United Fire Brigades' Association of NZ

02/09/2026

Join us in Nelson for the UFBA Leadership Workshop and discover the valuable learnings, tools and insights that have already benefited more than 1,000 UFBA members. 🙌

📅 2 & 3 October 2026
📍 Nelson

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn, connect and grow as a leader!

Over the years, this workshop has helped hundreds of UFBA members strengthen their leadership capability and develop the skills to create and maintain inclusive, respectful and positive environments.

And the best part? It’s FREE for all UFBA members! 🎉

Facilitated by Damian D’Cruz, who has worked alongside UFBA members for more than 10 years, the two-day workshop covers:

✔️Understanding the difference between leadership and management.

✔️Recognising and adapting your style.

✔️Emotional intelligence as part of leadership.

✔️Facilitate conflict resolution.

✔️Know how to motivate volunteers.

✔️Create and support a positive culture.

You don't need to be in a current leadership position to benefit from these learnings, as the content can be relevant to many aspects of your life.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, head to our website today to secure your place 👇
https://www.ufba.org.nz/events-learning/leadership-workshop

01/09/2026

We’re pleased to have 342 UFBA member brigades registered with a voting delegate for our 148th Annual General Meeting in Auckland - this represents 50% of our member brigades 🙌

If your brigade doesn’t have a delegate attending, you can still make sure your vote counts by appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf.

To make this easier, we’ve published the names of the brigades with registered delegates on our website. Take a look and see if a neighbouring brigade is attending – you may be able to arrange for their delegate to carry your proxy vote.

The AGM is your brigade’s opportunity to have a say in the decisions that shape your Association by voting on motions.

👉 Check out which brigades are attending and organise your proxy: https://www.ufba.org.nz/events-learning/agm-and-conference-hui

📅 UFBA AGM 2026 | Friday 23 October | Auckland

31/08/2026

UFBA Service Honours price reductions from 15 September 🎖🎖

We’re pleased to let members know that the price of a number of UFBA Service Honours items will decrease from 15 September 2026.

The reductions apply to honours containing precious metals, including gold and silver, and reflect the lower prices we are currently paying for these materials.
Depending on the item, prices will reduce by between 3% and 12%.

The UFBA regularly reviews Service Honours pricing to ensure costs reflect the price of the materials used to produce these important awards. When precious metal prices increased significantly, this had an impact on the cost of honours containing gold and silver. With these costs now lower, we are pleased to be able to pass those savings on to our member brigades.

The new pricing will take effect from 15 September 2026 and will apply to eligible Service Honours items ordered from that date.

UFBA Service Honours recognise the dedication and contribution of brigade members who have given years of service to their brigades, communities and Fire and Emergency New Zealand. We remain committed to providing high-quality honours that appropriately recognise these significant service milestones.

31/08/2026

FENZ’s Volunteer Payments Project (VPP) continues to progress, albeit with a more specific focus. Through the project’s engagement with volunteers, it was identified that the Legacy Payment Arrangements and Long Duration Incident Payments arrangements are closely related and should not be considered in isolation. Members and stakeholders consistently advised that the two payment mechanisms should complement one another and provide a simple, consistent approach that is easy for volunteers and administrators to understand and administer.

Legacy Payment Arrangements and Long Duration Incident Payments will be considered together through an integrated approach, and that work will be progressed through the existing Long Duration Incident policy workstream within Operational Response.

All the great work that has been done to date within the VPP relating to legacy payments will help inform the integrated approach. The UFBA are going to continue working closely with both projects and will utilise the UFBA Working Group to help inform them.

We will keep you updated with any developments.

31/08/2026

🟥UPDATE: Volunteer Engagement Model Consultation Feedback 🟥

Thank you to everyone who had their say on the proposed Volunteer Engagement Model (VEM)! Your collective feedback will directly inform revisions to the agreements, so they are clear, practical, workable and enduring.

👀 Watch this short video now or with your brigade, sharing key themes from the feedback as well as next steps for the project 🎬 https://vimeo.com/1221925081

Consultation ran from 30 March to 30 June and gave volunteers, employees and other stakeholders across the motu the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed agreements.

The You Told Us report has now been released, bringing together the key themes raised during consultation, including:

🔸 Relationship, trust and accountability
🔸 Expectations, support and protections
🔸 Belonging, community and inclusion
🔸 Governance, operations and disputes
🔸 Assets, financial and legal status
🔸 Probation, retention and leave
🔸 Implementation and next steps
🔸 Project feedback
🔸 Other feedback not in scope

The co-design approach means the UFBA has been closely involved in this work and will continue to represent our members as the agreements are revised and further tested.

The next stage is about turning what was heard into agreements that are clear, practical and workable for volunteers and brigades. Revised agreements will go through both Fire and Emergency and UFBA approval processes, with implementation currently expected to begin from April 2027.

Thank you to every UFBA member who took the time to contribute. Your experience and feedback are critical to getting this right.

👉 Read the You Told Us report and find out more about what happens next: https://www.ufba.org.nz/members-view/volunteer-engagement-model-project

27/08/2026

You may recall that Labour MP Hon. Kieran McAnulty MP Accident Compensation (Extended Cover for FENZ Personnel) Amendment Bill was recently drawn from Parliament’s member’s bill ballot – otherwise known as the biscuit tin.

This was a really positive step forward in our campaign for fairer ACC cover for volunteers.

UFBA met with Kieran yesterday to talk through where things are at and how we can continue supporting the Bill. He remains committed to seeing this work progress, but there is now a significant timing challenge we need to work through.

So, what’s happening?

The Government is currently sitting under urgency. One of the flow-on effects is that Members’ Days have been postponed. These are the days when member’s bills, including this ACC Bill, get their first reading and debate in Parliament.
The Bill was expected to have its first reading during one of the two Members’ Days that have now been postponed.

That matters because Parliament rises on 24 September ahead of the election. If the Bill does not receive its first reading before then, it will lapse.
Importantly, that doesn’t mean the end of the road. The Bill could be reintroduced in the next Parliament, but it would mean a longer journey to get this change across the line.

There is still an opportunity for an extended sitting to deal with members’ business before Parliament rises, but this would need to be requested by a Minister.

Where to from here?

We’re exploring every avenue available to keep the Bill moving and are continuing conversations about what can be done before Parliament rises.

At the same time, we’re working through two alternative pathways should the Bill not progress in time. We’re not putting all our eggs in one basket.

The goal hasn’t changed: fair and equitable ACC protection for volunteers.

Legislative change remains our Plan A, and we’ll keep working collaboratively with MPs, members and others across the sector to get there.

We’ll keep you updated as things develop.

26/08/2026

Check out the amazing things on offer in the Te Kiwi Māia live auction and support this worthy cause 🙌

OUR TE KIWI MĀIA CHARITY AUCTION IS LIVE!

We’re adding new auction items every day, with some incredible products, experiences and packages up for grabs and the best part? You can bid from anywhere around New Zealand! 🇳🇿

We often get asked, “How can I help Te Kiwi Māia?”

Well, this is one of the easiest ways you can make a difference. ❤️

Please help us spread the word! Share the auction with your family, friends, workmates and networks. You never know who might be looking for the perfect gift, an unforgettable experience or something special — and every bid helps support the work we do with veterans, NZDF personnel, first responders and their whānau.

A massive thank you to all the incredible businesses and individuals who have generously donated these amazing products and experiences. Your generosity helps us raise vital funds and continue supporting the people who support our communities.

🔥 The auction is LIVE now — and we’re adding more items every day, so keep checking back!

🔗 Bid here: https://app.galabid.com/tkm26/items

Please like, share and tag your friends to help us get the auction out there!

Every share. Every bid. Every bit of support. It all makes a difference.

💚 Together, we can make a difference.

26/08/2026

🚨EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST – OPERATIONAL SUPPORT🚨

Are you in an operational support role and passionate about it? We want your experience, knowledge and ideas at the table.

We’re looking for members to join our UFBA Volunteer Field Experts Group – Operational Support.

Our Volunteer Field Experts help ensure the UFBA’s advocacy is informed by what’s actually happening on the ground. This new group will provide practical advice and insights on issues and FENZ projects affecting Operational Support, while also helping identify ideas and opportunities for improvement.

It’s an opportunity to have your voice heard, share your expertise and help us advocate accurately and effectively on behalf of Operational Support volunteers across the country.

👉 Find out more, read the Terms of Reference and complete the Expression of Interest form on our website 🔗 https://www.ufba.org.nz/news/VFE-ops-support

Completed forms or questions should be sent to [email protected]

📅 Expressions of interest close Wednesday 16 September 2026.

22/08/2026

🚨 FINAL DAY 🔥 this is it - registrations close at 11.59pm tonight!

Today is your last chance to register for the UFBA AGM & Conference Hui.

If you’ve been meaning to register, now is the time. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the largest networking opportunity for firefighters in New Zealand.

🌐 complete your registration on the UFBA website before it's too late - https://www.ufba.org.nz/events-learning/agm-and-conference-hui

21/08/2026

⚠️ ONLY 2 DAYS TO GET REGISTERED

If you’re planning to attend the UFBA AGM & Conference Hui 2026 as a brigade delegate or additional delegate, don’t wait any longer and risk missing out. We want to see you there!

⏰ Registrations close 11.59pm Sunday 23 August.

👉 Get registered today and make sure your place is secured - https://www.ufba.org.nz/events-learning/agm-and-conference-hui