Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade
Organisation Details
DescriptionIt was the Katikati Chamber of Commerce who first met to discuss the formation of a volunteer brigade in 1949. This need was proven the following year, when the Farmers Trading Co. building in Katikati was burnt to the ground one night, whilst the townsfolk were forced to look on helplessly without any emergency services to attend to the flames. In October of 1950, the Chamber of Commerce met with Tauranga County Council and it was agreed that Katikati needed a fire brigade.
The Katikati Secondary Urban Fire District was created by the Tauranga County Council in 1951, and the Fire Brigade Committee was formed to administer the district. This committee met for the first time in the Plunket Rooms in Katikati on March 12th, 1952. Attendees were: G. A. Sherson (Chair), J.H. Purcell Snr. (Secretary), E. H. Western, a Council Riding member, F. E. Lassen, a Fire Brigade representative and E. M. Fox, the County Clerk.
The brigade received its first appliance in March 1953. It was a Ford 30 truck which had been converted to become a fire appliance. Thirteen men were also made active members of the Katikati Fire Brigade at the same time: R. E. Bowie (Superintendent), J.T. Mitchell (Deputy Superintendent), K. G. Johnson (Secretary), J.E. Price (Foreman), I. Sherson, A. Rooke, G. Mayne, B. McLeod, F.E. Lassen, J.H. Purcell Jnr., W.G. Purcell, T. W. Manson, W. D. Wilson and T. Cannell. As the first station had not yet been built, the appliance was stored at the A & P Show Buildings.
Land for the new station was provided by the County Council and the building work was undertaken by HD Rayment. The first Fire Station was completed and opened in 1955.
This station served the community well for decades, but in 2012 the time had come for another, larger and more suitable site to be found where a new station could be built. The site on the corner of Sheffield Street and Middlebrook Road was selected and the new station was completed and opened in 2014.
The old fire station was refitted and became what is now Western Bay Museum.
WebsiteModern Upgrade for Katikati Fire Brigade
The Katikati Secondary Urban Fire District was created by the Tauranga County Council in 1951, and the Fire Brigade Committee was formed to administer the district. This committee met for the first time in the Plunket Rooms in Katikati on March 12th, 1952. Attendees were: G. A. Sherson (Chair), J.H. Purcell Snr. (Secretary), E. H. Western, a Council Riding member, F. E. Lassen, a Fire Brigade representative and E. M. Fox, the County Clerk.
The brigade received its first appliance in March 1953. It was a Ford 30 truck which had been converted to become a fire appliance. Thirteen men were also made active members of the Katikati Fire Brigade at the same time: R. E. Bowie (Superintendent), J.T. Mitchell (Deputy Superintendent), K. G. Johnson (Secretary), J.E. Price (Foreman), I. Sherson, A. Rooke, G. Mayne, B. McLeod, F.E. Lassen, J.H. Purcell Jnr., W.G. Purcell, T. W. Manson, W. D. Wilson and T. Cannell. As the first station had not yet been built, the appliance was stored at the A & P Show Buildings.
Land for the new station was provided by the County Council and the building work was undertaken by HD Rayment. The first Fire Station was completed and opened in 1955.
This station served the community well for decades, but in 2012 the time had come for another, larger and more suitable site to be found where a new station could be built. The site on the corner of Sheffield Street and Middlebrook Road was selected and the new station was completed and opened in 2014.
The old fire station was refitted and became what is now Western Bay Museum.
WebsiteModern Upgrade for Katikati Fire BrigadePublications
Related Information
PlacesKatikatiOral HistoriesSally Henry RemembersPublicationsKatikati Volunteer Fire Brigade 50th JubileeKatikati Volunteer Fire Brigade 60th Anniversary
Oral HistoriesSally Henry RemembersPublicationsKatikati Volunteer Fire Brigade 50th JubileeKatikati Volunteer Fire Brigade 60th Anniversaryloading google map....
Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade. Western Bay of Plenty Community Archives, accessed 03/05/2026, https://westernbay.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1437
