Otorohanga Volunteer Fire Brigade

09/07/2026

✨ Matariki Reflection✨

Within Ngāti Maniapoto, we recognise the seven stars of Matariki. As we reflect on the past year, we couldn’t help but see the qualities of these stars reflected in the journey of our seven newest firefighters.

Over the past 12 months, these
seven have grown from taking their first steps into the brigade to completing recruit training, attending courses, learning new skills, supporting one another and becoming valued members of our brigade whānau. Each brings something different, but together they make us stronger.

From left to right we see the reflections of matariki qualities in them.

⭐ Waitī for our James
The freshwater star. Fitting for someone who works with water every day and has a genuine love for rivers, swimming and spending time in nature.

⭐ Ururangi for our Amy
The star of the winds. Calm, steady and dependable, but when it’s time to work, Amy brings incredible strength and intensity whether at CrossFit, training nights or on the fireground.

⭐ Tupuārangi for our Jess
Representing all that comes from above. Jess is always dreaming big, often with her head in the clouds, yet has hands of love creating sweet treats from her kitchen with berries and oranges.

⭐ Matariki for our Sas
The 'mother' of the cluster, representing health, wellbeing, hope and bringing people together. Sas is the one who checks in on others, keeps spirits high and reminds us that a brigade is built on looking after one another.

⭐ Tupuānuku for our Amber
Connected to the earth and everything that grows from it. Amber has a calm, grounded nature, loves the outdoors and brings a warmth that makes everyone feel at home.

⭐ Waipuna-ā-rangi for our Torrin
The star of the rain. Just as rain washes away the old and allows new growth to flourish, Torrin has a way of lifting those around him, bringing positivity and helping others see the brighter side of every situation.

⭐ Waitā for our Josh
Guardian of the ocean. Josh’s passion for diving, fishing and gathering kai from the sea reflects the abundance and generosity that Waitā represents.

While our focus is on the seven stars recognised within Ngāti Maniapoto, we also acknowledge Hiwa-i-te-rangi, the star of hopes and aspirations for the year ahead and welcoming in new members, so watch this space for our upcoming open days.

Also acknowledging Pōhutukawa, the star that honours those who have come before us like the many members over the last 100 years.

As a brigade, we are proud of everything these seven have achieved throughout the past year. Your dedication to training, your willingness to learn, and your commitment to serving our community gives us great confidence in the future of the Ōtorohanga Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Mānawatia a Matariki. May we continue to learn from the past, support one another in the present, and look to the future with hope.

07/07/2026

Training Weekend | Motor Vehicle Collision (MVC) Course

This weekend, seven of our newest members took part in a Motor Vehicle Collision (MVC) course hosted at our newly renovated Fire Station.

The course brought together 12 firefighters from Ōtorohanga, Putāruru, Te Kauwhata and Te Kūiti, providing a great opportunity to train alongside members from neighbouring brigades while learning from experienced FENZ Regional Trainers from Tauranga and Hamilton.

Throughout the weekend, our crews learnt a range of vehicle rescue techniques and gained valuable hands-on experience using hydraulic rescue tools in realistic scenarios. Training like this ensures we’re continually building the skills and confidence needed for the day the call comes in and someone needs our help.

A huge thank you to our trainers, Shane, Nicko and Billy, for sharing your knowledge, experience, and Subway cookies! Your time and commitment to developing our firefighters is greatly appreciated.

Well done to everyone who took part. It’s fantastic to see our newest members continuing to grow their skills and build great teamwork.

23/06/2026

Some people leave a mark on their community not through big words, but through years of showing up, answering the call, and quietly giving their time to others.

Today we acknowledge the passing of Volunteer Support Officer and Kāwhia Chief Fire Officer Callan Stewart.

Callan gave so much of himself in service, leading, supporting and standing alongside his, and many other brigades, and community through moments that mattered most.

Leadership in the fire service is more than the title, it’s the early callouts, the late nights, the responsibility carried for your crew, and the commitment to always be there when your community needs you. Callan carried that responsibility with pride.

From our brigade to Callan’s whānau, Ngaire, Shaun, Jayden and Kyle, and all of our brothers and sisters at Kawhia Fire Brigade, we send our aroha and stand with you at this difficult time.

Kua hinga te tōtara i te wao nui a Tāne.

Your final alarm has sounded. Rest easy now, we’ll take it from here.

18/06/2026

Do you have a car rotting in your paddock? Or a crashed car you were getting around to calling a scrapy...

We would appreciate it if you could donate it to us please. We need 3-4 cars in the next 2 weeks for a FENZ course and training.

Realistic training scenarios help our crew build and maintain the skills needed to respond safely and effectively when our community needs us most.

Our team can arrange collection, making it an easy way to clear space while supporting local firefighter training.

If you have a vehicle you’d like to donate, please send us a message with a few details and your location.

If it is available today or later on in the year we would love to add you to a database to call you when we need a car and if you still have it.

If you are in the Waitomo district send a message to our mates Te Kuiti Volunteer Fire Brigade as they are also looking for cars.

06/06/2026

Training Never Stops

Last month our brigade took part in first aid training to refresh and update our skills. Just like many other professions and organisations, ongoing training is essential to ensure we can provide the best possible care when responding to incidents in our community. Whether it’s assisting at a medical event, supporting ambulance crews, or helping someone in need before further help arrives, these skills are a vital part of what we do.

Being a volunteer firefighter involves much more than responding to emergencies. Our members dedicate many hours to training throughout the year so we can remain ready, capable, and confident when the siren goes off. Investing in training means investing in the safety and wellbeing of our community.

Have you ever thought about becoming a volunteer? We’re always looking for people who want to make a difference. If you’d like to learn more about volunteering with our brigade, send us a message or get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

04/06/2026

We're still riding high... and not just because we climbed 51 floors!

Did you spot the our members in this week's King Country News?

A special shout out to Tony Russell, who completed his 10th Sky Tower Challenge this year. What an achievement!

We're incredibly proud of our brigade, not just for the climb, but for the commitment, teamwork, fundraising, and community support that got us there.

If you haven't seen the article yet, check it out and learn a bit more about the challenge and the team behind it here: https://kingcountrynews.co.nz/2026/06/tony-keeps-stepping-up/

Thanks again to everyone who donated, supported, followed the livestream, and cheered us on. We couldn't have done it without you.

25/05/2026

Front and centre for our team🔥

Thank you!!! ❤

Saturday marked our 22nd annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge — and what a day it was.

A massive thank you to every firefighter who turned up at and climbed all 1103 stairs in the Tower, raising nearly $2.5 Million to support Kiwis facing blood cancer! The hard work, determination and generosity of this community never fails to amaze us. ❤

To our sponsors and supporters — none of this happens without you. Your belief in the firefighters, the brigades, and this event means the challenge can continue on year after year.

There is still time to donate to your local brigade via https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/

24/05/2026

Expectation: “Yeah the Sky Tower Challenge will be hard… but we train for this.” 💪

Reality: walking like newborn giraffes for the next 3 to 5 business days 🥴😂

Huge effort from the whole skytower challenge crew this weekend. The stairs won, but so did an incredible cause ❤️

Sashtree Sash Montgomery Amber-rose Tauranga Jess Brueck Tony Milne Tony Russell Torrin Campbell

23/05/2026

SKY TOWER CHALLENGE COMPLETE! 🚒🔥

What a day for the Ōtorohanga Volunteer Fire Brigade team at the 2026 Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge!

After months of training, sore legs, laughs, and plenty of stair sessions, our crew officially conquered the 1,103 steps of the Sky Tower in full firefighting gear.

As a brigade, we are absolutely stoked to have raised $5,875 for Blood Cancer NZ. A huge thank you to everyone who donated, shared our posts, sent messages of support, and backed the team throughout this journey. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Here are our official climb times:

🔥 SFF Jess Brueck – 20:56.87
🔥 SFF Tony Russell – 23:07.82
🔥 SO Tony Milne – 23:38.87
🔥 FF Amber Tauranga – 23:49.63
🔥 QFF Sashtree Montgomery – 34:05.85
🔥 FF Torrin Campbell – 34:25.05

We are incredibly proud to represent our brigade and community for such an important cause.

22/05/2026

TODAY IS THE DAY! 🚒🔥

Months of training, sore legs, stair sessions, and plenty of banter have all led to today.

Our Ōtorohanga Volunteer Fire Brigade Sky Tower Challenge team musters at 12:10pm and will begin heading up the tower shortly after.

You can watch the live stream here and cheer the team on from home: https://www.youtube.com/live/mGdysSQYNFI?si=f09JYEhU20IBCVuC

Good luck to all firefighters taking part today! 💪

2026 Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge | SkyCity Auckland, New Zealand | 23 May 2026Saturday, 23 May 2026📍 SkyCity Auckland, New ZealandThis is the official l...