Whangarei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade

Whangarei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade Established in 1976

An historic evening for the Whangārei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade. 🚒At The Pines Golf Club, we celebrated the dedicatio...
08/08/2026

An historic evening for the Whangārei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade. 🚒

At The Pines Golf Club, we celebrated the dedication, service and leadership of our brigade members, with the presentation of UFBA awards and King's Long Service and Good Conduct honours.

The evening also marked a significant leadership transition, with the ceremonial handover of helmets and responsibilities to our new Chief Fire Officer Jake Brown and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Gary Marlow.

A special tribute was paid to Paul McDonald, who steps back to the role of Station Officer after 11 years of outstanding leadership. Paul's vision and determination helped deliver the First Response 4x4 ute and station upgrade, leaving a lasting legacy for both the brigade and our community.

The pinnacle of the evening was farewelling Murray Jagger after an incredible 41 years of service and leadership. Murray has finally hung up the helmet and looks forward to quieter Wednesday evenings by the fire, alongside a treasured farewell gift, a beautifully crafted wooden John Dory created by Brent Martin.

While Honours Night recognises our members, we also acknowledge the partners, families and employers whose unwavering support makes volunteer service possible. A special thank you to Thelma McDonald and Helen Jagger for the decades of support they have provided behind the scenes.

Congratulations to all recipients, leaders and supporters. Your commitment continues to make our community stronger and safer. ❤️👏

Last night's training, Wednesday 22 July 2026, was all about a bit of friendly rivalry as we celebrated CFO Paul McDonal...
23/07/2026

Last night's training, Wednesday 22 July 2026, was all about a bit of friendly rivalry as we celebrated CFO Paul McDonald and DCFO Murray's final training night in their roles.
The crews split into teams and battled it out in a firefighter relay featuring hose runs, knots and lines, wheelbarrow races, BA start-ups and, to finish it off, the CFO and DCFO had to race to change a nappy while fully kitted out in firefighting gear, including heavy-duty fire gloves. Safe to say there were a few laughs!
It was a great night full of teamwork, plenty of banter and some healthy competition.
Thank you, Paul and Murray, for your years of leadership, dedication and service. It was a fitting way to mark your final training night and one we'll all remember.
On Saturday night, the brigade will close one chapter and begin another as we farewell Murray into retirement from the brigade, celebrate our brigade honours presentations, and officially hand over leadership to our new Chief Fire Officer and Deputy Chief Fire Officer.
A memorable week for our brigade and an opportunity to recognise the people who have helped shape it.

14/07/2026

WHY IS THE SIREN SOUNDING MORE OFTEN

Over the past few weeks, many of you may have noticed our fire station siren sounding more often than usual. Every time you hear it, local volunteers are being called to help someone in our community.

While many people associate the siren with fires, it is also used to alert our volunteers to life-threatening medical emergencies, serious motor vehicle crashes, rescues, hazardous incidents, and other situations where every minute counts.
Our brigade is made up of local volunteers who leave their families, workplaces, and daily lives at any hour of the day or night to help others when they are needed most.

We understand that hearing the siren can sometimes be inconvenient, particularly during the night. We do not sound it lightly, and every activation means someone in our community needs urgent assistance. Modern digital alerting systems are available, however, they are not always 100 percent reliable. Coverage can be affected by weather, local terrain, and other factors, meaning some brigade members may not receive alerts promptly. The station siren remains one of the quickest and most reliable ways to notify volunteers who are nearby, helping us respond as quickly as possible.

When you hear the siren, please be assured that brigade members are responding to the station to help someone in need. We encourage you to spare a thought for the individual or family who may be experiencing one of the worst days of their lives, that siren can be very reassuring that help is on the way.
To everyone who continues to support our volunteers and understands the important role the siren plays, thank you. Your patience, understanding, and encouragement help us continue serving Whangārei Heads and the surrounding communities when people need us most.

If hearing the siren has sparked your interest, why not come along and see what volunteering is all about? We train every Wednesday night at 7:30 pm at the Whangārei Heads Fire Station. Whether you're looking to give back to your community, learn new skills, or become part of a great team, we'd love to meet you.
You might just discover that volunteering as a firefighter is for you.
Thank you for supporting the Whangārei Heads Fire Brigade. We sincerely appreciate your support. THANK YOU

We're very proud to have one of our own competing in the Sky Tower Challange thus Saturday. Ady has done this more than ...
21/05/2026

We're very proud to have one of our own competing in the Sky Tower Challange thus Saturday. Ady has done this more than a few times! Raising funds for Leukaemia and Blood cancer a worthy and heartfelt cause. Please follow this link if you'd like to donate. https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/ady-mc-kenzie. Go Ady!

The Whangārei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade recently hosted a station open day to celebrate a major milestone for both th...
13/05/2026

The Whangārei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade recently hosted a station open day to celebrate a major milestone for both the brigade and the wider community.

After six years from the initial concept—first envisioned by Chief Fire Officer Paul McDonald—the brigade’s new First Response 4x4 utility vehicle and accompanying station upgrade are now complete and fully operational.

The project represents the fulfillment of a long-held dream to enhance emergency response capability for the Whangārei Heads area. Remarkably, the project was fully funded through the generosity and support of the local community, made possible by numerous fundraisers and donations, along with significant contributions from Whangārei District Council and the Lions Clubs of Onerahi and Whangārei Heads. In appreciation, the brigade held the open day as a way to give back and thank everyone who helped turn the vision into reality.

The event was a great success, drawing many families from across the area. Visitors had the
opportunity to tour the newly upgraded station, inspect the brigade’s vehicles, and meet the
Seasonal fire safety messages and HFSV help to save lives. A range of fire safety activities offering both education and fun for all ages included the popular Kids Escape My House challenge, a kitchen fire demonstrator, and a children’s colouring competition.

The day concluded with the official unveiling of the new First Response utility vehicle and the
Community Supporters Wall, which now proudly acknowledges the key organisations and
individuals who supported the project.

The Whangārei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade extends its sincere thanks to everyone who
contributed and attended, celebrating a shared achievement that will strengthen community
safety for years to come.

InvitationThe Whangarei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade warmly invites you to join us for a special Community Open Day, an ...
04/03/2026

Invitation
The Whangarei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade warmly invites you to join us for a special Community Open Day, an event to officially thank all the supporters of our First Response Project and to celebrate the unveiling of our Community Supporters’ Wall.
This Open Day is an opportunity for our community to come together, explore the upgraded station, learn about our new First Response capability, meet the volunteers, and enjoy a fun, family-friendly day.
What’s On from 10am
🔥 Station Tours – Explore our upgraded facilities
🚒 Fire Appliance & Equipment Displays
🚑 New First Response Utility – On Show
🧯 Fire Safety Information & Demonstrations
❤️ Medical Equipment Displays & Free Blood Pressure Checks
👦 Kids’ Activities
🌭 Free Sausage Sizzle

Special Ceremony
⭐ Official Unveiling of the Community Supporters’ Wall 🕜 From 1:30pm

Followed by complimentary celebratory afternoon tea and snacks.
These unveiling honours the many individuals, families, and organisations whose generosity made our First Response Project and station improvements possible.
We look forward to seeing you!
Come along, bring the kids, and help us celebrate this major milestone for our brigade and our community.

Address

2066 Whangarei Heads Road
Whangarei Heads
0174

Telephone

+6494340825

Website

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