The fire service has told volunteers in next year's charity calendar not to reveal full names after a prisoner asked a former firefighter model for a date.
The woman, who would not be named, was contacted by the prisoner in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo.
Auckland Airport firefighter and calendar production manager Tony Scott said the incident led him to warn firefighter models not to give their full names during media interviews about the calendar.
The Auckland volunteer firefighter received the prisoner's letter after she was interviewed by a community newspaper about her appearance in this year's calendar, which raised money for child cancer.
"He said he'd love to visit her when he got out and he wanted to date her."
The woman told fellow firefighters, and it was reported to Scott.
No complaint was made with the Department of Corrections and he did not know who the prisoner was.
The woman confirmed the story was true, but did not want to speak to the Herald on Sunday.
Scott said the inmate's actions had caught the fire service by surprise.
"It's been a bit of a learning curve for us. We didn't think we'd have to go down this path, but we've got to be careful."
Young Northland firefighter Arden is the cover girl for next year's female calendar but decided not to tell anyone her last name.
A Department of Corrections spokeswoman declined to comment because the identity of the prisoner was not known.
All for a good cause: Arden
It began as a way to make a fellow volunteer firefighter realise she was beautiful.
Now Northland firefighter Arden is on the cover of the Fire Service's 2013 female fundraising calendar.
"It's a bit embarrassing," the 21-year-old said.
"It's not something I'd usually do, but it's all for a good cause, and that's what helps you do it." That, and helping a colleague boost her self-confidence.
Police officer Jasmine, 40, is also part of Arden's volunteer brigade, but wouldn't put her hand up for the calendar. So Arden secretly entered them together.
"She's very pretty and I figured she needed to know that. We did it together and that was fun."