Long-serving Rotorua firefighters gathered with their families, colleagues, and the mayor at the city's fire station this afternoon, where they were honoured for decades of service.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand area manager Jeff Maunder thanked the 14 recipients before mayor Steve Chadwick presented their medals and clasps.
"In the days where a lot of the focus is on self, for people to spend a lot of time in the service of one organisation is quite something," Maunder said.
Chadwick said last year's April floods demonstrated the extent of the Rotorua firefighters' selflessness.
"I was incredibly impressed at how calm their heads were... It was no joke that night when we heard what had unfolded."
