FENZ Takapau Volunteer Fire Brigade

08/09/2026

Are you planning a burn on your property? Let us know first! 🔥

Whether you are in an open season or you have a fire permit, letting us know when you plan to burn can reduce unnecessary call outs for our crews.

By using this simple online tool and notifying us of your burn:
✅ Our 111 call operators know there is a planned burn in the area.
✅ Calls from the public reporting this fire can be cross-checked with what we know is happening in the area.
✅Our teams can check in with the land owner to make sure their burn is still safe and under control.
✅ It reduces unnecessary call outs for our crews keeping them available for emergencies.

So before you light your fire, remember to let us know first at https://www.firepermit.nz/fenz/Default.aspx

08/09/2026

Tomorrow, between 12pm and 1pm, members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union will be stopping work for one hour.

We will continue to answer 111 fire calls. Volunteer stations in the affected cities and towns will respond, as they regularly do when there are multiple emergencies.

If you are at home, do not leave cooking unattended. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and living area.

If there is a fire, get out, stay out, and call 111.

If you are at work, know your building evacuation plan. If there is a fire or the fire alarm sounds, exit the building, assemble at your safe meeting place and call 111.

If you are on a job site that uses spark or heat generating tools, we ask you to refrain from using these tools during this hour.

It is important to acknowledge that this strike action will not affect the parts of the country served by our volunteers.

If you are unsure whether your area is affected, please visit https://shorturl.at/thoU5

31/08/2026

🚒 Firefighters are currently responding to two large vegetation fires in Central Hawke's Bay, with 22 fire appliances working across both incidents.

💨 Strong winds increase the risk of reignition. Please check burn piles and old burn sites, as yesterday's burn can quickly become today's fire.

✅ Check all burn piles and previous burn sites thoroughly.
✅ Turn over material and look for heat, smoke, or embers.
✅ Fully extinguish any hotspots with water.

Before lighting a fire, always check the conditions and whether a permit is required at www.checkitsalright.nz

31/08/2026

Quick weather update !💨

The strong winds are expected to keep hanging around until around 7pm tonight.

⚡ If you see any downed powerlines, stay well clear and treat them as LIVE.

We’re keeping an eye on things and our crews are ready to respond to any outages when and where it’s safe to do so.

⚡ If you’re without power, remember to call 0800 NO POWER (0800 667 693) to report it.

Stay safe out there, Central Hawke’s Bay! 🌬️💚

31/08/2026

14/08/2026

🔥 NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN 🔥

How have we helped you?

As part of International Volunteer Year 2026, the UFBA is inviting communities across New Zealand to nominate their local brigade for the Volunteer Fire Brigade of the Year.

If our brigade has made a difference to you, your family, your school, business or community, we'd appreciate you sharing your story with the UFBA.

Nominate us here:
https://www.ufba.org.nz/brigade-of-the-year-2026

14/08/2026

MetService New Zealand Road Snowfall Warning for Napier-Taupo Road (SH5)
Issued at 10:52am Sat 15 Aug 2026

Napier-Taupo Road (SH5)
Valid: 11 hours from 7:00pm Sun 16 Aug to 6:00am Mon 17 Aug
Forecast: Snow may settle on the road from Sunday evening until early Monday morning, where 1 to 2 cm may accumulate about and east of the summit with lesser amounts to 600 metres.

14/08/2026

Friendly reminder to please pull over, as soon as you can safely do so, to allow emergency vehicles to get to where they need to go 🚒

08/07/2026

Update - 9:36 AM 09/07/26.

MetService New Zealand has updated the following Strong Wind Watch and Heavy Rain Warning, please see our latest post for details.

🟠HEAVY RAIN WARNING and STRONG WIND WATCH🟡

9:20PM 08/07/26

The MetService New Zealand Heavy Rain Warning for Hawke's Bay for a period of 28 hours from 8pm Wednesday 8 July to midnight Thursday 9 July remains in place.

➡ Forecast of 100 to 150 mm of rain (possibly more in localised areas) mainly from Ruahine Range northwards. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h expected during Thursday about the Hawke's Bay ranges.

➡ Note, heavy rain in northern Hawke's Bay may continue into Friday morning and the validity of this warning could be extended. There is a low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

MetService has also issued a Strong Wind Watch for coastal areas of Hawke's Bay for 12 hours, from 3am to 3pm Thursday 9 July.

➡ Forecast of Southerly winds that may approach severe gale in exposed places. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Key Messages:

➡Heavy rain can cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly
➡Surface flooding and slips are possible.
➡If you are concerned about any surface ponding in your area, please contact your local council.
⚠️Strong wind gusts can damage trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures.
🚗 Please drive to the conditions. Take extra care on the roads (especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles)

For more information:
➡ Monitor River levels through the Hawke's Bay Regional Council Extreme Weather Hub at: https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/extreme-weather-hub/

➡ Keep up to date with the forecast and conditions at: https://www.metservice.com/national

➡ You can check out tips to prepare for severe weather at: https://getready.govt.nz/emergency/storms/

If you have to travel, check road conditions first with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne at: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/

The latest updates on local road closures and impacts on local services will be available on your local Council websites.

Wairoa District Council Hastings District Council - Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga Napier City Council - Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri Central Hawke's Bay District Council Hawke's Bay Regional Council

10/06/2026

Congratulations to William Lauder for becoming a QFF:)