(1) In each district other than a State area the Fire Authority shall appoint 1 or more suitable persons as a Rural Fire Officer or as Rural Fire Officers. Where there are 2 or more Rural Fire Officers 1 shall be appointed as Principal Rural Fire Officer.
(2) The Fire Authority for each district other than a State area may appoint or employ all such other officers and employees as it deems necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(3) For each State area the Minister of Conservation may—
(a) appoint 1 or more suitable persons as a Rural Fire Officer or Rural Fire Officers:
(b) appoint 1 Rural Fire Officer as Principal Rural Fire Officer.
(3A) Every warranted officer appointed under section 59(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 shall be a Rural Fire Officer for every State area.
(3B) Where no Principal Rural Fire Officer has been appointed for a State area,—
(a) any Rural Fire Officer appointed for that area under subsection (3)(a); and
(b) any warranted officer referred to in subsection (3A),—
shall have all the powers of a Principal Rural Fire Officer in respect of the area.
(4) Deputies of officers and employees may be appointed under this section or under section 14.
(5) Any Fire Authority may in its discretion allocate to its officers, employees, and servants such responsibilities as may from time to time appear to it appropriate and necessary.
Compare: 1955 No 44 s 13
Section 13(3): substituted, on 2 September 1996, by section 5 of the Forest and Rural Fires Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 123).
Section 13(3A): inserted, on 2 September 1996, by section 5 of the Forest and Rural Fires Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 123).
Section 13(3B): inserted, on 2 September 1996, by section 5 of the Forest and Rural Fires Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 123).