It's a matter of collaborate rather than compete when it comes to volunteer services in Omokoroa, with the peninsula seeing St John Ambulance and the New Zealand Fire Service join forces to form the Omokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade first response team.

In the past, the two organisations have stood separate offering voluntary services to the community, a tactic that's stretched the level of service available.

Bay of Plenty Coast Fire Service area commander Murray Binning. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

'What sort of happens generally in smaller communities we have the fire service and St John,” says St John territory manager Ross Clarke.

'And rather than competing for staff, because both services rely heavily on volunteers, we decided to align our operations.”

Going forward the volunteers, under the fire service umbrella, will provide initial medical response to accidents and illness and advanced first aid until an ambulance can get there.

They will be fully supported by St John with training and either Katikati or Tauranga ambulances as back-up.

Omokoroa's new response team is very similar to models in Pukehina in Maketu, which have been established for some time.

'This is vitally important because the first few minutes can have a big impact on the outcome,” says Ross.

Bay of Plenty Coast Fire Service area commander Murray Binning says while there is a slight change in the colour of uniform, the first response unit still have an important role to play in the community.

The agreement sees the St John volunteers transition into the New Zealand Fire Service as first responders, not firefighters.

Murray says the St John volunteers indicated a desire to join the NZ Fire Service and will be upskilled in certain firefighting skills to ensure they can respond to a different level than previously, including motor vehicle accidents.

Once fully operational the group will operate out of the Omokoroa Fire Station and have its own vehicle and resources.

Murray sees the move as nothing but positive, given its track record in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

'Absolutely and without any doubt. In Pukehina and Maketu the firefighters fill that role of first responders because they have been trained up to that level.

'We already have a fairly strong fire brigade at Omokoroa and now the addition of another 10 or so responders is great.”