Wairoa Volunteer Fire Brigade

10/07/2026

A big thank you to Manu Confectionery for donating cupcakes to the Brigade today! Our team really appreciated this 🥰

18/06/2026

As part of National Volunteer Week, the Wairoa Volunteer Fire Brigade is proud to celebrate one of our own: Operational Support Firefighter Don Scott.

Last month, Don received the prestigious King's Service Medal (KSM) for his outstanding services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Civil Defence. This honour recognises individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to their communities through volunteer service, and it couldn't be more deserved.

Don's dedication to serving others spans more than six decades. Since joining the Fire Service in the 1960s, he has made an impact across New Zealand, including:

🚒 Establishing the Onewhero Rural Fire Brigade in 1985 and serving as its first Rural Fire Controller.

🚒 Securing the inclusion of Rural Fire Forces within the Forest and Rural Fire Association of New Zealand in 1989, ensuring volunteer rural firefighters had a voice on rural fire matters.

🚒 Helping establish the Tamatea Rural Fire Force in Central Hawke's Bay in 2011.

🚒 Volunteering in Civil Defence roles from 1996 to 2024 across the Gisborne, Wairoa, Hastings, Central Hawke's Bay, Buller and Westland districts.

🚒 Providing leadership during major emergencies, including the 2007 Gisborne earthquake, the 2019 Fox River flood, the 2021 and 2022 Westport floods, while also supporting the responses to the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes and Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

🚒 Joining the Wairoa Volunteer Fire Brigade in 2024 as an Operational Support Firefighter and our Health and Safety/Welfare Support Officer, where his experience, guidance and support continue to benefit our brigade every day.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Don as part of our brigade. His wealth of knowledge, commitment to serving others, and care for our people make him an invaluable member of our team.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Don❤️👑

18/06/2026

This National Volunteer Week, let's say a thank you to our members of the Wairoa Volunteer Fire Brigade 🚒

Every time you hear that siren, there is someone leaving their family dinner, walking away from work, getting out of bed in the middle of the night, or putting their own plans on hold to help our community in their time of need. They're ordinary people with ordinary jobs and families, who choose to give back in an extraordinary way. Whether it's responding to emergencies, training, maintaining equipment, or attending community events, their commitment makes a real difference 💪

If you know a volunteer firefighter, take a moment this week to say thank you. A simple message, wave, or kind word means more than you might realise 💖

We'd also like to extend our thanks to the families, employers, and supporters who make volunteering possible. Your encouragement and understanding are a vital part of what we do.

Happy National Volunteer Week, and thank you to all of our amazing volunteers 🔥💙

03/06/2026

🚨 Quiz Night Alert! ⁉️

The wonderful team at Lighthouse Lions is hosting a fun-filled Quiz Night to raise funds for the Wairoa Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Gather your smartest friends, family, and workmates, and come along for an evening of laughs, friendly competition, and community spirit all while supporting a great cause.

A huge thank you to Wairoa Lighthouse Lions for their generosity and ongoing support of our brigade. Community groups like theirs play a vital role in helping us continue the work we do to keep our community safe.

We hope to see you there! This will be hosted at the War Memorial Hall. Contact Kathy Grant to secure your spot - 027 303 9444.

14/02/2026

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wairoa-firefighters-prepare-for-severe-weather/FXS2ECAERWTGZO3MXQBQ3SDZ3E/

Firefighters discuss anticipated risks in Wairoa and how the specialist water rescue team will support local crews and the community.

14/02/2026

They’re back again! 🚒☔️

With the latest weather forecasts, the Specialist Water Rescue Team have returned to station to support and help protect the Wairoa community 💪

It’s been a busy and emotional week for our brigade, so we’re grateful to have their specialist skills and experience alongside us. Their presence adds an extra layer of capability as we prepare for whatever the coming days may bring⛈️

As usual, volunteers remain ready to respond whenever needed, just as we always do.

Wairoa District Council

21/01/2026

We have visitors to help keep the Wairoa community safe ☔💪

With the recent rain around, we’ve taken a precautionary step and have our Swift Water Rescue Team (SWRT) spending some time at the station. This is simply to make sure everyone and everything is ready to go if conditions change or the weather worsens. This awesome group is specially trained in water rescue.

Our volunteers remain available as usual and will continue to respond to any callouts if needed. Having the SWRT here is no cause for concern, we’re simply being prepared and doing what we can to look out for the community.

20/01/2026

‼️Wairoa District moves to an open fire season‼️

From today, the Wairoa District has moved to an open fire season. The rain and cooler temperatures have eased the fire risk, allowing restrictions to be reduced.

We’d like to say a big thanks to the Wairoa community for taking our fire safety messages on board during the recent hot weather. Everyone's care and common sense helped keep our volunteers safe, and allowed us to spend time enjoying the summer sun with our whānau and friends 🔥☀️

No matter the fire season, it's always wise to go to www.checkitsalright.nz to see what rules apply to open fires.

Wairoa District Council

09/01/2026

🔥 High fire danger across Hawke’s Bay 🔥

Things are heating up across the Wairoa District this weekend. With temperatures over 30°C, strong winds, low humidity, and very little rain, we have the potential to have what we call spike fire risk days. These conditions mean fires can start easily, spread fast, and quickly become extremely difficult to control.

🚒 Our crews are ready and prepared, but we need the public’s help too.

A few small actions can make a big difference:
🚫 Hold off on spark-makers (mowing, grinding, welding, or using power tools).
🔥 Check old burn piles
🚒 Clear access for fire trucks
📍 Make your RAPID number visible
📞 See smoke? Call 111 immediately

The Wairoa District is already in a restricted fire season, and all fire permits are suspended across the District from today. Be sure to visit www.checkitsalright.nz for more information.

01/01/2026

Another year done and dusted for the Wairoa Volunteer Fire Brigade 🚒

In 2025, our crew responded to 237 callouts, and we even welcomed in the New Year on a job 🔥

We want to say a huge thank you to the Wairoa community for your ongoing support. We truly couldn’t do what we do without such an incredible community behind us ❤️

2025 was a year of growth, progress, and achievement for our brigade, and we couldn’t be prouder of our volunteers. This year we celebrated:

🚨 Four members progressing to Qualified Firefighters (QFF)
🚨 Three new Operational Support members
🚨 Three new Firefighters joining the ranks
🚨 Three recruits currently on the books

If joining the brigade is on your New Year’s resolution list, we’d love to hear from you. Just message our page!