Whangamata Volunteer Fire Brigade

Home
New Zealand
Whangamata
Whangamata Volunteer Fire Brigade

Whangamata Fire Brigade. IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 111 If you are interested in learning more about joining us, come along any Wednesday night from 7pm.

The New Zealand Fire Service is a technologically advanced, responsive fire service that has around 62,000 callouts per year. There are almost 500 stations throughout New Zealand, with around 1,400 career and 8,000 volunteer firefighters who dedicate themselves to preventing fires and protecting the communities they live in from the dangers of fire. Whangamata has a team of dedicated and trained v

olunteers available 24/7 to assist with not just fire fighting, but also with medical calls and other emergency response situations.

09/04/2026

We’ve been a bit tardy in sharing this one, but it’s time to properly acknowledge two absolute stalwarts of our brigade.

Firstly, after many years serving with both Morrinsville and Whangamatā, Rob Clubb has relocated to Cambridge and made the tough call to hang up the gloves.

A huge thank you for your dedication, service, and the many hours given to the job - you’ll be missed around the station.

Secondly… where do we even start. Our patron (and yes, still the brigade’s unofficial eye candy), Ralph Pitcher, has clocked up 60 years with the Whangamatā Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Let that sink in for a moment… 60 years!

Through decades of change, Ralph summed it up best: “some for good, some not so much.”

In that time, he’s also given back to the community in countless ways, all the while raising a family and running a business with wife, Doreen.

This is an incredible milestone for a true local legend.

It was a privilege to celebrate alongside Ralph’s friends and family. Here’s to a lifetime of service, stories (he loves a yarn), and a legacy that’s hard to match.

02/04/2026

As the temperature starts to drop, electric blankets begin to make their way back onto beds.

If yours has been tucked away over summer, it’s worth remembering they don’t always come out in the same condition they went in. Faulty blankets can be a real fire risk — especially for our more vulnerable community members.

This Easter Saturday (4 April), the Lions will be down at the station running their annual book sale (and as always, supporting some great causes).

While you’re there picking up a good read, bring your electric blanket in between 11am–1pm and we’ll give it a quick safety check.

29/03/2026

Another Beach Hop ticked off… and what a weekend.

A bit of a changing of the guard this year, but the vibe didn’t miss a beat—and even the weather eventually decided to play nice.

Great to see so many of you down at the station on Saturday. The BBQs were flat out, mussel fritters and bangers were going non-stop, and the cold drinks were in high demand in that heat.

Thanks to everyone who grabbed a raffle ticket (or a few). Because of that support, we’ve been able to purchase a new scoop stretcher to help us move patients safely during medical callouts. It's something we will use more often than you might think.

Big thanks as well to our awesome local businesses who backed the raffle with some great prizes:
Bunnings Warehouse Whangamata, Smoky Pallet Freehouse and New World Whangamata—we really appreciate it.

Congrats to our winners:
Jaclyn from Hamilton (New World prize), Rob (Smoky Pallet voucher and hoodie), and Nicky (Bunnings hamper), both locals.

And a special nod to Nicky—long-time supporter of the brigade and the person behind the beautiful Wild Essence flowers we often have at the station during brigade events. Nice to see one come your way.

As always, thanks Whangamatā. What a community. Now you can take a breath.

27/03/2026

We’re down at the station now with sausages sizzling, mussel fritters on the go, and cold drinks ready to roll.

There are still a few raffle tickets left for some awesome prizes—drawn this afternoon.

Pop in, say hi, grab a bite, and help us raise funds for vital medical equipment.

23/03/2026

MetService Heavy Rain Watch

Area: Coromandel Peninsula

Period: 41hrs from 6am Thu, 26 Mar - 11pm Fri, 27 Mar

Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts are likely to exceed warning criteria.
High chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously. https://getready.govt.nz/emergency/floods

Issued: 9:41am Tue 24 Mar

Action advice supplied by the National Emergency Management Agency.

All severe weather information:
https://www.metservice.com/warnings

Download the MetService app.
https://www.metservice.com/app. Please post highlighting clear debris from drain and gutters

18/03/2026

We often get out and about to check the fire hydrants around town to make sure they’re easy to access when needed.

If a hydrant is overgrown, that’s precious time lost during an emergency while we try to find and clear it — not ideal when things are urgent, stressful, or happening in the dark.

You can help us out by keeping an eye on the hydrant near your place (look for the yellow triangle on the road) and clearing any grass or overgrowth around it.

We really appreciate it — it could make all the difference when it matters most.

04/03/2026

While people often think of the brigade dealing with fires or vehicle accidents, a large number of our callouts are actually medical events. Because of that, working closely with other first responders is essential — and the best way to do that well is to train together so everyone knows their role when things need to happen quickly.

A big thank you to the crew at Hato Hone St John for hosting us last week and putting together some realistic scenarios to sharpen all our skills — especially valuable for our newer recruits getting some extra hands-on experience.

We really appreciate the time and effort. It makes a difference when it counts.

13/02/2026

It’s with a genuine mix of sadness and excitement for what’s ahead that we farewell two true brigade stalwarts — Paul Hughes and Pat Hargreaves.

Both are heading off to follow family and career opportunities elsewhere in the country. We’re pleased for them… but we’ll certainly notice the difference around the station. When Paul and Pat were on shift, you always knew it. Big voices, strong opinions, plenty of passion — and never afraid to speak up.

And Pat made sure to round out his time in classic firefighter style — rescuing a cat that had been stuck up a tree for several days. After much concern, the situation was resolved with calm professionalism… and what could only be described as a gentle nudge. Cat saved. Reputation maintained.

Thank you both for your service, commitment, and the energy you brought to this brigade. You’ve given a lot to the community.

All the best in the next chapter, gents.

03/02/2026

We’re looking for a building to “borrow”…

We train hard so we’re ready when real emergencies happen - and nothing beats the real thing.

So, here’s our slightly odd request:
Have you got a house or building that’s due for demolition, or one you wouldn’t mind us clomping through for training?

With full permission and proper planning, these spaces help us practise real-world skills like search and rescue and forced entry (the controlled kind).

If you can help — or know someone who can — flick us a message or get in touch with Mark on 021 732 855.

22/01/2026

Another wild 24 hours for the region.

The community experienced another serious weather event and our crew was kept busy responding to flooding-related calls across town — 14 callouts on Wednesday alone. At present, roads in and out of Whangamata remain closed, so please factor that into any travel plans.

Huge thanks to everyone who checked in, offered help, and looked after one another — that support genuinely means a lot.

A special shout-out to Oliver’s Bakery Whangamata, The Lunch Ladies Whangamata and Challenge Fuel Whangamata for keeping us fuelled with delicious food.

And a big thank you to Bunnings Warehouse New Zealand Whangamata for supplying flood bags. They are lighter, quicker, and far more effective than traditional sandbags - an absolute game-changer. Grab a bag or two for home. One of the joys of living on the Coromandel is that wild weather isn’t a question of if… just when.

Finally, the ground is still sodden and unstable and we’re not past the wind yet — please take extra care around slopes, banks, and unstable trees.

08/01/2026

It’s been a busy start to the year for the brigade.

Our crews have already responded to multiple fire alarm activations, a motor vehicle accident, several small fires, numerous medical and weather-related call-outs, and even a helicopter crash.

As always, we appreciate the community support and people doing their best to make way for us when our emergency vehicles are under lights and sirens. Every second counts when we are on our way to an emergency.

As temperatures climb and the winds continue to blow, conditions are prime for fires — especially in vegetation. A single spark or small flame can quickly turn into something much more serious. Please take extra care with anything that could cause ignition, and help us keep the area safe this summer.

31/12/2025

Happy New Year from the Whangamata Volunteer Fire Brigade!

We hope everyone has a safe, fun and relaxing start to 2026. As you celebrate, just a friendly reminder that a fire ban is currently in place — that includes fireworks.

Let’s all do our part to keep Whangamatā safe, green, and fire-free so everyone can enjoy the holidays without drama.

Thanks for looking out for each other

Address

411 Port Road
Whangamata
3620

Telephone

+6478658758

Website

https://fireandemergency.nz/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Whangamata Volunteer Fire Brigade posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Whangamata?