Apply to be a Career Firefighter

If you can think on your feet, are driven to succeed, are a people person and have a fit, healthy lifestyle, firefighting might be the career for you.

Applications to become a Career Firefighter are open from July 1^st 2019 to July 29^th 2019.

You don't need to be some kind of superhuman

Some people think that becoming a firefighter might require you to be some kind of superhuman. But the reality is quite different. We have people from all walks of life, various ethnicities, ages and gender who are a part of Fire and Emergency New Zealand and who love what they do in their local communities.

Read our stories here.

We do more than fighting fires

There’s a lot more to being a modern firefighter:

You’ll be responsible for operational readiness, first and foremost. A ready station is an effective one.
You’ll fight fires, with the number depending on the season and the location. We typically fight more fires in summer and answer more call-outs in cities.
You’ll help with medical emergencies, motor vehicle incidents, search and rescue, civil defence and natural disaster responses.
You’ll be busy with fire prevention activities, presenting the Get Firewise programme in schools, checking fire alarms in homes and businesses, and offering safety advice wherever it’s needed.
You’ll help with administration, data input, station and equipment cleaning and maintenance. Even making the odd batch of scones. Everyone pitches in!

Some emergencies are emotionally difficult to deal with, but we’ll do all we can to prepare you for these situations and support you afterwards.

To meet the challenging and rewarding nature of the job, we’re looking for candidates with a broad range of skills

Some life experience - Life experience is important to help you cope with the wide range of emergencies you'll encounter. But remember, we also train and support you to help prepare you for this.
Mental strength - You need to be able to think clearly under pressure, to apply common sense amidst the action, be emotionally resilient, and exhibit courage when the going gets tough.
Strong morals and ethics - Firefighters need to believe that looking after one another is an essential part of life in a community.
Drive, energy and a can-do attitude - The right attitude is important. You have to be ready to focus on achievement, to rise to the challenge, and have a desire to get stuck in and get your hands dirty!
Experience as a team player - You need to be a people person, with a drive to lead, be led and have an appreciation for discipline and direction.
Effective communication skills - Communication skills are essential. You must be able to listen effectively, accurately pass information on and clearly articulate yourself.
Physical fitness - Firefighters need to be fit. That means maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being ready to keep up a good level of physical fitness and strength.

How to apply

Applications to become a Career Firefighter are open from July 1st 2019 to July 29th 2019, see current Firefighter vacancies here.

Learn about the recruitment process

Recruitment process