Ruawai Volunteer Fire Brigade is just one of the 600 plus volunteer fire stations nationwide, we all help communities prevent, prepare, respond and recover from emergencies. As well as firefighting, we also attend motor vehicle accidents, severe weather events and other requests for help.  As we are a fully trained first response brigade this means we attend local medical incidents.  We also install and check smoke alarms and help to improve fire safety in our communities.

If you’re a team player, would like to learn new skills and make your community safer, we would love to hear from you.

Before registering your interest, these are the main things you need to know.

Things you need to know

• You need to be 18 or older to volunteer with us. If you’re 16 or 17 you will need permission from a caregiver.

• Our volunteers need to be New Zealand citizens, residents, or have a visa for more than 2 years.

• You must live or work within 5 minutes drive time of Ruawai volunteer fire brigade so that you can respond to incidents quickly and participate in regular brigade training which are held every 2nd & 4th Monday of the Month. (When you register, we will ask for your home address and your daytime address, if the two are different.)

• All volunteers must be police vetted. If you want to be a firefighter, medical first responder, you also need to pass a medical check.

• As a firefighter, or medical first responder you must undergo training before you can respond to incidents. It can take between 6 to 12 months to become qualified and could include up to a week away from your home and work for training (loss of wages can be reimbursed, all food, travel and accommodation are provided while away).

There are many reasons why people volunteer with Fire and Emergency. Some join because they want to contribute to their community. Others join to be part of a team and to learn new skills.

Strengthen your community

Being a volunteer with Fire and Emergency is a way to serve your community. Not only do volunteers attend incidents and emergencies, they also participate in community occasions and hold brigade events. As a volunteer you’ll meet new people in your community.

Become part of a team

Volunteering with us is all about teamwork. Volunteers learn teamwork skills through training and working with their brigade. When you volunteer, you become part of a team – not just within your brigade but with Fire and Emergency nationwide. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in a large social network as well as compete in sporting and firefighting challenge events.

Learn new skills

Volunteers are trained to do their jobs safely and effectively. Firefighters and medical first responders attend formal training courses held locally or at one of our training centres. For some firefighters this includes a recruits course that can be up to a week long. All volunteer firefighters and some operational support volunteers are also trained in medical co-response. We also offer training in valuable skills such as leadership and provide access to online educational resources.

Access special benefits

We appreciate our volunteers’ hard work and dedication and to acknowledge this, we provide access to: 

• free annual health checks

• free flu and hepatitis B vaccinations

• $300 reimbursement each year for out of pocket expenses

• $50 family/whānau allowance when away overnight for formal training

• discounted health insurance

• discounted products and services.

Volunteering is rewarding, yet it also takes commitment. Research shows that our most satisfied volunteers are the ones that contribute the most. So, if you’re thinking about signing up, find out what’s involved and then decide. 

Age requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to volunteer but if they have their caregiver’s permission can be 16 or 17. All applicants aged 18 plus must be police vetted.

Our volunteers need to be New Zealand citizens, residents, or have a work visa.

Police vetting

Being a volunteer requires trust and integrity and is a position that comes with responsibility. So, all applicants must undertake police vetting. This identifies any information the Police holds about a person.

We do not accept people who have convictions for arson or sexual offences. For other crimes, it depends on the conviction and when it occurred. Unpaid fines must be paid before applying.

For more information see the Police website: Information about vetting

If you have any questions about police vetting to become a volunteer, please email our recruitment team at volly.applications@fireandemergency.nz

Medical checks

People wishing to volunteer as a firefighter, or as a medical responder must undertake medical checks. Brigade support roles do not require medical checks.

Firefighters and medical first responders must undergo a medical test with their GP. Applicants with the following conditions will require further testing:

• mobility issues

• history of asthma

• diabetes

• epilepsy or loss of consciousness

• some heart conditions

• certain psychological conditions.

People who volunteer in operational support roles complete a medical self-assessment.

If you have any questions about medical checks, please email our recruitment team at volly.applications@fireandemergency.nz

Contributing your time

Volunteer firefighters, operational support volunteers and medical first responders need to be able to respond to call-outs, at any time, and often with little or no notice. Some brigades operate a roster.

Volunteer firefighters, medical first responders and operational support volunteers attend a regular training night which varies from weekly, fortnightly or monthly. They also attend formal training courses which may require time away from home and work. Some brigade support volunteers may also be required to attend the brigade training night.

Living or working near the station

In most cases but not all, volunteer firefighters, operational support volunteers and medical first responders need to live or work near the station so that they can get to the station quickly when called out.

Working and being a volunteer

Our volunteers who are firefighters, medical first responders or operational support will need to manage their work responsibilities alongside their responsibilities as a volunteer. We encourage all our volunteers to work with their employers to reach a mutual agreement about responding to call-outs during work hours.

Read about how we recognise businesses (including self-employed) that employ and support our volunteers: Employer recognition programme

Step Forward - Become a Volunteer Firefighter