26/04/2026
Big thanks to QFF John Eley for digging up every historical record that he could to write about the history of the Waimarino Fire Brigade. Here is his summary.
Prior to 1955, fire prevention and control for the Waimarino township was managed by informal groups of residents or through government forest management channels.
The Tongariro Fire District was established in 1940 under the Forests Act 1921-22. The Tongariro Forest Officer was empowered to require “any male person over the age of 16” to assist in extinguishing a fire. Records indicate the Forest Service maintained some fire engines in the area through this period, and also that residents of the local Waikune Prison also assisted with fires.
The first formal beginnings of the Waimarino Volunteer Fire Brigade as a standalone entity begin on 15 March 1955 with the establishment of the Urban Area of Waimarino as a Secondary Urban Fire District under the Fire Services Act 1949.
In 1957, the land comprising the station’s current location was transferred to the Waimarino Urban Fire Authority.
Some time after, notwithstanding the Brigade’s official 1955 establishment name and land registry records, the Waimarino Urban Fire Authority began to be known as the “National Park Fire Brigade” as the town itself became known as National Park.
In 1978, the National Park Volunteer Fire Brigade was created under the Fire Service Act 1975. The Fire Service Act 1975 was replaced by the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017.
In December 2024, National Park Village was officially renamed to Waimarino and on 26th April 2026, National Park Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrated their official name change back to Waimarino Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Thanks to Liz Brooker for the photo :)
