sexual harassment in what the complainant describes as a “hazing incident” at a Martinborough restaurant.

The other complainant wants the terms of reference for the investigation to “include sexual assault, sexual harassment, unwanted sexual advances, intimidation, harassment and victimization.”

The terms of reference have yet to be determined.

The investigation comes as the Fire and Emergency Department faces increasing pressure for the way it handles complaints about sexual assault, harassment and bullying.

Last week, the Professional Firefighters Union did not express confidence in FENZ’s leadership over its handling of complaints and said it was representing at least 10 volunteers who have lost faith in UFBA to defend them.

RNZ has reached out to Butzbach for comment.

UFBA President Richie Smith told RNZ that he could not comment on individual cases, but that Butzbach remains in office.

He said that normally the UFBA does not have its own investigative process, since “at the more serious end of the scale, they are treated by the police or a FENZ process.”

Smith said that in the past year UFBA was contacted for help and support in 109 new cases, 20 of which were related to “bullying, harassment and exclusion.”

Eighty-four of the 109 cases were resolved.

He said: “There have been some behavioral problems with both paid firefighters that the [PFU] union represents, 1800 of them, and through our ranks as well, and that is not acceptable.

“Anyone with concerns should be very free and participate in a process that is robust, independent, and timely.”