| 1933 |
Auckland Fire Police Unit formed by Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board.
Captain Harry James elected inaugural Officer in Charge.
Armbands issued as sole item of uniform.
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| 1939 |
Soon after the outbreak of World War 2, Fire Police go on a war footing with revised turn-out procedures, emergency precaution drills and lectures on how to deal with incendiary devices, bomb damage, etc.
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| 1942 |
Captain George Hedlund elected Officer in Charge.
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| 1943 |
Members receive first issue of dress uniform, but not working uniform.
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| 1957 |
Unit reorganised to be more efficient at the request of the Fire Board.
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| 1958 |
Officers' appointments made permanent, no longer subject to annual election.
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| 1961 |
Members receive first full issue of working uniform.
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| 1966 |
Fire Police area of operations extended as the Fire Board absorbs surrounding Fire Brigades. Captain L.D. Beuth elected as Officer in Charge.
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| 1970 |
Captain R. D. Reid appointed Officer in Charge.
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| 1976 |
Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board disbanded under the reforming 1975 Act, New Zealand Fire Service Commission takes over. Cap badges changed from the familiar "crossed axes" to the unpopular "Phoenix".
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| 1977 |
Fire Police take over driving / crewing the refurbished Mobile Canteen.
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| 1981 |
First members in recent years enrolled on the North Shore.
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| 1983 |
The Unit's Jubilee : 50th Year Celebrations.
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| 1984 |
Agreement for Service signed with the Fire Service. Fire Police ranks and insignia standardised to be the same as the rest of the Service. After attempts since 1933, Auckland Fire Police are advised they are eligible to join United Fire Brigades' Association (Inc). The Unit joins, and members are now able to receive UFBA Service Honours.
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| 1985 |
Fire Police in Task Force to Ngatea floods. First female member sworn in, Mrs Kay Morrison. All members now issued with Fire Service blue dress uniform. The unpopular "Phoenix" badge replaced with a new version of the "crossed axes", surmounted by the crown. Pocket pagers issued to Officers, other members still alerted by telephone. UFBA service honours presented for the first time to eligible members.
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| 1986 |
Further brigades absorbed into Auckland. Fire Police area of operations extended in South and West Auckland.
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| 1987 |
Fire Police in Task Force to Opotiki / Whakatane for earthquake relief operations.
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| 1989 |
Officers issued with UHF hand-held radios; area-wide coverage.
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| 1991 |
$100,000 donation from ASB Trust for the Unit's Communications; hand-held UHF radios, pagers and keyboards to input turnout alert messages.
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| 1992 |
Ric Carlyon appointed Officer in Charge with the revised rank Divisional Officer.
All members issued with pocket pagers. Rostered members enter details of emergencies, augmenting alerts from Fire Control room. All members issued with UHF hand-held personal radios.
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| 1993 |
Full turn-out working uniform issued, including blue helmets. Black bunker coats, replace unpopular yellow PVC jackets. Unit's 60th anniversary celebrations attended by the Governor-General, Dame Catherine Tizard.
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| 1994 |
April - New Zealand Fire Service Chief Executive Officer's review of the Service includes negative points about Fire Police, which will be subject to a further review.
September - Second ASB Trust donation received for Phase 2, Communications Package.
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| 1995 |
June - Reorganisation of the Auckland City and suburbs to 13 Fire Districts, each with their own Chief Fire Officer.
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| 1996 |
Jim Smith appointed Officer in Charge with the revised rank Chief Fire Officer.
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| 1997 |
Feb - New service Level Agreement signed with Fire Service, creating 3 more Fire Officers' positions, the Unit's establishment confirmed as 60, all ranks.
May - 4 new transmitter sites commissioned, giving Region-wide radio coverage.
July - Unit now responsible for own Budgets / Finances.
Dec - Urgent Response Van allocated to Fire Police, refurbished, equipped, commissioned. Canteen vested in the Unit's care.
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| 1998 |
April - U.F.B.A Gold Star presentation to CFO Jim Smith and FO Peter McGeachen, the first to be awarded for 25 years' service entirely in the Unit.
June - Fire Service and Police communications systems combined.
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| 1999 |
April - First Fire Police member, FO Ross Bay, to gain qualifications in Institution of Fire Engineers.
July - Auckland Fire Police Unit webpages included on NZ Fire Service Internet site.
Nov - Rules of Association amended, agreed-to and signed.
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| 2000 |
Jan - Auto-paging introduced, advising fire calls simultaneously as Communications Centre despatches appliances.
Feb - Premises at Remuera Station allocated to the Unit for offices, training room and lounge.
April - Unit assisted in organisation and activities at the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigades' Association's Centennial Conference and Competitions.
Sept - 2 new Nissan Urgent Response Van vans allocated to the Unit, one to replace #1, the other an addition. Mitsubishi Ultralite Urgent Response Appliance allocated to the Unit. Canteen upgraded to Urgent Response vehicle.
Dec - First 12 members attain Dangerous Goods Licence enabling them to drive the Fire Service vehicle towing the Ablutions Trailer (under construction at this time)
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| 2001 |
June - Fire Police took oversight of two more vehicles, the Fire Safety Caravan and a Jeep, with which to tow it to events etc.
July - Rank of "Fire Officer" in the NZ Fire Service on the way out, reverting to the term "Station Officer". First "K99" video newsletter from NZ Fire Service HQ shown to members.
Aug - Unit receives personal greetings from Secretary-General of the United Nations, Koffi Anan, on the occasion of celebrations for the UN-inspired International Year of the Volunteer.
Sept - All serving members awarded the International Year of the Volunteer Medal, presented by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon George Hawkins, at the Unit's Annual Honours Evening. Honorary Life Member Ces Copland attends a Fire Police function for the last time after 47 years' active membership (he had been the Unit's longest serving member) followed by a further 13 years as Honorary Life Member.
Oct - Members attended a Fire Service memorial service at Holy Trinity Cathedral for those New York fire-fighters, and others, lost in the Twin Towers disaster in New York.
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| 2002 |
May - NZ Police Officers' Guild donated $1,400 for a generator to be placed on a Fire Police vehicle, the gift in recognition of the assistance the Unit has given Police at many incidents.
Dec - Health and Safety In Employment Amendment Bill becomes law - volunteers are subject to the Act, calling for extra vigilance while at work on the fireground.
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| 2003 |
Mar - Fire Police part of the NZFS intranet, members to be trained on its use
April - New lime jackets being introduced with requisite reflectorised stripes
May - 2nd Ultralite added to the Fire Police fleet, replacing one of the Nissan vans.
June - Ford canteen vehicle replaced by brand new Iveco, with renovations/additions
to the kitchen compartment.
July - Night of Fires in downtown Auckland began with the self-immolation of a woman in Aotea Square followed by a series of fires, some multi-alarm structure blazes, in 13 different buildings in the CBD, kept the Fire Service at full capacity overnight. Police thought at first there may have been a link and later charged a man with arson, but he was apparently not connected with the fatality.
Sept - Annual General Meeting held in September instead of the traditional June, to fit in with the Brigade's agreement for service with NZFS
Oct - Members qualify for the first time in Temporary Traffic Management, Site Traffic Management Supervisors (STMS), Traffic Controllers (TC) and Instructor.
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| 2004 |
Jan - Ablutions Trailer added to Fire Police fleet
April - Fire Police offered space for HQ in the Regional Building, City - Remuera Fire Station soon to be demolished and rebuilt
July - Auckland Fire Police make a submission suggesting Fire Police be retained in new legislation which will ultimately replace present Fire Service Act.
Dec - SO Peter McGeachen retires from Unit after 32 years' service.
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| 2005 |
April - Fire Police incorporated into NZFS's SMS on-line management system
May - Representatives of the Unit present submissions to Department of Internal Affairs team re the proposed fire/rescue legislation, after which the Unit withdraws its submission believing it to be too confining, noting there will be further opportunity to comment.
June - Fire Police combine with New Zealand Fire Brigades' Institute to host a Field Day - "Fire Protection within Institutions of Detention" at Paremoremo
July - Members graduate from first Management Skills Development Programme held by the Unit
Oct - A team of Auckland Fire Police with 2 fleet vehicles assisted for the weekend 'Staying Alive Expo' at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.
Dec - Reported that members had assisted in more than 50 movements of the kitchen trailer/safety caravan to fire safety events etc during the year.
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| 2006 |
Feb - Many members assisting with various facets of the UFBA Conference held at Auckland's Sky City - those who were members of the Organising Committee are named as Honorary Life Members of the Auckland Districts' Fire Brigades Sub Association
April - NZFS intranet can now be accessed by members via the internet
June - 2 members of the Unit named in Queen's Birthday Honours, thought unique in the NZFS: CFO Jim Smith QSM (Queen's Service Medal) and SO Ric Carlyon MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit)
Aug - All members now issued with latest model 'Flex' pagers
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| 2007 |
Mar - Announcement that Assistant Fire Regional Manager/Commander David Neil has the new position of OIC of all regional volunteer matters.
April - A small group from the Unit, members of the Regional Communications Team, is trained to provide assistance during extraordinary emergency events.
May - Auckland Fire Police Officers travel to Rotorua for training weekend there with Rotorua and Taupo Operational Support members.
June - The Unit makes a further submission re the proposed new fire and rescue services legislation (still under consideration by the Review Team in Wellington).
July - SO Ric Carlyon appointed to Board of Directors, UFBA.
November - Unit's website inaugurated , Sgt S Kearns (NZ Police) made Life Member of the Unit at Auckland Fire Police's Triple Gold Star function and Honours Night.
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