Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade

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👩🏻‍🚒

24/04/2026

Before the sun rises, we gather.

On Anzac Day we will stand in the quiet hours of the morning, shoulder to shoulder, honouring those who walked into the unknown so we could live the lives we do today.

It’s a moment to remember the grit, the sacrifice, the ones who stood when it mattered most and the many who never made it home and also those that continue to serve.

Lest we forget

Dawn Service details for tomorrow:
5:15am – Gather at Mercury Bay RSA carpark
5:45am – March to Soldier’s Memorial Park
6:00am – Dawn Service

Hot breakfast available afterwards at the Mercury Bay Club Restaurant.

We’ll be there. We invite you to stand with us.

15/04/2026

🚒Training Night Chronicles🚒

Tonight’s training was all about HazSub the kind of job where it’s less “kick the door in” and more “hurry up… then stand there and think real hard before you touch anything.”

When it comes to chemicals and gas, it’s not about being the hero, it’s about figuring out exactly what you’re dealing with, how dangerous it is, and how to contain it without turning a bad situation into a worse one. And sometimes, if it’s big enough, we’re calling in backup from Hamilton, Auckland or Tauranga because not everything is a one-station job.

Tonight’s little slice of chaos was a local welder taken out by an acetylene gas leak who then managed to land headfirst into sodium hydroxide… because apparently we like to keep things interesting.

That kicked off a snap rescue, crews up in Level 2 decontamination suits the big orange ones that make you look like a walking traffic cone and a full decon process to make sure nothing nasty comes back with us.

Truth is, these jobs are slow, methodical and unforgiving. You don’t rush chemicals. You respect them, or they’ll humble you real quick.

It’s thinking work as much as it is doing work, and nights like this are where the learning sticks. Our two SFF crew stepping into Station Officer training got a solid run in the hot seat, making calls, making mistakes, and sharpening up exactly what training is for. Because no one gets better pretending they’ve got it all nailed.

Always good lessons, and everyone goes home a little sharper than they arrived.

Thanks Hayden from Peninsula Engineering & Marine for the use of your yard for our training. These places enable us to train in real life scenario and are essential to keeping our skills honed in. We really appreciate the use of these spaces.

Stay smart out there.
SFF Whiteman 🚒

11/04/2026

When the weather turns feral and the water starts doing its own thing, it’s all hands on deck… and sometimes all boats too.

Today our crew got the lowdown on the surf lifesaving IRBs that are now stationed with us overnight and into tomorrow. While our team is trained in swiftwater rescue, more tools in the kete means better outcomes for our community and right now, there’s a lot of water out there doing the absolute most.

Let’s be real our fire trucks are good
but they’re not Transformers. No snorkels, no submarine mode, and definitely not built for cruising through deep floodwaters. That’s where these boats and the legends who run them come in.

A massive shoutout to the volunteer surf lifesavers who’ve come over from the Manawatū–Foxton area to support. These guys and gals have dropped into our patch, bringing skills, gear, and big community energy when it matters most.

This is what it looks like when organisations come together under pressure no egos, just people showing up for people.

Stay safe, stay aware and if there is an emergency call 111

SFF Whiteman 🚒

08/04/2026

🚨With love from the team at Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade and a bit of a nudge🚨

Righto team, quick wander around your section today wouldn’t hurt.

If it can fly, roll, float, or turn into a missile… tie it down. We don’t need trampolines cruising down Kupe Drive like they are tumbleweed and they’ve got somewhere to be.

We’re heading into some wild weather again and by now we all know it’s not just a bit of rain. Houses flood. Gear gets wrecked. It gets scary, fast.

So don’t wait for the first drop and think ~ she’ll be right. Because maybe she won’t.

Get ahead of it:
• Clear your drains and gutters (future you will be stoked)
• Lock down anything that can take off
• If your place floods sandbags now, not in the middle of it when you’re already ankle deep and swearing

Hey this is where community actually means something. Check your neighbours. Especially the ones who are older or on their own. A quick ~ you alright goes a long way when things get rough.

Last big event we ran 45 calls in 33 hours.
That’s not a flex that’s a reminder. We’ll always show up, but we can’t be everywhere at once.

So do your bit. Look after your patch. Look after each other. Let’s not learn the same lesson twice.

In an emergency, call 111 🚒
To stay up to date with information, keep an eye on Thames-Coromandel District Council

Stay safe 🚒
SFF Whiteman

***update 12 April 9.30pm all weather watches and warnings for the Waikato have been lifted.***

***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @10.20am, Sunday 12 April. The latest MetService update.

Period: 11hrs from 9:00am Saturday to 8:00pm Sunday (slight time change to the last update).
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale west to northwesterlies Sunday afternoon, with damaging gusts of 130km/h in exposed places. Note winds easing from the north during Sunday afternoon as the easterlies change to westerly. (wind direction has changed from previous update).

Impact: Threat to life from flying items and falling trees. Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.
Action: Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages

Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō and Taumarunui
Period: 18hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 3:00am Monday (slight time change from previous update)
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale westerly late afternoon or evening Sunday, gusting 120km/h in exposed places.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane including Rotorua
Period: 8hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 5:00pm Sunday (slight time change from previous update).
Forecast: Expect a further 80 to 120 mm to accumulate on top of what has already fallen, especially about the ranges. Peak intensities of 25 to 40mm/hr possible in downpours this morning and afternoon. Note, in addition to the wind and rain, large swells and coastal inundation are likely.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Red 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.

Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow
Waikato
Period: 9hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 6:00pm Sunday (slight time change from previous update).
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Taranaki
Period: 11hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 8:00pm Sunday (slight time change from previous update).
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @9.30pm Saturday 11 April. The latest MetService NZ update.

STRONG WIND WARNING - RED
Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island
Period: 22hrs from 10.00pm Saturday to 8:00pm Sunday (slight time change since the last update).
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale west to northwesterlies Sunday afternoon, with damaging gusts of 130km/h in exposed places. Note winds easing from the north during Sunday afternoon.

Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo and Taumarunui
Period: 21hrs from 2:00am Sunday to 11:00pm Sunday (slight time change from the last update).
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale westerly late afternoon or evening Sunday, gusting 120km/h in exposed places.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane including Rotorua
Period: 17hrs from 11:00pm Saturday to 4:00pm Sunday

Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow
Waikato
Period: 17hrs from 1:00am Sunday to 6:00pm Sunday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Taranaki
Period: 12hrs from 8:00am Sunday to 8:00pm Sunday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.***

Download the MetService New Zealand app to get the latest weather notifications direct to your phone. https://about.metservice.com/weather-apps -weather-app
________________________________

***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu , Saturday 11 April
🔴 RED WIND WARNING now in place for the The Bay of Plenty and Rotorua Strong which will impact some in our region too.

Warning is currently in place from 4am to 8pm tomorrow, Sunday 12 April.

Full details: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home

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***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @9.30pm, Friday 10 April
MetService New Zealand latest on the Red and Orange warnings across the region.

🔴 RED WIND WARNING for the Coromandel Peninsula from 1am - 6pm on Sunday.
🟠 ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNING for the Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane including Rotorua from 2am - 4pm on Sunday.
🟠 ORANGE WIND WARNING for Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo and Taumarunui from 4am to 10pm on Sunday

Heavy rain and strong winds may cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.

Take care as streams and rivers may rise rapidly, with surface flooding and slips possible.

*************************

**UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @ 4.50pm, Thursday 9 April

We’re continuing to monitor Cyclone Vaianu as it moves closer to New Zealand, expecting to make landfall within our region on Sunday.

Heavy rain and strong winds may cause:
• Flash flooding and rapidly rising water
• Landslides and falling trees
• Dangerous driving conditions and road closures
• Power outages

A significant wave event, associated with Vaianu, is also likely to cause moderate to significant coastal erosion impacts for parts of the region around the Eastern Coromandel Peninsula and the Firth of Thames. Use caution and try to avoid the beaches during Saturday and Sunday.

Leading up to this, Severe Weather Warnings and Watches have also been issued by MetService New Zealand across the North Island and will be updated for the areas expecting severe gales and heavy rain from Saturday evening to Monday.

If you haven’t already, now’s a good time to take a few simple steps around home to get ready for wet and windy weather https://getready.govt.nz/ including getting farm animals situated Waikato Rural Support Trust

More warning info: metservice.com/warnings

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⚠️ Heads up, wet and windy conditions could be on the cards going into the weekend 🌧️

We’re keeping an eye on Cyclone Vaianu, which may bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the North Island. Its exact track is still uncertain, and we’ll keep you updated as we know more.

While there’s still uncertainty, now is a good time to get a few things sorted at home:
✔ Clear gutters and drains
✔ Bring in or secure loose outdoor items (e.g. garden furniture, trampolines)
✔ Check on whānau, neighbours, and anyone who might need help
✔ Move farm animals to areas that are safe from flooding and high winds, and stay up to date with support from Waikato Rural Support Trust
✔ Stay up to date with the latest weather information from MetService New Zealand

More information on preparing for storms is available at https://getready.govt.nz/

If this situation is stressful or you need support, you can free text or call 1737 to speak to a counsellor, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Please share this information with whānau and friends, and we’ll share updates as we know more.