Senior firefighter Rebecca Wright (left); Police Negotiation Team Commander, Sergeant Marie Marshall; St John's Ambulance paramedic and central south territory support officer Susan Sharp.
Senior firefighter Rebecca Wright (left); Police Negotiation Team Commander, Sergeant Marie Marshall; St John's Ambulance paramedic and central south territory support officer Susan Sharp.
In a fitting celebration to mark International Women's Day, all three emergency services came together.
The day was an opportunity for the public to celebrate the diverse roles of women in the emergency services, and engage with those who have joined rewarding and exciting careers.
About 30 service women attended the event, rather appropriately near the Heretaunga Women's Centre.
St John's Ambulance paramedic and central south territory support officer Susan Sharp believed it was a celebration of all women and the progress that's been made in gender equity over the years.
She said women are equally represented in the region, with a 50/50 gender split.
Napier Community Supervisor and Hawkes Bay Police Negotiation Team Commander Marie Marshall said the event was an opportunity to celebrate the diverse roles of women in the emergency services, and engage with those who serve their communities through rewarding and exciting careers.
"We have got a lot more females joining the police now and I think a lot of them realise that they've got the confidence now to be able to do this job. It is a great career and there are lots of opportunities, but also plenty of support."
The number of female police employees in the Eastern District over the last five years has had a 25 per cent increase from 74 (2014) to 92 in February this year.
Sergeant Su Robinson said police are committed to better reflecting the community they serve, and as such they have set the target of 50 per cent of all recruits being women.
In 2018 they recruited the most women in the organisation's history, meaning 550 more woman were employed than at the start of the 2017/18 year.
"We have achieved this by ensuring our recruitment advertising is attractive to women across the country, we have also worked hard to ensure our processes do not put any unfair barriers to women, or any other group," Robinson said.
Fire and Emergency NZ Hawke's Bay area commander Ken Cooper said there is a requirement to reflect diversity in the workplace.
He welcomed the opportunity for people to apply to become a firefighter in the region.
"I am committed to a workplace where everyone feels respected and included. Everyone who works with Fire and Emergency will feel valued and able to contribute to keeping our community safe."
From left, Annie Dundas, Tina Chamberlain, Vicky Roebuck, Kirsten Wise, Robyn McLean, Hayley Browne and The Hits co-host Megan Banks demonstrate #BlanceforBetter for International Women's Day.
Meanwhile, in Napier, The Hits Hawke's Bay hosted an all female radio show to celebrate International Women's Day.
The Hits co-host Megan Banks said the show had been a fun and positive way to celebrate the day with local women sharing great experiences about their lives.
"There was so much we could have talked about - we could have filled a five-hour show, not just a three hour one.
"It's inspired me to continue to do as much as we can to support our stories on air."
