Te Atatū Volunteer Fire Brigade

02/06/2026

Today we said farewell to a truck that has served the Te Atatu community for a number of years.

Te Atatu 662 (PU5069), left station for the last time today.

After starting service at Otara Station in 1991 (the same year our Brigade OIC was born!), it then moved to St Heliers Station in 1998, then spent time in the Auckland relief fleet before coming to Te Atatu in 2009.

In the 17 years that PU5069 has served the community of Te Atatu, it has seen alot. Good times, bad times, floods, fires, crashes and yes, cats up trees. It even was used for a wedding vehicle for two former members!

Many late nights, early mornings, good laughs and quiet rides back to station. Everyone from 2009 onwards that has been in the brigade will have memories of this truck.

She was a good ol girl, but after 35 years of service, the time has come for retirement.

At this stage we are still turning out with the relief appliance we have and are currently waiting for our replacement appliance to arrive.

04/05/2026

🚒🔥 International Firefighters’ Day 🔥🚒

Today we take a moment to recognise and thank the incredible volunteers of the Te Atatū Volunteer Fire Brigade. Our brigade is made up of everyday people who are always ready to answer the call — leaving behind family time and sleep to respond when our community needs them most.

Whether it’s a fire, a motor vehicle accident, a medical emergency, or severe weather, they show up with courage, skill, and commitment. Their dedication to training and serving others does not go unnoticed, and the impact they make in our community is something to be truly proud of.

Behind every firefighter is also a strong support network of family and friends who make sacrifices too — and today we acknowledge you as well.

To all our firefighters — thank you for your service, your resilience, and your heart. Today is for you. ❤️🚒

11/04/2026

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 🫶

23/02/2026

Thanks to the team out at workshops (Good on ya lads!) we will be available again this once we have uplifted the appliance!

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To our Community both Te Atatū South and Te Atatū Peninsula,

We want to be there for you all, but due to the situation we are in and it being out of our hands, we are unable to respond to help when needed.

We are hoping to be able to again soon. 😓

TE ATATŪ VOLUNTEERS: ABANDONED | While returning from a fire call at a local care facility, Te Atatu's relief appliance developed a substantial diesel leak. This 32-year-old pump—already a temporary replacement for a 35-year-old fire truck—has been towed away.

Since last night, Te Atatū Volunteers have NOTHING.

We have a crew of dedicated locals ready to respond. We have the station. They have the training, but no fire truck.

The Reality:
🔴 No Definite Answer: No confirmation of a replacement.
🔴 No Timeline: No idea when an appliance will be back on the road.
🔴 No Commitment: Left in the dark after decades of service.

Te Atatu volunteers have gone through the night with zero capability to respond to their community. Volunteers deserve better than thirty-year-old hand-me-downs that leak fuel on the station floor, and Te Atatū deserves a fire service that is actually equipped to protect it - Te Atatū Volunteer Fire Brigade

06/12/2025

Another awesome Te Atatu Christmas Parade held this year!

27/11/2025

Recently, Te Atatū Volunteer Fire Brigade held our Honours Night.

This was to recognise and celebrate not only the service achievements of members in our brigade, but also the growth and development of members.

Several members were awarded brigade awards, UFBA service honours and a Long Service Good Conduct was also presented to the Brigades Officer In Charge.

We also celebrated relationships with other organisations in our local community, with certificates of appreciation presented to SD Performance, Te Atatū RSA, Te Atatū RSA Womens Section and Pringle Park Bowls Club.

Two special presentations were also presented.

One to our Volunteer Support Officer, Darryl Johnston, for the support, mentorship and advice he has imparted over the years to memeber of the Te Atatū brigade,

And one was presented to the Barratt family for in recognition of their support given to our Late VSO Sooty Barratt, so that he could be there to support us.

Well done to all members!

10/09/2025

For any who wish to farewell Sooty, details are in the following post from Waitemata Fire District.

Mike (Sooty) Barratt

Following on from our previous post about our friend and colleague, Sooty Barratts passing. We are now in a position to share funeral details with those that knew Sooty.

Funeral Details as follows:
Date: Sunday 14th September 2025
Time: 1100hrs
Location: Greenhithe Memorial Hall
Dress: Fire & Emergency personnel to wear full undress uniform, medals, no caps.

Note: Parking will be limited. People are encouraged to carpool where possible and shuttles will be operating from Wainoni park.

Following the service and refreshments, an honour guard and haka will take place, as per Sooty's wishes.

Operational members wanting to be part of the honour guard and/or haka will need to gather at 1345hrs approx.

A video link to the service will be provided for those who cannot attend in person closer to the time.

Video link: https://share.funeral.stream/7Xy11

05/09/2025

Te Atatū Volunteer Fire Brigade are saddend to learn of the passing of Mike "Sooty" Barratt.

Sooty was a Waitemata District Volunteer Support officer based at Te Atatū Station and a Former Officer In Charge of Te Atatū Volunteers.

Sooty had a very long standing relationship with our brigade and was considered a great friend and mentor to many brigade members past and present.

Sooty will be greatly missed around station.

Our deepest sympathys to the Barratt family at this difficult time.

19/06/2025

For monday night training, we had a combined training with Titirangi Volunteer Fire Brigade.

For this training night we conducted new equipment training as well as foam training for Class B Foam, which is used for hydrocarbon fires.

Combined trainings help us learn from each other and build relationships, while new equipment training gives us new tools in our tool box to help us when responding to emergencies.

13/03/2025

🔥 FREE Electric Blanket Testing – Keep Your Home Safe This Winter! 🔥

With colder months approaching, now is the perfect time to check that your electric blanket is safe to use. Faulty blankets can be a serious fire risk, but a quick check could prevent a disaster!

🔹 Where & When?
📍 Te Atatu Memorial RSA – Saturday, April 12th, 2025
🕥 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Parking available)

🔹 What’s Happening?
✅ Free electric blanket testing by Lecsafe NZ
✅ Fire safety advice from Fire and Emergency personnel
✅ Peace of mind for you and your family

All you need to do is bring your electric blanket along, and the experts will handle the rest. Stay warm and fire-safe this winter!