Thursday 11 October 2012
Helping hand for Fire Service volunteers

Members of 20 volunteer fire brigades from around New Zealand will be filling their tanks using nearly $10,000 worth of BP petrol vouchers in the coming weeks.

The volunteer brigades, stretching from Pauanui to Ashburton, received the vouchers as part of BP’s Vouchers for Volunteers programme, which supports hard working volunteers throughout New Zealand.

Ruth McKenzie, Acting Volunteer Sustainability Programme Manager for the New Zealand Fire Service, said that these vouchers were well-earned rewards for a group who just put their heads down and get on with it.

“Volunteer firefighters are the life blood of the New Zealand Fire Service. We are one of the largest volunteer organisations in New Zealand. There are 394 volunteer brigades which house about 8400 volunteers.

“Volunteer brigades can have up to 500 callouts every year. To see some of our volunteers receive acknowledgement for the value they bring to their communities is great.”

BP Managing Director, Matt Elliott, said that the volunteer fire brigades are extremely deserving recipients.

“Volunteer fire brigades and the New Zealand Fire Service provide such an essential service to New Zealand. We are delighted we can support them with a share of the more than $185,000 in vouchers donated to charities around New Zealand.”
Mr Elliott said that BP was proud to be involved in Vouchers for Volunteers, which has been running for seven years.

“Every day throughout New Zealand, thousands of volunteers give up their spare time to help others. This is our way of saying ‘Thank you’ and to do our bit to ensure volunteers can continue their good work,” he said.

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