Our History

Uniform Badges

The Unit has proudly served under a number of cap badges down the decades, changes dictated by the organisations that Fire Police answered to.

Uniform Badges - 1933 1933   The first badge of office, was not in fact a cap badge. Khaki armbands were issued to identify members of the new Fire Police Corps. The letters "FP" were boldly embroidered in red. Soon after, the colour of the armband was changed to blue with yellow lettering.
Uniform Badges - 1935 1935   The first, original, cap badges were issued when a peaked cap was given to each member. The badge merely comprised the words "Fire Police" with no other logo or crest. each member was given a unique number, also included on the armband. Armbands were amended to include the Member's unique number.
Uniform Badges - 1947 1947   The Fire Service decided on a brass badge common to all brigades, but incorporating the name of each brigade. It was surrounded by laurel leaves and surmounted by a crown, later controversial when it was said that official approval to use the crown had not been granted. Fire Police in the Auckland Corps wore the "Auckland Met." badge, short for Auckland Metropolitan.
Uniform Badges - 1952 1952   A new design was issued by the Fire Service, the silver eight-pointed star flanked by fern leaves, with a prominent, central, crossed axes and helmet. Like the earlier badge, brigades incorporated their name around the top, in the Corps' case "Auckland". A few brigades replaced the central helmet and axes with their city's Coat of Arms. Auckland did not.
Uniform Badges - 1976 1976   The new Fire Service Commission introduced a new badge with a much different central logo within the eight-pointed star, depicting a Phoenix rising from the ashes (symbolising a new Fire Service ascending from the old). Individual brigade names were not allowed. Without the long-established crossed axes and helmet, the badge was often not recognisable as belonging to the Fire Service. Auckland Fire Police wore this cap badge, unlike some Brigades who retained the 1952 badge to show their opposition and derision to the radical changes.
Uniform Badges - 1984 1984   The continuing opposition, and a Royal Warrant, meant it was back to the familiar crossed axes and helmet within the eight-pointed star surrounded by fern leaves meeting at the top and embracing a Crown which the new Warrant granted.
FENZ Crest - 2017 2017   From July 1st legislation repealing fire services took effect and the new organisation, Fire and Emergency New Zealand replaced the New Zealand Fire Service Commission. The new badge copied some aspects of its predecessor, but crossed axes were replaced by an axe crossed with a Pulaski tool to represent the integration of urban and rural services.