Fire and Emergency is having to buy $160,000 of new hose to replace lightweight hoses that firefighters refuse to use.
Photo: 123RF
It says it has so far removed all the banned hose off frontline fire trucks.
Firefighters balked last week after three failures and apparent puncturing of the hose, in one instance inside a burning house in New Plymouth.
The hose was bought three years ago at a cost of $423,000, FENZ said.
It has been standard equipment among a range of hoses on many trucks.
Firefighters back in March questioned if it was tough enough.
FENZ said the hose has been used "without incident for the most part".
"The FlashFlood 500 yellow 45mm hose is neither unsafe nor defective," said Charlie Lott, national manager of equipment and logistics, in a statement.
Last week FENZ told firefighters they simply had to change tactics so they did not drag the hose "excessively" if it had a kink in it.
The managed withdrawal of the hose would be completed soon, Lott said.
"We have already had the hose removed from first response appliances.
"Firefighters have been directed to use all other hose in preference."
It would buy 325 lengths of a replacement hose as part of routine hose management.
