Waikuku Beach Volunteer Fire Brigade

16/09/2026

Big thank you to Truck & Digger for helping us transform this garden it is much appreciated!

14/09/2026

2 weeks ago we cleared the garden by the station of flammable plants 🌿➡️🚒
Thanks to Waimakariri District Council, Sublime Nursery, Corde, STIHL SHOP Fosters + Delta for the support!

Next up: community planting day!
Come help us replant with low-flammability plants + enjoy a sausage.
Bring a shovel and wheel barrow be good to see you there.

09/09/2026

Hey Waikuku Community it's Time to slip on the gumboots, grabbed your shovel and head on over to the domain on Sunday 27th September to help us plant our new low flammability plants. We would love to have the community lend a helping hand and in return we will have a free sausage sizzle on site kindly supplied by CORDE. We couldn't do any of this without any of our supporters including Waimakariri District Council, Delta Utility Services, CORDE, Sublime Nursery Limited & STIHL SHOP Fosters. So please come along on the day, plant a bush and have a sausage while you learn about why low flammable planting and green breaks around your house can help protect your property from wildfire.

Compass FM Waikuku community Canterbury - Fire and Emergency Waikuku Beach Community North Canterbury News Waikuku Beach Volunteer Fire Brigade

29/08/2026

You may notice a gaping hole next to the fire station where our garden used to be. It is for a very good reason though. The garden next door to the station was full of highly flammable plants including Ake Ake and Cabbage trees, so we thought it was best to pull these out before the summer season comes in full force. We have teamed up with the Waimakariri District Council greenspace team and Sublime Nursery to help us replant this area in low flammability plants to help protect our community space. We have started the first part of this project by clearing the site, with thanks to Corde, Sthil Shop Fosters and Delta for suppling the resources to do this part. The next step is to replant the area and this is where we will need our community to help. We will be holding a community day where you can come help plant and get a sausage in return for your hard work. Stay tuned for details about this day.

STIHL SHOP Fosters Waimakariri District Council Canterbury - Fire and Emergency

14/08/2026

As a crew, we will leave this here... follow the link if you wish to have your say!

🔥 WHO DESERVES TO BE NZ’S VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE OF THE YEAR? 🔥

Every day, volunteer fire brigades across Aotearoa show up for their communities — any time, every time.

They’re there when the siren sounds 🚨 but their contribution goes far beyond emergency response. They visit our schools, support local events, lend a hand when times are tough and help make our communities stronger.

Now it’s your turn to show up for them ❤️

To celebrate International Volunteer Year 2026, the UFBA has launched our Brigade of the Year 2026 campaign, and we want to hear what makes your local volunteer fire brigade special.

💬 Tell us their story.
Maybe they go above and beyond for your community.
Maybe they’ve been there for you or someone you know.
Maybe they have incredible team spirit.
Or maybe you simply want to acknowledge all the times they’ve shown up for you and your community.

📅 Nominations close Sunday 11 October.

🏆 Three brigades will be named Brigade of the Year 2026 for the Small, Medium and Large Brigade categories and receive a trophy and vouchers to support the brigade and its members. The winners will be announced at the UFBA's Conference Hui on 25 October.

👉 Full details including the nomination form and terms and conditions are available on the UFBA’s website: https://www.ufba.org.nz/brigade-of-the-year-2026

13/08/2026

Hey Waikuku community,

Here’s a quick fire safety tip from us at the Waikuku Beach Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Batteries in the rubbish bin can be a fire risk. When batteries end up in rubbish and recycling trucks, they can be crushed or damaged and start fires, putting collection staff and equipment at risk.

An easy way to help is to keep your used batteries in a small plastic container somewhere cool and dry at home, then drop them off at a battery recycling point.

For our local community, the closest drop-off locations are:
📍 Southbrook Resource Recovery Park
📍 Kaiapoi Library

Do you have a little “battery box” at home? Ours lives in the garage by the door!

Help us spread the word and tag someone who needs to know this 👇

For more information: https://www.waimakariri.govt.nz/services/rubbish,-recycling-and-organics/reducing-your-waste


Waimakariri District Council Waikuku community Compass FM Big Dave’s Car Wash

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10/08/2026

Tonight was a very special night for our brigade as we said thank you to our Chief Fire Officer Jim Gardner, who has officially stepped down from the role.

Jim has given an incredible 32 years of service to the brigade, including 25 years as Chief Fire Officer. That is an extraordinary commitment to our brigade, our members and most importantly, our community.

Throughout those 32 years, Jim has shared his knowledge, experience and leadership with countless crew members and has been there through some of the biggest moments and challenges our brigade has faced. We are incredibly grateful for everything he has contributed over the years and for the legacy he leaves behind.

Jim, thank you for 32 years of dedication, leadership and service. We wish you all the very best as you step down from the Chief role and we look forward to still having you, your experience and your knowledge within the brigade.

Tonight also marked the beginning of a new chapter for our brigade, with the official appointment of:

Brett Reed – Chief Fire Officer
Shane Lloyd-Jones – Deputy Fire Officer

Congratulations to Brett and Shane on their new roles. We look forward to seeing them lead our brigade into the future and continue the strong foundations that have been built over many years.

Please join us in thanking Jim for his incredible service and congratulating Brett and Shane on their new positions.

From one chapter to the next — thank you Jim and congratulations Brett & Shane!


Canterbury - Fire and Emergency Compass FM Waikuku community Waimakariri District Council Fire and Emergency NZ

07/08/2026

Dear Waikuku Neighbors/community

We’re reaching out to you with an important message about our community’s safety. If you’ve had a chance to stroll by the garden next to our station in Waikuku Park, you might admire its greenery but there’s a hidden risk lurking among those beautiful plants. Many of them are highly flammable, creating a direct fire hazard to our homes.

As we approach warmer weather and face the looming threat of El Niño, the wildfire risk for our coastal community becomes more pressing. If our emergency response station is compromised, it jeopardizes our ability to protect you. That’s why we’re taking urgent steps. On Sunday 30th August 2026, our Brigade will kick off an essential project to clear out high-flammability trees and shrubs from that garden. You might notice some machinery at work most of these tools are battery-powered, but don’t worry—it’s all part of transforming this space into a "Fire Smart" model garden! By creating a vital safety buffer for the park, we’re not just protecting our station we’re also demonstrating how fire-resistant native plants can help shield your own properties.

But we can’t do this alone!
Keep an eye out for more details—we can’t wait to start this project

Canterbury - Fire and Emergency
Compass FM Waikuku community

06/08/2026

Like many volunteer brigades, our biggest challenge isn’t at night — it’s during the day. When the siren sounds, Waikuku Beach Fire Brigade relies on locals dropping what they’re doing to respond. But with many people working out of Waikuku, we need more crew available during daytime hours.

You might be able to help if you:
✔️ Work shifts
✔️ Are self-employed
✔️ Work locally
✔️ Are home during the day

No experience needed — we provide training and gear. As a volunteer firefighter, you'll:
🔥 Serve your community
🔥 Learn valuable skills
🔥 Keep active
🔥 Be part of a supportive team

If you've thought about joining, now's the time...
📧 [email protected]
🚒 Or pop into the station Monday nights at 7pm
💻 give us a message on Facebook and one of our team will be in contact.

Don't assume someone else will turn up. Be the someone. 💪

Lets do the Mahi together ❤️