Fire boss trades the fire engine for a golf cart

After 43 years in the New Zealand Fire Service, Central Lakes Area Commander Graham Fuller is trading in the fire engine for a golf cart as he takes his retirement.

Assistant area commander Hamish Smith promised his boss "just a few friends and morning tea" at his leaving pohiri, and that's what he delivered yesterday.

"For the last few years I have had the privilege of working beneath him," Mr Smith said.

"It's been a blast, and he's certainly seen me a lot further on my own journey."

Mr Smith presented Mr Fuller's partner with flowers in honour of her constant support, and Mr Fuller with a greenstone whale tooth on behalf of the brigade.

It was an emotional day as Central Lakes Area Commander Graham Fuller was fairwelled from the fire service. Pictured with partner Claire Travers. Photo/Ben Fraser

Mr Fuller said he was humbled people had come to say goodbye.

"More than anything, I want to thank my family," he said.

"My family remember spending Christmases at the fire station, it's not just been my whole life, it's been a big part of theirs."

Mr Fuller began his career in the fire service as a volunteer in 1976.

He spent 23 years working in the Auckland metropolitan brigade before moving to Rotorua in 2009.

"When I left the metropolitan and came to a small provincial town, I very quickly realised just how much I didn't know," he said.

"It had to be a very quick learning period, and one of the first lessons was to trust the resourcefulness of this small brigade."

Mr Fuller said the highlight of his career had been becoming chief, then area commander.

"Over my time, I've seen a lot of heartbreak through all kinds of accidents," he said.

"It makes you sit up and think, they're the bad bits that you take home with you."

Turangi volunteer fire brigade chief Tangonui Kingi said he would miss his mentor.

When Mr Fuller first came to Rotorua he took on the role of chief at Turangi so they could put themselves back together after a period of turmoil.

"It's not the common thing for an area commander to become chief of a small brigade like Turangi," Mr Kingi said.

"In fire brigade life you have to have a lot of skill in the game, have a measured way of dealing with those things and those things don't always come naturally. But he has supported us and really seen us grow."

The Turangi brigade presented Mr Fuller with a brigade T-shirt to commemorate the work he had done for them.

"When he steps out of his fire uniform, he will still be a member of the fire family."

Rotorua police road policing manager Brent Crowe spoke on behalf of the Bay of Plenty police.

"It's been an absolute pleasure and I want to thank him for the things I've learnt from him."

Mr Fuller will move to Ohope after his last day tomorrow. "We're going to do a bit of travel, visit Europe, then I'll come back and play some golf and do a bit of fishing."