Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade

11/04/2026

Civil Defence Centres open from 9PM tonight

Our local is:
Shoesmith Hall, Shoesmith Street and Brown Road, Warkworth

UPDATE Monday 13 April | Mōrena everyone. All of our Civil Defence Centres have now CLOSED. Thank you to all of the council staff, our response teams and volunteers and our community partners who worked together to stand these sites up and take care of our communities 🫶❤️

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UPDATE TO CIVIL DEFENCE CENTRE OPENING HOURS:
Sunday 12 April, 2:40pm

We've had 28 people using our Civil Defence Centres overnight, and we're now in the process of closing down those no longer required.

UPCOMING CLOSURES ON SUNDAY 12 APRIL:
-Helensville War Memorial Hall - closing at 2.00pm
-Shoesmith Hall, Warkworth - closing at 6.30pm

These centres will be on standby to open again should the need arise.

-Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland CBD will be stood down at 8pm, transitioning to close at 8am tomorrow Monday 13 April.

Ostend Hall on Waiheke Island and Wellsford Community Centre will remain open overnight.

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Good afternoon Auckland, a couple of really important things.

1️⃣ We've just issued an emergency mobile alert to the Auckland region. We're taking every opportunity to make sure our communities use this afternoon to prepare for Cyclone Vaianu and have a plan in place for Sunday.

2️⃣ From 9pm tonight (Saturday) five Civil Defence Centres will be open.

If you need to leave your home, can’t get home, or can't shelter with friends or whānau overnight, temporary shelter will be available at our Civil Defence Centres in the wider Auckland region.

- Ostend Hall, Waiheke Island - Belgium Street, Ostend, Waiheke Island
- Wellsford Community Centre, 1 Matheson Road, Wellsford
- Shoesmith Hall, Shoesmith Street and Brown Road, Warkworth
- Helensville War Memorial Hall, 2 Porter Crescent Helensville
- Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place Auckland

🏠These centres will provide shelter, light snacks, and some basic sleeping arrangements.

👕 Please bring warm clothing and essential items like medicines, baby and children’s items and special food you may need.

♿️ All Civil Defence Centres are wheelchair accessible

🐶 A small number of pets can be accommodated (cats must be in cages and dogs on a lead).

Check our website for more detail: https://www.aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz/your-local/emergency-relief-centres/

Stay safe everyone 🫶

10/04/2026

🚒 Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade 🚒

Kia ora Matakana community,

With severe weather on the way, we’re asking everyone to take a few simple steps now to help keep yourselves and others safe:

💧 Don’t take any chances with flooded or rising waters
🌬️ Secure loose items around your property (outdoor furniture, trampolines, bins)
🌧️ Clear gutters and drains to reduce the risk of flooding
📞 Call 111 for life-threatening emergencies
🤝 Check on your neighbours, especially the elderly or those who may need a hand
🕯️ Be prepared for a power cut

Being prepared makes a real difference and helps our crews focus where we’re needed most.

For updates and safety advice, please visit:
👉 Auckland Emergency Management: https://www.aucklandemergencymanagement.org.nz/
👉 MetService: https://www.metservice.com/

Stay safe and look out for one another ❤️🚒

10/04/2026

🍊 Mandarin Fundraiser – Tomorrow Morning at the Matakana Markets 🚒

If you’re heading to the markets tomorrow morning, come and grab a bag of fresh mandarins and support our local brigade.

We’re raising funds for upcoming training focused on performing under pressure, working with Dave Wood from Integrated Training. This type of training helps us stay calm, make better decisions, and work effectively as a team when it matters most.

Every bag sold goes directly towards strengthening our skills so we can better support our community.

Swing by, say hi, and take home some delicious mandarins while helping your local volunteers.

Your support genuinely makes a difference. 🙌🚒

15/03/2026

Happiest of birthdays to the legend that is Robyn!

Robyn is an incredible member of our brigade, turning out for almost every call, bringing a vast range of skills from driver to pump operator, medical specialist (also an EMT with St John), our treasurer and so many other roles she undertakes.

Robyn we love you, we appreciate you and we wish you a happy birthday! 🎈

12/03/2026

This morning we were called to the local school for a fire alarm activation.

After investigation, it was found to be burnt toast from the staff room 😂

With all lot of us volunteers being parents of kids at school, we sure love an opportunity to come along and see everyone in the appliance - especially when it’s only burnt toast. Phew!

Happy Friday from the crew here at Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade 🔥

03/03/2026

Full moon. Lunar eclipse. Omaha Beach putting on a show. 🌕🔥

Tonight’s Tuesday training took us out to the Omaha Surf Club for ladder and pump drills, with all three of our appliances rolling to a simulated scrub fire in the dunes.

921 was first on scene, ladders up and over the second level of the surf club and extended out onto the dunes to access the scenario fire.
9276 arrived second, establishing a water source and relaying from the portable dam into 921, before heading back to station to refill and reset.

Great teamwork, sharp ex*****on, and a pretty epic backdrop to train in.

We train like this so when the real call comes in, we’re ready.

If you’ve ever thought about joining the crew, come and have a chat. It’s hard work, but there’s nothing quite like serving this community alongside a great team.

26/02/2026

🔥 Support Our Matakana Firefighters – Sky Tower Challenge 2026 🔥

Our incredible Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade team is taking on the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge in support of Kiwis and families living with blood cancer.

Wearing full firefighting gear (around 25kg), they’ll climb 1,103 steps and 51 floors to the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower – all to raise vital funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ.

These are the same volunteers who show up for our community day and night – fires, medical callouts, rescues, storms, and everything in between. Now, they’re stepping up again for a cause that touches so many families.

💛 If you’re able, please consider donating and sharing this post to help support our crew:

👉 https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2026-matakana-volunteer-fire-brigade

Every dollar makes a difference. Every share helps spread the word.

Thank you for always backing our volunteers and helping keep Matakana strong. 🙌🚒

Ngā mihi,
Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade

17/02/2026

After a call-out to a fire near The Stables, the amazing team at E‑Volt Racing Matakana invited our Matakana and Warkworth volunteers out for a night of go-karting 🏎️🔥

What a way to unwind after a big summer of fires & medical call-outs!

Our volunteers threw down on the track, had a blast racing each other, and enjoyed a well-deserved celebration together.

Big ups to Ataahua our local legend behind d the wheel smoking the team, even giving Robyn a run for her money IYKYK.

Huge thanks to for hosting us and showing so much support for our crew.

Such a fun day out - if you’re looking for an awesome local activity, make sure you support our local businesses 👏💛

12/02/2026

🎬 Community Movie Night Fundraiser 🎬

This year, members of the Warkworth and Matakana Fire Brigades are taking on the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge in support of Blood Cancer NZ, climbing 51 floors in full firefighting gear to help raise vital funds.

To support this cause, we’re hosting a special fundraising screening of Project Hail Mary at Matakana Cinema.

📅 Friday 20 March
🕢 7.30pm
📍 Matakana Cinema
🎟 Tickets: $25 each

From every ticket sold, $10 will go directly towards the Sky Tower Challenge fundraising, with an additional $2 generously donated by the cinema.

It’s a great night out with friends and family, supporting our local volunteer firefighters and an incredible cause.

🎫 To book tickets:
Contact Dan Auber
📧 [email protected]
📞 021 804 445

💳 Payment via bank transfer:
06-0293-0048699-50
(Please use your name as the reference)

Thank you for supporting our crews and helping make a real difference in the fight against blood cancer. ❤️🔥