Hato Hone St John Matamata

15/06/2026

It's National Volunteer Week, and we're celebrating the people behind the pager who generously give their time, skills, and energy to help keep our community safe.

This week, we're introducing some of the volunteers who make the Matamata Volunteer Fire Brigade what it is. They come from different backgrounds, have different interests and experiences, but they all share a commitment to serving our community.

🤩Eddy Baukema - Chief Fire Officer

👉🏼Describe yourself in three words:
People and community orientated, practical, and resourceful. Although, if you ask my wife, you might get "annoying" added to the list! 😉"

👉🏼What made me stick with the brigade?
Volunteering has given me opportunities to push myself, learn new skills, and be part of something bigger than myself.

👉🏼When I'm not responding to calls? you'll likely find me fishing, biking, or spending time with my family.

👉🏼One thing I didn't expect to learn through the brigade: how strong and supportive the Matamata community really is — especially after major incidents or during times of need.

👉🏼And... what do I love most about living in Matamata? "It's the perfect central location, the sense of community, and the great people who call it home."

14/06/2026

27/05/2026

From living rooms to workplaces, roadsides to rugby games - and the occasional place so random you just roll with it 🤔

So far this year our people have helped people in 219,680 🚑 incidents around the motu

With every call our teams work to get people the right care. Sometimes it's is hard to miss - like an ambulance with lights and sirens in your driveway or a Major Incident Support Team at a natural disaster. Other times their work is less visible - a clinician providing advice over the phone, a rural extended care paramedic in the community, or teams working behind the scenes to establish the best pathways for patients through our health system.

Thank you to all our people for your mahi both on the road and behind the scenes.

If you’ve had a moment where one of our people made a difference in your life drop a comment or send us a DM, we’d love to hear your story 💛

09/05/2026

🌸 Happy Mothers Day 🌸

03/05/2026

17/04/2026

11/04/2026

An update on our emergency response as Cyclone Vaianu impacts the North Island 🚑

➡️ Our emergency ambulance service remains available and responding. We have additional resources in place across affected areas, including Major Incident Support Teams, to support increased demand and challenging conditions.

➡️ Strong winds and debris are already impacting access in some locations, and conditions may limit how quickly we can reach patients in certain areas. Our crews will continue to respond wherever it is safe to do so.

➡️ In an emergency, please continue to call 111 📞 If we are unable to reach you straight away due to conditions, a clinician will support you over the phone while we explore all available options, or until it is safe to send an ambulance.

➡️ Some of our non-emergency and community services may be disrupted while we focus on urgent care.

Thank you to our crews and partner agencies working in difficult conditions to keep communities safe 💛

11/04/2026

Before things fully unfold, we want to take a moment to say thank you.

To our Police, Fire and Emergency, Ambulance services, Civil Defence teams, Military personnel, rescue teams, volunteers and everyday people stepping up for others…

we say thank you.

While many of us prepare to stay safe, you are preparing to step into it.

Into the wind, the rain, the uncertainty to protect communities across New Zealand, Aotearoa.

And for many of you,
the hardest work will come tonight.

In the dark.
In the wind.
In conditions where most of us will be safely hunkered down.

Long hours.

Tough decisions.

And a willingness to go where others can’t.

That doesn’t go unnoticed.

It matters.
It reassures people.
And in moments like this it holds communities together.

To those checking on neighbours, helping friends and whānau,
or simply doing the right thing when it counts, you’re part of this too.

👉 This is what community looks like.