Bernie's Buddies

The Bernies Buddies book is in fact a true story that follows the adventures of Bernie the Fire Engine and his 'buddies' as they journey around New Zealand having fun! This book started as a dream of mine after working for a children’s charity in New Zealand for a number of years, where I identified that there was an incredible opportunity to turn a ‘real’ fire engine into an instantly recognizabl

e children’s character.

‘Bernie the Fire Engine’ was once an active service Fire Engine and is now used each year to raise funds for the benefit of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children of New Zealand. Each year Bernie and his team participate in the annual Variety Bash which is a week long charity fundraising event that travels through different parts of New Zealand. The Bernie's Buddies book is in fact a ‘real’ story based on these travels and is intended not only to be fun but also
to educate children about the country they live in and the people who live in it (Bernie’s Buddies). Every place and every character in the book, Bernie visited or met with during the 2011 Variety Bash and therefore makes it a uniquely New Zealand story which showcases places and activities that we pride ourselves on as Kiwi’s.