Waihi Volunteer Fire Brigade is amongst 26 fire stations around New Zealand which have undergone an upgrade or rebuild, providing a boost for regional economies and a key emergency service, Minister of Internal Affairs Barbara Edmonds has announced.

None of the upgraded fire stations are in the Bay of Plenty. As well as the Waihi building in Hauraki, the 26 include fire stations in Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Rangitikei, Wairarapa, Wellington, West Coast, Canterbury, Tasman, Otago, and Southland.

“Fire and Emergency New Zealand play a critical role in keeping communities safe. In order to do so, fire fighters need a base that is resilient, functional and fit-for-purpose,” says Edmonds.

“Through the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund, the Government has invested $51.3 million for the replacement, rebuild or major refurbishment of 26 fire stations across the country.

“This injection has provided a boost to the capital works programme, ensuring more regional communities have a fit-for-purpose hub for their firefighters to respond from and store equipment."

Edmonds says over the past three years upgrades have resulted in jobs for Kiwis from as far afield as Greymouth to Featherston and Balclutha to Taihape.

"Everyone has benefitted, from labourers to suppliers and designers to engineers, right across New Zealand.

“When the Government called for shovel ready projects in the early days of Covid-19, Fire and Emergency was well-placed to raise its hand."

The Minister says following establishment in 2017 and the amalgamation of over 40 rural and urban firefighting entities, Fire and Emergency had been well aware of the need to invest heavily in its network of over 650 fire stations.

“Work in the programme has ranged from complete rebuilds, partial refurbishments, seismic strengthening, and facility upgrades. In the quake affected areas of Canterbury and Kaikōura, new stations have been built to world-class standards ensuring crews have a safe space to come back to.

“The programme has been a huge success. Stations have been delivered on time and largely to budget, despite global challenges and supply chain disruptions.

“I want to thank everyone who was involved in these projects from start to finish. This investment will make a real difference in supporting our fire fighters for decades to come."

The full list of stations under the programme is:

1.     Okaihau – Northland

2.     Cavalli – Northland

3.     Kawakawa Bay – Auckland

4.     Waihi – Hauraki

5.     Huntly – Waikato

6.     Paeroa – Waikato

7.     Pōkeno – Waikato

8.     Napier – Hawke’s Bay

9.     Waipawa – Hawke’s Bay

10.  Taihape – Rangitikei

11.  Featherston – Wairarapa

12.  Greytown – Wairarapa

13.  Stokes Valley – Wellington

14.  Titahi Bay – Wellington

15.  Seaview – Wellington

16.  Greymouth – West Coast

17.  Appleby – Tasman

18.  Peel Forest – Canterbury

19.  Christchurch Central – Canterbury

20.  Rangitata Gorge – Canterbury

21.  Sumner – Canterbury

22.  Darfield – Canterbury

23.  Kaikoura – Canterbury

24.  Balclutha – Otago

25.  Makarora – Otago

26.  Athol – Southland