New Year 2025 Honours: Ōtāne volunteer firefighter John Oliver receives King’s Service Medal

Ōtāne Volunteer Fire Brigade's John Oliver pictured in 2021 ahead of his 50th year with the brigade. Photo / NZME

John Oliver still remembers driving past the old Waipukurau Hospital and noticing smoke coming from the premises, before raising the alarm.

That enormous blaze in 2010 - which destroyed large sections of the closed hospital - is just one of countless jobs Oliver has attended over the years as a member of the Ōtāne Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Oliver, 72, has notched up 52 years with the brigade, the last 34 as the chief fire officer.

The proud Ōtāne resident has now been recognised for his service with an accolade in the New Year Honours.

Oliver said he was “very honoured and humbled” to receive a King’s Service Medal for services to Fire and Emergency NZ and the community.

His father was a firefighter and his father-in-law was one of the founders of the Ōtāne Volunteer Fire Brigade.

He joined the brigade at the age of 20.

He said the most rewarding part of his time with the brigade had been helping people.

“When people call us they are in trouble, in crisis, so you just get on and help them.

Exhausted volunteer firefighters resting after battling a fire all night at the old Waipukurau Hospital in 2010.

“And I have met a lot of good people and [have] friends in the brigade who are still good mates.”

Another memorable job was saving the old Ōtāne school during a blaze, he said. It has has now been converted into an arts centre.

Oliver, a retired painter and plasterer, is something of a jack of all trades and has built four tankers for the brigade over the years - converting them from trucks and other vehicles.

Oliver has just stepped down from his role of chief of the Ōtāne brigade but will continue as a senior station officer.

Oliver’s son has also served as a volunteer firefighter.

He said he had thoroughly enjoyed serving the community over the past 50-plus years.

“When I reached my 50th [with the brigade] I actually said ‘if there were another 50 years of my life I’d do it again’.”

Oliver has also been a main driver behind the development of Ōtāne’s new tennis courts, as a member of the Ōtāne Sports Club.

Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.