BALCLUTHA, DARFIELD MAKE HISTORY - For the first time in UFBA History, Balclutha and Darfield have become National Waterway Champions. (page 4)
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NEWSLETTER | April 2013
BALCLUTHA, DARFIELD
MAKE HISTORY
For the first time in UFBA History, Balclutha and Darfield
have become National Waterway Champions. (page 4)
PLUS:
FIRE SERVICE REVIEW UPDATE
RAISING VOLUNTEER AWARENESS
PHOTO: Blair Hall
ADVOCACY
FIRE SERVICE REVIEW UPDATE
GETTING UP TO DATE
Chris Tremain told Parliament that changes to the Fire
Service mandate are important, reminding MPs that Fire
Service legislation is almost 40 years old, and firefighters
now perform a much wider range of tasks than they did
in 1977. However, he said, they are still mandated only to
fight fires which means that they are not legally protected
nor legally required to perform tasks such as motor vehicle
extractions. The Minister noted firefighters currently spend
18 percent of their time on this work. These issues, he told
Parliament, have been apparent for a long time.
BACKGROUND
Minister Chris Tremain commissioned the inquiry last
year and the three-person Fire Review Panel reported
in December. The Minister released its findings in early
Hon Chris Tremain addressing UFBA Conference Delegates in February and, during meetings with key stakeholders, said
November. He told the House last month that he is keen to keep he expected to be making recommendations to Cabinet
momentum on the Fire Service Review project.
in April this year on the next steps towards reform. The
UFBA was one of the organisations specifically invited to
contribute to the inquiry last year and the Association put
CHANGES IMMINENT in comprehensive submissions as well as appearing before
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Chris Tremain, says the Review Panel. At a meeting with the Minister earlier
changes for the Fire Service are now being finalised. this year, the UFBA’s Board of Directors advised that it was
Answering questions in the House, the Minister says he has in general agreement with the inquiry’s findings, and there
been meeting with key stakeholders and seeking feedback has been follow-up correspondence.
on the independent review made into Fire Service functions
and funding. Based on this feedback, a series of legislative
and non-legislative changes are now being finalised. He
said that it is very important to maintain the momentum
and consensus on the project rather than let it fall by the
wayside, as has happened with previous reviews.
THREE KEY MEASURES
The Minister says he is presently working on three key
initiatives, including changes to the mandate of the Fire
Service to bring legislation into the 21st century. He is also
investigating ways of enabling the Fire Service to work
more collaboratively and efficiently with other emergency
services. And thirdly, he says, there is comprehensive
consideration of future funding options. The Minister notes
that the independent reviewers indicated that more work
needed to be done on the funding topic and he will be
looking at ways to improve the equity of the Fire Service
levy by removing opportunities for levy avoidance.
2 United Fire Brigades’ Association
VOLUNTEER AWARENESS
GIRL POWER: 10TH GOLD STAR FOR FEMALE MEMBER TO BE
AWARDED IN 2013
by Sandy Lawson, UFBA Historian
In spite of continued opposition from the
New Zealand Fire Service Commission, at
the centennial conference in Dunedin in
1979, the UFBA accepted reality and voted
to enrol females as members.
Consequently, female members of brigades
became eligible to have their service
recognised and to receive service honours.
Recently, the tenth application for a gold
star for twenty-five years of service for a
female member was received. These ten
gold stars typify the family nature of fire
brigade service because included are a
father and daughter, brother and sister,
and husbands and wives who have both
completed twenty-five years service and
ABOVE PHOTO: Te Karaka VFB Gold Star Recipients, after receiving their awards in 2005. Sarah received their gold stars.
Brown (left), daughter of former CFO of the brigade, Jim Rutene, is pictured with husband and wife
team Henry and Henetau Ngatoro. To date, neither a mother and daughter, or
sisters, have been recorded, but it is only a
matter of time before such family groupings
of relatives occur.
RAISE VOLUNTEER AWARENESS
THIS JUNE - SHARE YOUR STORY FIRST 10 GOLD STARS
This year’s volunteer awareness week will take place from 16 to 22
AWARDED TO FEMALES
June, and it is a great opportunity to recognise volunteers and promote R.A. Higgins Pauanui 2000
volunteerism to New Zealand communities.
S.A.T Brown Te Karaka 2005
As a way of paying tribute to volunteers, the UFBA is looking to feature
stand-out volunteer stories from member brigades throughout the country. H. Ngatoro Te Karak 2005
These stories will appear in the UFBA June Newsletter, and we will also
J.P. Maguigan Tapanui 2006
share some of them with the mainstream media.
J.A. Willis South. Comms 2007
Do you have a brigade member who went above and beyond on a recent
call? Do you have members with an interesting family connection? Is there L.R. Winwood Okaihau 2008
someone in your brigade who has to overcome special challenges to do the
job of a volunteer firefighter? T.M. Bath Ngatea 2009
Is your brigade planning a special event or celebration around Volunteer S.M. Reeves Omarama 2010
Awareness Week?
S. Burnside Kumeu 2011
Volunteers deserve to be celebrated, and one of the ways we can do
D.K. Gardner Lake Takapo 2013
this is by sharing their stories. If you have an idea for a story, email
christa.lawlor@ufba.org.nz, or call her on 04 237 2689.
For more on Volunteer Awareness Week, visit
www.volunteeringnz.org.nz.
www.ufba.org.nz 3
NATIONAL WATERWAYS
BALCLUTHA KNOCKS OFF WATERWAY FAVOURITES
The winning 4-person Balclutha Team in action.
Balclutha had never won a National Waterway Competition As expected, Carterton, Matamata, Greymouth, and
– until now. Having run in waterways for 20 years prior to Rangiora were among the teams to watch, but it was
taking on the role of team coach, Terry Michie knows just Silverdale that most closely contested Balclutha up until the
what an achievement it is for his Balclutha four-person team very last run.
to have won the national title in Cromwell last month.
“Throughout the competition, we were watching Silverdale,
The members of the Balclutha team – Jason Watt, Mark and they were watching us,” Michie said. “We were leading
Proctor, Craig Botting, and Nathan Davey - have been through most of the competition, but it was so close and
running together for five years, and have been extremely they had an opportunity to overtake us in the last run.
committed this waterway season, training twice per week Lucky for us, that didn’t happen.”
and competing in every local and provincial competition
possible to improve. They even hosted a friendly Anyone who has been involved in the waterways for an
competition at their brigade and invited all the region 4 extended period of time would recognise what a huge
teams heading to the Nationals. Their commitment and accomplishment it is to have knocked off the sport’s long-
preparation during the season helped them dominate the standing leaders. But this “Cinderella” team has remained
Region 4 Waterway Challenge, where they won eight out of pretty casual about its success.
nine events and the Challenge overall. “I don’t think they actually realise what they’ve done yet,”
But even with the confidence boost of winning the said Michie. “Sure, they were excited and proud, but the car
regionals, Michie says his team went into the Nationals just ride home was definitely more low-key than I would have
hoping to take one event. “We had heard so much about thought.”
Carterton, Silverdale, and Matamata and had been watching Balclutha’s next stop will be Tasmania, where they will
their times closely,” he said. “We would have been stoked to represent New Zealand alongside second-place Silverdale
take one event, but didn’t think we were good enough to and the top-placing two-person teams from Darfield and
win it all.” Tairua in the 2013 Australasian Waterway Challenge later
this year.
PHOTOS: All photos on this page and on cover taken by Kirsten Spierling, UFBA.
4 United Fire Brigades’ Association
RESULTS
Complete results available at www.ufba.org.nz/
DARFIELD TAKES A STEP UP events/2013_national_waterway_challenge.
2-PERSON TOP THREE
1ST DARFIELD 44 POINTS
2ND TAIRUA 28 POINTS
3RD MOSSBURN 22 POINTS
The Darfield 2-person team overtook defending champion Tairua to win it all at the
2013 Nationals.
After tying for second place in the Not having a rear-mounted
2011 National Waterway Challenge, appliance to train with meant that
Darfield’s two-person team was Darfield had to be resourceful and
hopeful that 2013 Nationals creative in their training. The region
4-PERSON TOP THREE
in Cromwell would be their 3 team went to an extra regional in
opportunity to step up to number the South and as many local events 1ST BALCUTHA 66 POINTS
one – and they did, recording a as they could to get more exposure
commanding win and overtaking to the equipment they would be
Tairua, the 2011 defending seeing in the Nationals. And in the
champion. end, that extra effort paid off.
It was the seventh national Win or lose, the spirit of camaraderie
competition for Team Captain Alan that the waterways have become
Kittelty, the third for Bryan Thomas, known for came alive as teams
battled it out on the tracks.
2ND SILVERDALE 62 POINTS
and the second for Joost Kepers.
“We knew we had a good chance,” “The Darfield and Tairua teams
said Kittelty. “But the weekend was a share a mutual respect,” said Kittelty.
bit of a roller coaster ride and some “We had our sights on each other
things didn’t go our way.” throughout the competition, and
they were very congratulatory and
“In the end, we pulled through, and supportive at the end of it. We
the guys were absolutely stoked. definitely appreciated that.” 3RD MATAMATA 54 POINTS
Joost was disappointed with his
performance in his first national This mutual respect will go a long
event, so it was great to see him way as the two teams combine
do so well. He has already been in to form one four-person team
touch with his family back in Holland in the Australasian Firefighter
to share the news.” Championship in Tasmania later this
year.
www.ufba.org.nz 5
EVENT NOTICES
OFFICIALS NEEDED NZFBI UPCOMING FIELD DAYS
If you would like to be considered as an official for the 2013
22 JUNE: BEHIND THE SCENES AT
Drivers Challenge or any of our future challenges, please
register your interest online at www.ufba.org.nz/events/ REFINING NZ, MARSDEN POINT
officials. Refining NZ is the nation’s leading supplier of refined
petroleum products, and makes many hydrocarbon fuel
If you have already registered your interest through the online
products for New Zealand from crude oil. The company
form, there’s no need to re-apply before every event. But if
employs a full time emergency services team, who specialise
you wish to update your details, you can do so by emailing
in Industrial hydrocarbon firefighting. Attendees can
Kirsten@ufba.org.nz.
expect to recieve hands-on, practical experience with live
hydrocarbon firefighting / Class B foam; confined space
ROAD CRASH RESCUE HOSTS awareness and rescue; and high-volume water applications.
There will also be a bus tour of the facility, which is not
WANTED normally available to the public.
The UFBA Events Team is still looking for host brigades to
Due to the drought conditions in Northland, this Field
assist with the Regional RCR Challenges programme for 2014.
Day, which was originally scheduled in March, has been
The Nationals will be held in late February / early March,
rescheduled for Saturday, 22 June.
and therefore the regionals can be held in late 2013 (around
October). Contact the UFBA if you are interested in hosting an Spaces are limited. To find out more or register, go to www.ufba/
event in your region. events/upcoming and find the relevant event.
As in past years, based on numbers, the UFBA will consider
the possibility of hosting a combined Region 1 and 2 (North
Island) and a combined Region 3 and 4 (South Island) event.
This will enable host brigades to potentially share the work
2013 KEY DATES
load with other brigades.
Hosting a UFBA event is easy. The UFBA looks after all the
19-20 APRIL
National Firefighter Combat Challenge, Wellington
logistics around registration and equipment, leaving the
host committee with these key roles: transport coordination,
catering for the prize giving dinner, and researching venue 22 JUNE
locations, sourcing vehicles and accommodation. Hybrid Cars and Trucks Field Day, Waikanae
CHALLENGE HOSTS 3 AUGUST
The UFBA Events Team is also seeking expressions of interest National Drivers Challenge, Ruapuna
for hosting the following upcoming events:
8-10 NOVEMBER
IN 2014 UFBA Annual Conference, Auckland
• National Drivers Challenge and National RCR Challenge
IN 2015
• National Drivers Challenge, Regional Waterway Challenges
(regions 1 through 4), the National Waterway Challenge,
and Annual Conference.
Expressions close 31 May the year prior for Challenges and 30
June the year prior for Conferences. Email events@ufba.org.nz
to submit your expression of interest.
6 United Fire Brigades’ Association
UPDATE ON LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
WORKSHOPS
The UFBA is now in the process of confirming the dates for the next Leadership and Governance Workshop in Wellington.
The three-day workshop will likely take place in June, and members will be notified of the exact dates over the coming
weeks. Fully funded for members, these workshops present a unique opportunity for up-and-coming leaders within the fire
and rescue community to learn the techniques and skills to be effective within their fire brigade roles, in work, and in life in
general.
While you may wish to wait for the confirmed dates before applying, nominations and applications for these workshops are
accepted on a rolling basis, so even if you can’t make this round, you can put your expression of interest forward at any time
to be considered for future workshops. Nomination / application forms can be downloaded at www.ufba.org.nz/images/
documents/UFBA_Leadership_Application.pdf
Get more information and fnd out what previous participants say about the UFBA Governance and Leadership Workshops
at www.ufba.org.nz.
FROM THE NZFS LIBRARY
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
TRITECH LUBRICANTS FACTORY FUNDAMENTALS OF FIREFIGHTER
FIRE – OPERATIONAL REVIEW SKILLS
(Australia: Victorian Fire Commissioner, 2011) by IAFC and NFPA (Sudbury, Ma, : Jones and Bartlett, 2014)
The Victorian Fire Commissioner (Australia) publishes Check out the latest edition of the major firefighting
operational reviews of notable fires. This factory fire was an training manual used by US brigades. Covers all aspects of
intense and complex fire involving large quantities of highly firefighting, including: incident command, fire behaviour,
combustible mineral oil. This review specifically investigates tools and equipment, ropes and knots, forcible entry,
command, control and coordination arrangements, the ventilation, search and rescue, hazchem, and much more.
control strategies implemented by the incident controller,
and community information and warnings. Read a sample chapter online: http://samples.jbpub.
com/9781449670856/41528_CH22.pdf
Read it online: http://www.firecommissioner.vic.gov.au/wp-
content/uploads/TriTech_Review_Report_21_October_2011. Borrow the book from your Fire Service Library: infoc@fire.
pdf org.nz/ 0800 FIRELIB / 0800 3473542
GOLD STAR AND 50-YEAR MEDAL RECIPIENTS
MARCH Paul FURFIE, Paekakariki Graham Kevin PETERSEN, Rolleston
Nicholas RUMBLE, Haumoana Peter HURST, St Andrews
Congratulations to the following
William James JENKINS, Sheffield Robert LESLIE, Kaiwaka
members who received Gold Stars
last month, and thank you for your Cameron GILLESPIE, Inglewood Norman BROWN, Kaiwaka
dedicated service to your community. Dennis Wayne HUNT, Cambridge Craig James SUTHERLAND, Bluff
Shane George REILY, Te Aroha
Peter HARWOOD, Athenree
www.ufba.org.nz 7
UPDATE YOUR BRIGADE DETAILS
New CFO or Secretary? Has your brigade address or contact details changed? Have you launched a new website or set
up a new email address? Help us keep our records up to date by going to www.ufba.org.nz and taking two minutes to
complete the Update Brigade Details Form.
SIGN UP FOR THE UFBA NEWSLETTER
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member to start receiving your own copy electronically.
SUBMIT A STORY IDEA
We’re always interested in hearing about what’s happening in brigades around the country. If you have a story you’d like
to share with the wider membership in our newsletter, email us at news@ufba.org.nz
United Fire Brigades’ Association NZ
86 Main Road, PO Box 56079
Tawa, Wellington 5249
P. 04 237 0265 | F. 04 237 2680
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