Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade

06/10/2026

🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

There’s been a bit of a changing of the guard at Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade. Last Wednesday night it was made all offical with the handing out of the new helmets.

After 8 years as Deputy Chief Fire Officer
and a whopping 39 years as an operational firefighter Derek Collier has decided it’s time to step away from the white helmet and let one of the younger fellas have a crack at it.

After the usual process of interviews, voting, discussions and all the other fun and games that come with putting your hand up for a leadership role, Darren Hartley was selected as our new Deputy Chief Fire Officer.

Darren is no stranger to the brigade and already has plenty of experience under his belt but this marks a new chapter for him as he steps into a formal leadership position. Moving into the white helmet is a different sort of job altogether with a bigger focus on supporting the crew, helping guide the brigade, making decisions when they count and working closely alongside Chief Fire Officer Roly Chaney.

It’s a big step up and a different kind of responsibility but one Darren has earned the opportunity to take on.

A massive thank you to Derek for the 8 years he’s spent in the Deputy role, and for everything he’s put into the brigade over his 39 years operationally. Thankfully he’s not disappearing altogether.

And to Darren congratulations mate. We wish you all the best as you make the move into leadership and take on the new role. We know you’ll give it everything you’ve got and do your best for the brigade and the community we serve.

SFF Whiteman 🧑🏻‍🚒

23/09/2026

At the end of this month our Deputy Chief Deecee will be handing over the reins after more than 8 years in the deputy role. Tonight’s meeting was his last in that role.

After 39 years as an operational firefighter, he’s also heading “through the wall” to take on the role of Operational Support Station Officer.

Before anyone gets too emotional he’s not actually going anywhere. We’re not getting rid of him that easily. He’s just moving to the other side of the wall where no doubt, he’ll still know exactly what we’re doing wrong from a considerable distance.

For years Deecee has been one of our go to people. Deputy, Training Officer, problem solver, keeper of standards, source of knowledge and occasionally the bloke standing there wondering how something he definitely explained at training has already been forgotten.

As Training Officer he’s set the bar bloody high and the standard of our trainers and training team is a pretty good reflection of the time, knowledge and effort he’s put into them over the years.

8 years as Deputy is a huge commitment on top of nearly four decades operationally serving the brigade and our community. That’s a lot of calls, training nights, decisions, paperwork, conversations, problem solving and quietly getting things sorted behind the scenes.

So from all of us a massive thank you, Deecee, for everything you’ve given to the Deputy role and for being our go to man for so many years.

The reins might be changing hands, but thankfully you’re still only through the wall.

Thanks for all you have done for us.

SFF Whiteman

14/09/2026

A huge thank you to our community for all the votes and support ❤️

Being chosen for this $1,000 donation from Tyrepower Whitianga is hugely appreciated and certainly not something we take for granted. There are so many incredible community organisations out there fundraising, volunteering and doing good things for their own causes so to have our brigade chosen means a lot to us.

We’re pretty lucky to have the community behind us the way you do.

Thank you to everyone who voted, nominated and supported us and a massive thank you to the team at Tyrepower Whitianga. We really do appreciate it. 🚒❤️

🎉 $1,000 CHARITY GIVEAWAY WINNER! 🎉

A huge congratulations to the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade 🚒 who were drawn as the winners of our $1,000 community donation!

It’s awesome to be able to give a little something back to a great local organisation that does so much for our community. ❤️

A massive thanks to everyone who commented, tagged a mate and nominated a local charity, club or organisation.

Enjoy the $1,000 team — well deserved! 👏

From the team at Tyrepower Whitianga 🔴🔵

09/09/2026

🚨Training Night Shenanigans🚨

The team were out and about for tonight’s brigade training with a bit of a waterways gear revival on the cards.

First up building a dam and getting the portable pump going which is always fun. Some people have the portable pump magic some people definitely do not but that’s the whole point of training isn’t it.

Then it was down by the bike park, drafting from a little creek with both trucks and getting some proper water moving.

No eels were harmed in these proceedings.

We also dragged out the ole B-type waterways gear another handy bit of kit used for drafting water. We used to have a waterways competition run that used the B-type gear and it was hands down one of my favourite runs.

For the non firefighter folk ~ drafting is basically pulling water from somewhere like a creek, tank or dam through suction hose, then using the pump to send it back out under pressure through the delivery lines.

A pump operator’s dream… or absolute nemesis, depending on who you ask.

Our Operational Support crew were out with us too doing their thing and keeping everyone’s backs safe while the crews worked.

All round, another great training night getting the gear off the truck getting hands on it, and using it in the kind of situations we could actually find ourselves dealing with.

Take care out there
SFF Whiteman 👩🏻‍🚒

13/08/2026

🔥 WHO ARE THE LEGENDS OF OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADES🔥

There are brigades all over Aotearoa full of people who quietly get on with it. The siren goes. They drop what they’re doing. They leave their families their dinner, their beds, their jobs, their lives… and they go.

Then there’s everything that happens when the siren isn’t going. The school visits. The community events. The fundraisers. The checking in on people after the sh.t has hit the fan. The helping hands. The training. The gear that needs washing. The trucks that need maintaining. The whānau who support the people who keep showing up.

A lot of this work never makes the news. It just gets done.

This year the UFBA is asking us to shine a bloody great big light on it.

So I’m throwing this out to our community and to the brigades around us:

WHO DESERVES TO BE RECOGNISED AS BRIGADE OF THE YEAR?

Maybe it’s our own brigade. Maybe it’s the brigade down the road. Maybe there’s a crew who turned up for you when your world was falling apart. Maybe they’ve gone above and beyond for your community for years. Maybe they’re the little brigade nobody hears about, quietly doing massive things with limited people and even fewer resources. Or maybe you just think those people deserve to be acknowledged.

Then follow the link and nominate them. This isn’t about who has the flashiest station or the biggest crew. It’s about the people behind the trucks.

The volunteers who keep answering the call.
The ones who show up. Again and again and again.

📅 Nominations close Sunday 11 October 2026. Click on the post and follow the instructions. Don’t just post on this post. They won’t count.

Tag a brigade. Tell us their story. Volunteer firefighting is so much more than putting on a helmet when the siren sounds.

It’s community. It’s commitment. It’s showing up.

Nomination details are on the UFBA website.

Look out for each other and take care out there
👩🏻‍🚒 SFF Whiteman

🔥 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

28/07/2026

🔥 Winter Safety Tip 🔥

Winter's here the heaters are on the electric blankets are out... and suddenly every power board in the house is working overtime.

👀 This photo…. This is NOT the go. In fact... it's not even close to being the go.

Ever put your hand on a power board that's loaded up with heaters, chargers and appliances? Sometimes you can actually feel the heat coming off it. That's your warning sign.

Overloaded power boards can overheat and significantly increase the risk of an electrical fire.

So don't be that person who thinks "just one more plug will be fine." Your power board isn't playing Tetris... it has limits too.

A few simple reminders:
• Plug high-powered appliances like heaters directly into a wall socket whenever possible.
• Don't daisy-chain power boards or extension leads together.
• Check cords and plugs for damage.
• Keep heaters at least 1m away from anything that can burn.
• Turn heaters off before heading to bed or leaving the house.
A house fire can start in minutes but a quick check of your power setup only takes a moment.

This winter stay warm... not smoky. 😉

Your local volunteers would much rather see you at the supermarket than at 2 am standing in your driveway watching your lounge burn.

Stay safe Whitianga.
SFF Whiteman 🚒❤️

23/07/2026

🚨Team Announcement🚨

There are some pretty big milestones in this brigade… and earning the title of Firefighter is definitely one of them.

A massive congratulations to our two brand spanking, sparkly new firefighters... Jeremy Sail and Conor Keane! 👏🔥

What a lot of people don't see is what goes on before someone gets to wear that rank. It's not just turning up for a 7 day recruit course and hoping for the best. These two have put in countless extra hours over the past few months training week after week, learning new skills, practising until things become second nature and turning up every single time ready to learn.

That recruit course is 7 days of intensive training but it's only the tip of the iceberg. Behind it sits months of commitment sacrifice and a whole lot of hard work that volunteers give up in their own time. Simply because they want to serve this community to the best of their ability.

These fellas didn't stop there either. They threw themselves headfirst into their very first waterways season and from all accounts absolutely loved it. I think it's fair to say Jeremy is well and truly hooked already going in for another season soon... and we're pretty sure Conor isn't far behind! It's awesome seeing new members fully immerse themselves in everything our brigade has to offer.

Jeremy~ the builder, and Conor ~ the (ridiculously clever) student you've both done yourselves proud. More importantly you've made your brigade proud.

So everyone help us welcome our two newest ranked firefighters.

Well done, boys. You absolutely smashed it. 🚒🔥

SFF Whiteman 👩‍🚒

11/07/2026

Wednesday night's training involved one of firefighters favourite activities taking perfectly good cars and making them significantly less car shaped.

Before anyone panics the vehicles were already destined for retirement and were kindly donated for training purposes. Their sacrifice in the name of learning was greatly appreciated.

This week the brigade was training for an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) scenario what most of us would simply call a car crash.
While TV might suggest road crash rescue mostly involves dramatic cutting, loud noises and firefighters looking incredibly cool in helmets the reality is there's a whole lot more going on behind the scenes.

Vehicle stabilisation, patient care, scene safety, communication, planning the rescue, choosing access points and making sure every movement is deliberate and safe all happen long before the first cut is made.

It's a bit like a very complicated team puzzle except the pieces weigh several tonnes and someone is usually reminding you not to cut through an airbag cylinder.

Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade has always taken road crash rescue training seriously and we're incredibly proud of the experience and knowledge within our crew including our members who compete in Road Crash Rescue competitions to continually sharpen their skills for the real thing.

This week also gave one of our newest recruits Jonno the chance to experience an MVA training exercise from the inside. Here’s what he wanted to share.

"Hay all I'm Jonno a new recruit with the Whitianga Fire Brigade. I'm about to go away on my firefighters recruit course in a few weeks and last night I was given the opportunity to observe and participate in an MVA training scenario where I was tasked with monitoring one crash victim and awaiting handover to higher care once they were removed from the vehicle.
I was also able to observe our local crew work to remove another victim from the vehicle. They all worked very hard and with the utmost care to remove her as safely as possible.
I look forward to learning as much as I possibly can from this awesome, caring, hardworking group of people."

Thanks for being here.
SFF Whiteman👩‍🚒

26/05/2026

🧀Cheesy Rolls and Cutting Gear - A Rookie’s Guide to Milton🚘

They say the best way to bond with a team is through shared trauma and long-haul driving and short haul flights. Leaving Whitianga, I was just a rookie "Toolie" with a clean overall and a nervous dream.

The drive to Auckland was the usual white knuckle affair on the Coromandel’s questionable go kart tracks, but landing in Queenstown was a revelation.

Southern roads. They’re basically runways. I spent the drive to Milton waiting for a slip or a hairpin turn that never came, marvelling at bitumen that didn't feel like it was actively trying to reject the van's tires.

We rolled into Milton and were immediately greeted by the pinnacle of Southern hospitality. I learned two very important things: a "cup of tea" solves 90% of the world’s problems, and the "cheesy roll" or Southern Sushi is a culinary masterpiece that should be mandatory in every fire station lunchroom.

Then came the competition. As the "rookie", I spent the weekend in a state of high intensity fetching. "Spreader!" "Cutter!" "Ram!"

I felt like a caffeinated retriever in heavy boots. There was sweat - mostly mine - and enough hard work to make me reconsider my gym membership, but the learning curve was vertical.

Sharpening our Road Crash Rescue skills in that environment was invaluable; there’s nothing like the pressure of a ticking clock and a "trapped" patient to make you remember which chock or hydraulic hose goes where.

It was a mission of many miles, endless laughs, and enough "constructive" feedback to last a lifetime.

Walking away with a great result for the Whitianga team was the absolute icing on the cake.

A massive thank you to the Milton Volunteer Fire Brigade for hosting such a top-tier weekend. We arrived home exhausted, slightly greasier, and incredibly proud.

Just don't ask me to look at another tool for at least 48 hours.
QFF Bosson🧑‍🚒

15/05/2026

🚨Crew Challenge- Green Watch 🚨

May Crew challenge season is the month where every watch suddenly becomes the elite crew and the smack talk reaches professional levels.

For those who don’t know each watch takes turns planning a training night for the other crews usually involving a healthy mix of teamwork, problem solving, competitiveness… and a little bit of skull duggery. Every watch reckons they’re the best and every watch is convinced the other two are barely holding it together….honestly that’s half the fun.

This week Green Watch stepped up with a night full of challenges that tested communication, teamwork, patience, and everyone’s ability not to throw LEGO across the room.

Crews took on:
🔥 Building bamboo rafts strong enough to transport a ping pong ball across water without sinking it by a blind OIC receiving instructions.
🔥 Constructing a LEGO fire truck with no instructions which really exposed who reads pictures good and who absolutely does not
🔥 A radio communication challenge where one crew described equipment over the radio while the other tried to draw it… with some very questionable artistic results

As always underneath the banter and competitive carry on these nights are actually very valuable. They build trust, communication, leadership and the ability to work together under pressure all while giving everyone a good laugh along the way.

Of course in true brigade fashion. just as instructions were being given out for the first challenge the tones dropped for a reported building fire. Suddenly all trucks were bursting at the seams with excited firefighters launching out the door like kids on Christmas morning. Some were perhaps a little more calmer than others… forgetting minor details like putting the correct uniform on before leaving the station. Something I’m sure the Sheriff quietly noticed immediately. 👀

Thankfully it turned out to be a false alarm, and crews returned to continue the chaos.

Huge effort from Green Watch for putting together another brilliant night of training, laughs, problem solving, and competitive nonsense. Safe to say everyone had a real good time even if some watches are still refusing to admit they lost.

What is next week Going to bring????

SFF Whiteman👩🏻‍🚒