Northland's fire service one of the best in the country for number of female volunteer firefighters

Kawakawa volunteer recruit firefighter Naini Heremaia-Black, 43, says she has only had positive experiences as a woman in the statistically dominated Northland fire service. Photo / Supplied

Keeping communities safe is in the blood for Northland's Naini Heremaia-Black, who followed in her mother's footsteps to become a female volunteer firefighter.

The duo join the high percentage of women responsible for Northland's status as a top player when it comes to the proportion of volunteer female firefighters in the country.

Currently 220 women donate their time to protect Northland and an additional four female career firefighters based in Whangārei. The volunteers formed 26 per cent of service's unpaid population which blazed ahead of the national average of 19 per cent. They are well represented in the Kaikohe, Kawakawa and Rawhiti brigades.

They work alongside 645 male volunteer Northland firefighters.

Muri Whenua area manager Wipari Henwood said shifts in the service's once toxic culture meant the region's female fighters had strong support and bountiful respect.

Kawakawa recruit firefighter Heremaia-Black, 43, said signing up to volunteer at Te Rawhiti Rural Fire Force more than a decade ago was a no-brainer.

"My mum was a firefighter over 40 years ago at Rawhiti. I grew up seeing how she gave back to the community which made it easy for me to decide to do the same."

Heremaia-Black had already totalled 15 years in the St John ambulance service and the fire brigade was a great way to use her skills in a different way to help others, she said.

At that point the Rawhiti brigade was already awash with a great female presence with 12 women to around six men.

The fire chief was one of the country's original women firefighters, Bella Heta.

"I do know some women who have had mixed experiences with the male dominated fire service career but for myself it has all been positive," Heremaia-Black said.

A key factor that contributed to her enjoyment as a female firefighter was that Northland women were bred tough.

"We never tolerated any sexist behaviour," she said.

Heremaia-Black also noted her experience was helped by the Rawhiti Fire Brigade been one big family - literally.

"We were all related, mostly cousins. It was alot easier because you knew everyone had your back as there was something more on the line than friendship, it was blood."

At the beginning of October this year five Kaitaia women made history last week as the town's first all-female firefighting crew.

Station officer Kaye Ah-Sam said an all-female crew wasn't unusual in Kaitaia but in the past the officer, who is in charge during the call-out, had always been male.

This was the first time everyone from the officer to the newest recruit was female.

Henwood was proud the region had bucked the trend and the fire service was all-inclusive with a large percentage of female firefighters also Māori.

"The landscape in Northland has changed for the better. We are always trying to remove any barriers and improve the experiences our strong representation of wāhine toa have," he said. "We want our fire brigades to reflect the people in our communities."

It was all about creating an atmosphere where everybody is respected, included, and engaged, Henwood said.