Central Hawke’s Bay first responders join up to train

1 April 2025

Central Hawke’s Bay emergency services are running a joint training exercise in Waipawa on Tuesday evening 1 April to practice their response to emergencies.

Hato Hone St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel and volunteers will be put through their paces as they respond to a mock multiple vehicle crash with people trapped and injured. 

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Group Manager Darren Clark says the local first responders have planned and run these joint trainings together before to enhance their skills and knowledge.

“We frequently respond to emergencies together and we know the real value of these multi-agency scenarios for our people and our organisations,” he says.

“It is important we work and train together and continue to upskill and improve our joint responses.”

Hato Hone St John Hawke’s Bay area operations manager James Lovie says, “This will be a great opportunity for all our first responders to put into practice what they have learnt – testing both the logistical and practical functions of what we do.”

“Ultimately, they help us all to provide faster and better responses in critical situations and protect more lives,” he says.

“We train for such emergencies, but we’d much prefer they didn’t happen. We urge people not to speed and to drive safely.”

The joint training exercise will take place on the Corner of Victoria and Harker streets (in parking lot) Waipawa from 7pm to 9pm.

ENDS

Note to editor:

Members from the Waipawa, Waipukurau and Ashley Clinton volunteer fire brigades will be training alongside Hato Hone St John crews from across Hawke’s Bay.

People should watch out for several emergency vehicles moving in the area or parked on the road verge.

There will be scene protection, but we ask people to slow down and drive carefully when passing or travelling near them.