Welcome to the April edition of the Fire and Emergency NZ Update. This edition reminds us of our commitment to the safety, health and wellbeing of our people, and focuses on new initiatives and support delivered this year, including the roll our new identity out across fleet, property, and uniform.
Giving the community a say in everything we do is a key part of Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s approach. In line with this approach, we are shortly consulting the public on two important aspects the new fire services.
Across all parts of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, initiatives are underway to improve resources, capability and systems for our personnel, including volunteers. With volunteers making up around 11,000 of our personnel, and being recognised in our legislation, it important that we improve our support for them.
Our new identity is a tangible sign of change that we are a new organisation, and we want to introduce it as soon as practical. At the same time, we need to ensure we get it right – particularly when introducing it to more than 14,000 people, approximately 700 buildings, and 2500 vehicles. The roll out is progressing well, across property, fleet and uniform.
A new app – GoodSAM (Good Smartphone Activated Medics) – is officially being launched at the New Zealand Resuscitation Conference in Wellington. The app allows medically trained people to sign up so they can be alerted and respond to suspected cardiac arrests occurring close to them, when they’re not otherwise on duty.
Officially opened by Rhys Jones on Saturday 3 March, Ashburton Fire Station’s $1M refurbishment brings its urban and rural fire services together under one roof for the first time, following the national launch of Fire and Emergency NZ in Ashburton on 1 July last year.
Sometimes the smallest things can, together, make a big difference. That’s the philosophy behind a change to SMS this week.
Got a knack for sales and marketing and want to be a part of a great team? Read here to find out more.
Second generation volunteer firefighter Yonni Kepes is an active member of his local Canterbury community. “It is really important to volunteer for your community," says 17-year-old Yonni.
It is with sadness that we advise the passing of ex station Officer Jim Phillips.
