Norsewood Volunteer Fire Brigade

04/08/2026

Winter frost and ice can make roads slippery. Adjust your speed: Slow down and avoid sudden braking or turning.

We're due for very cold overnight temperatures at or below 0ºC this week, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday. These are the perfect conditions for slippery roads in the morning.

Black ice forms when temperatures are at or below freezing (0ºC) and light rain falls on the road, and it can also form when water already on the road freezes when temperatures fall below freezing point.

You can't easily see black ice, but what you can do is travel to the conditions:

• Slow down. Adjust your speed to suit the conditions.
• Increase your following distance to people ahead of you.
• Avoid sudden braking or turning to reduce the risk of sliding.
• Be careful in areas shaded from the sun – they'll stay slippery for longer.

Watch out also when you're travelling over bridges – they get icy before the normal road around them, and they stay icier for longer than the rest of the road.

Turn your headlights on dipped if it's raining. Many of us have silver, grey, or white vehicles which easily blend into the road, grey sky, and the rain. Having your headlights on dipped activates your rear position lights. Together your lights make you much more visible to people behind you and people coming towards you.

When the weather is bad, always check our page to see if state highways are affected before you travel. Follow us if you aren’t already.

04/08/2026

It seems Sheryl is enjoying the snow flurries we’re having during our AGM tonight!

❄️ Winter Road Safety Reminder ❄️

With snow, ice, and a polar blast affecting parts of New Zealand, please take extra care if you’re heading out.

🚗 Before you travel:

* Check the latest road conditions and weather before leaving.
* Delay non-essential travel if conditions are severe.
* Allow extra time to reach your destination safely.

🛞 On the road:

* Reduce your speed and increase your following distance.
* Drive smoothly – avoid harsh braking, accelerating, or steering.
* Be especially cautious on bridges, shaded areas, and elevated roads where black ice can form.
* Turn your headlights on to improve visibility, even during the day.

🧤 Be prepared:

* Keep your fuel tank topped up.
* Carry warm clothing, blankets, water, snacks, and a fully charged phone.
* Let someone know your travel plans if you’re driving through remote areas.

⚠️ Remember:

* If you can’t see clearly, slow down.
* If conditions become unsafe, find a safe place to stop and wait for conditions to improve.
* No destination is worth risking your safety.

Stay warm, stay alert, and drive to the conditions. Your patience could save a life. 💙🚒

15/07/2026

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Earl Orchard.

Earl was a member of the Norsewood Brigade from 1984 to 1993 and a respected member of the Norsewood community.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his wife Diane, sons Kevin and Aaron and daughter Donna along with all of Earls family.

Moe mai rā Earl

09/07/2026

28/06/2026

Welcome to the first post in our brand-new Meet the Crew series, where we’ll introduce you to the amazing people who make our brigade what it is.

First up is Mandie, our very first Operational Support member! 🎉

Operational Support is a new role within our brigade, designed to provide vital assistance behind the scenes and on the fireground. From helping with incident management and logistics to supporting our operational firefighters, this role ensures our crews have the support they need to respond safely and effectively.

Mandie has proudly become the first member to take on this important role, helping strengthen our brigade and the service we provide to our community. While Operational Support members may not always be the ones holding the hose, their contribution is just as valuable in keeping our brigade running smoothly.

Thank you, Mandie, for stepping into this new role and paving the way for others. We’re lucky to have you on the team! ❤️

Keep an eye on our page as we continue introducing more of the incredible volunteers who make up our brigade.

15/06/2026

Te Wiki Tuao a-Motu 🔥

This week we recognise and celebrate the dedicated men and women who volunteer their time to protect our communities.

Volunteer firefighters leave family dinners, warm beds, birthdays, holidays, and everyday life behind when the pager goes off. They train regularly, respond at all hours, and are always ready to help when their community needs them most.

From vegetation fires and motor vehicle accidents to medical calls, storm damage, and community events, our volunteers are there through it all.

To our brigade members, past and present, thank you for your commitment, courage, and service. Your willingness to answer the call, day or night, helps keep our community safe.

If you see one of our volunteers this week, take a moment to say thank you. Their dedication makes a real difference every single day.

❤️ From all of us, thank you to every volunteer firefighter across New Zealand for the incredible work you do.

02/06/2026

Quiet May with only 3 calls

24/05/2026

Well team! The time has come for the all anticipated post for our Sky Tower crew!

A massive congratulations to our own Sheryl and Neil on completing the Sky Tower Challenge for Blood Cancer NZ! 🧗🚒❤️

After months of fundraising, training, and preparing, they took on the challenge and made it to the top in support of an incredibly important cause. We are so proud of the dedication and effort they’ve both put in throughout this journey.

We’d also like to extend a huge congratulations to Corey from Ormondville Brigade for completing the climb as well 👏🔥

Most importantly, we want to say thank you to our incredible community. Your generosity, donations, and support helped make this journey possible and contributed towards raising funds for Blood Cancer NZ. Every raffle ticket bought, every donation made, and every bit of encouragement has helped make a difference.

This achievement wasn’t just theirs, it was backed by an amazing community standing behind them every step of the way ❤️🚒

Rumour has it Sheryl is already wondering how she got talked into her first climb… while Neil was treating his 6th trip up the Sky Tower like it was just another Sunday outing! 😂🧗🚒

06/05/2026

Tuesday night training done and dusted 👨‍🚒

This week we went back to basics with a recap on our airways and CPR training. These are the kind of skills that make all the difference when seconds count. It’s always worth sharpening up on the fundamentals.

It was also a great chance for our newer recruits to get a solid introduction while they wait to complete their first aid course. Good to see everyone getting stuck in and building confidence early 💪

Thanks to Delwyn, Fiona and Jamie from St. John’s Dannevirke for coming out and running us through our refresh. As a small community our teams are on scene together, it’s good to know what’s expected of each other when every action counts.

Strong crew, always learning

05/05/2026

Calls for the month of April