Service Honours

The Service Honours awarded to members of the Unit (and earlier, the Corps) have changed over the years. But the basics have endured. Five Year Medal with bars, exchanged at 25 years' service for the coveted Gold Star. For both the medal and the star, a bar is awarded for every additional 2 years' service.

Fire Board Honours

Auckland Metro Fire Board The Unit's first Service Honours were issued by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board. The 5 year silver medal depicted a fire fighter at work with an old open fire appliance in the background. The ribbon was attached by a bar fashioned as a standpipe.
In 1938 -October- the first recorded recipient from the Auckland Fire Police Corps was Constable C Surman, a foundation member.
Silver Star In 1943 an "unofficial" service honour was started. Auckland Corps members who attended ten or more of the monthly meetings in any one year received the Silver Star good attendance award. If the member continued his record for a second year, he retained the award and usually wore it as a tie clasp. This award had been disbanded by the mid-1970s.

1958 The Fire Board's Gold Star for 25 years' service were awarded to Auckland Fire Police members for the first time when Captain George Hedlund and Lieutenant Ralph Wildish received theirs, marking also the Corps' 25th anniversary.

In 1967 -March- the Corps celebrated with a special presentation evening for a triple Gold Star event. Three eligible members, Cecil Copland, Leslie Chapman and Ernest Patterson, had their 25 year's service recognised.

National Fire Police Association Honours

National Fire Police In 1971 the National Fire Police Association was founded and it had minted Service Honours specifically for Fire Police which, in Auckland and many other cities and towns, replaced the Fire Board service awards. The silver medal was slightly smaller than the Board medals, with a small helmet and crossed axes in the centre, surrounded by a stylised Phoenix. The purple ribbon was attached by a bar fashioned like a ladder.

These Fire Board and Fire Police Association Service Honours were awarded in lieu of those inaugurated in 1879 by the United Fire Brigades' Association Inc., (UFBA). Firefighters belonging to Member Brigades of the Association were eligible. Fire Police, despite periodic applications over more than a century were repeatedly denied membership, and therefore, UFBA honours.

United Fire Brigades' Association of New Zealand (Inc) Honours

In 1984 (August), however, the Unit was advised, along with all other Fire Police in New Zealand, that it was now eligible to belong to the UFBA, and thus its Honours could now be awarded. The Fire Service made a special grant in November 1985 so that without personal expense Auckland Fire Police members could swap their Fire Police Association Honours for those of the UFBA.

5 year medal The silver, 5 year, medal shows a fire fighter at work, it is attached to the red ribbon by an elaborate fixture which includes a miniature shield showing crossed axes and helmet surmounted by a phoenix. Gold Star medal The UFBA Gold eight-pointed Star has a plain attachment to its purple ribbon with the pin at the top concealed behind a gold scroll with the letters U.F.B.A.
50 year medal Instituted in 1999, the UFBA 50 Year Medal comprises two different gold stars super-imposed with the "50 in gold letters on a red background. The purple ribbon is suspended by the same gold scroll as the 25 Year medal. There are 2 year bars for all 3 medals.

Royal Honours

Long Service medal In 1984 Fire Police also qualified for the New Zealand Fire Brigades' Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 14 year's service, with a bar for every seven years thereafter. These are quite separate to, and in addition to, the UFBA Service Honours.

Our Unit's Queen's Honours
Updated November 2024

Order of Merit Ribbon
Order of Merit Medal

Member of the
New Zealand Order of Merit


R Carlyon (2006)**
CFO G Teal (2024)
Queen's Service Ribbon
Queen's Service Medal

Queen's Service Medal

DCFO R Bay (2022)
SO   J Smith (2006)
Bravery Medal Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct SO   C England
 
49 year ribbon Fifth Clasp - 49 years - New Zealand Fire Brigade's
Long Service / Good Conduct Medal
SO   J Smith
42 year ribbon Fourth Clasp - 42 years - New Zealand Fire Brigade's
Long Service / Good Conduct Medal
CFO G Teal
SO C England
35 year ribbon Third Clasp - 35 years - New Zealand Fire Brigade's
Long Service / Good Conduct Medal
SSO A Officer
SO   P Duncan
QFF K Stillwell
28 year ribbon Second Clasp - 28 years - New Zealand Fire Brigade's
Long Service / Good Conduct Medal
DCFO R Bay
SSO   D Scott
21 year ribbon First Clasp - 21 years - New Zealand Fire Brigade's
Long Service / Good Conduct Medal
DCFO R Bay
SSO R Cuthbert
QFF A Cuthbert
QFF N Hohaia
QFF J Watson
Long Service Ribbon
Long Service Medal
14 years - New Zealand Fire Brigades'
Long Service / Good Conduct Medal
SO  M Walker
SO I Batterbee
QFF M Potter

Our Unit's Other Honours

  International Year of the Volunteer Medal and Ribbon
Volunteer Ribbon
Volunteer Medal

Awarded to all members of the Unit who were serving during the
International Year of the Volunteer - 2001
Volunteer Ribbon
Volunteer Medal
In 2011 it was decided to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteer by awarding an International Year of the Volunteer plus 10 medal to those members serving in 2011.
  And those who were awarded the International Year of the Volunteer medal in 2001 were awarded a bar, signifying 10 years’ service. 
  2011 Canterbury Citation (Dress Distinction) and Certificate
Awarded by the New Zealand Fire Service to recognise the contribution and support given by those members who deployed to Christchurch immediately following the earthquake of February 22nd 2011.
DCFO R Bay, SO R Carlyon**, SO D Carnell**, QFF H Chisnall**, SSO R Cuthbert, SSO L Day**, SO C England, SO A Galloway**, QFF J Kerr**, QFF H Kyle**, SFF A McVeigh**, QFF P Mason-Riseborough**, QFF M Potter, QFF P Robinson**, QFF K Stillwell, QFF G Towers**, QFF J Watson.
  2011 Canterbury Citation Certificate
Awarded by the New Zealand Fire Service to recognise support given to those members who deployed to Christchurch immediately following the earthquake of February 22nd 2011.

CFO G Teal.
  Fire and Emergency Award for 25 Years Service
Awarded by Fire and Emergency New Zealand to all personnel who serve 25 years (as of 1 October 2019), to recognise the committment they have shown Fire and Emergency and their communities throughout the country.

SSO D Scott.
 ** Member noted no longer serves with our brigade.

Gold Star medal Our Unit's UFBA
Service Honours
Updated November 2024
5 year medal
51 year bar
51 years
SO   J Smith
50 year medal
50 year
Double Gold Star
47 year bar
47 years
SO   P Duncan
45 year bar
45 years
CFO   G Teal
41 year bar
41 years
SO   C England
QFF K Stillwell
40 Year Certificate
40 Year
Certificate
SSO   A Officer
33 year bar
33 years
DCFO R Bay
31 year bar
31 years
SSO   D Scott
Gold Star medal
25 year
Gold Star
 
21 year bar
21 years
SSO R Cuthbert
QFF A Cuthbert
QFF N Hohaia
QFF J Watson
19 year bar
19 years
SO   I Batterbee
QFF M Potter
17 year bar
17 years
SO M Walker
VBS J Sadler
15 year bar
15 years
SO   M Walker
VBS C Mellars
13 year bar
13 years
QFF D Serjeant
QFF A Reyna-Rivera
11 year bar
11 years
QFF G Grant
QFF V Koloamatangi
SO   D O'Connor
9 year bar
9 years
QFF J Somerville
7 year bar
7 years
SO   R Christie
SO   J Bryant
SO   M Harding
QFF M Falaniko
QFF G Lewis
QFF D Sharma
QFF M Hadler
5 year medal
5 year
Silver Medal
SO   S Bhaktar
QFF L Wallace
QFF S Southen
QFF J Teal
FF   S Adams
FF   C Richards
FF   T Bean

3 year certificate
3 year
Certificate
QFF M Kitchen
QFF J Schellingerhout
QFF M Adair
QFF R Dragland
QFF A Kumar
QFF T Akroyd
RFF E Sharma

Our Unit's Awards

Life Honorary Medal
Brigade Life Honorary Membership
The Life Honorary Medal is bestowed on members who give sterling service
to the Unit, usually including those who attain 25 years' service.

GW Taylor
G Davidson
G Hedlund
L Chapman
R Wildish
JG Patterson
L Cammell
B Sykes
W Small
R Davies
L Beuth
C Copeland
RD Reid
R Martin
R Hedlund
D Halcrow
W Dil
I Morrison
J Smith
W Smith
P Reid *
M Waters
R Carlyon
R Jones
P McGeachen
A Baldick
M Manton
J Pendleton
L Nola
D Ramsay
F Neil
P Duncan
B Morgan
G Wilson
G Teal
B Molloy
K Ashton
C England
A Officer
L Wright
R Bay
A Sampson
D Scott

* Mrs Pat Reid was not a member of the Unit but the UFBA agreed with members of the Fire Police that life membership was appropriate in recognition of her support of her husband, Captain Dick Reid, and her service over many years to the Unit.

Sub-Assn Life Honorary Medal
UFBA Auckland Sub Association
Life Honorary Membership

The Sub-Association of the UFBA represents Brigades throughout Auckland. It bestows this award on long-serving members or those who render special services. Most members serving at the time received the honour for their assistance organising the 2006 UFBA Annual Conference in Auckland.

J Smith
R Carlyon
A Officer
Auckland Fire Police / Operational Support Statuette
Auckland Fire Police / Operational Support Statuette

This unique award is the Unit's exclusive gift to members who attain their 25 year Gold Star.
SO Chris England was the model for talented sculptor Graham Monk, a career Senior
Fire-Fighter in Auckland, who in this work has realistically depicted Fire Police / Operational Support on duty.

R Jones
J Smith
A Baldick
M Manton
L Nola
B Morgan
P Duncan
F Neil
P McGeachen
J Pendleton
D Ramsay
M Waters
G Wilson
G Teal
B Molloy
C England
R Carlyon
K Ashton
A Officer
L Wright
K Stillwell
R Kuysten
R Bay
D Scott