It has been a long time coming but the NZPFU can finally announce a scholarship for research or a project that is relevant to the progression of women firefighters within the profession.

In 2021 the important milestone of 40 years’ of women in career firefighting was reached but due to Covid 19 restrictions and other issues we did actually get to celebrate and commemorate that milestone with special tributes to the first women career firefighters Anne Barry and Elizabeth England until 2023.    

Anne Barry battled for the right to transition from the communications call centre to the career recruits course through the Human Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and to Parliament before she and Elizabeth were both accepted on the 1981 career recruits course.   Last year the NZPFU hosted a function in Tauranga for Anne celebrating with her family, friends, her former colleagues, Elizabeth’s family (as Elizabeth could not travel due to illness), current career women firefighters, NZPFU representatives and FENZ representatives.  Also in attendance was the then Minister Jan Tinetti (Minister for Internal Affairs and Minister for Women).

At the function the NZPFU announced ongoing recognition of Anne Barry’s struggle through a NZPFU scholarship for a project that is relevant to the progression of women firefighters within the firefighting profession, or relevant to progression of women working in a fire agency. 

The NZPFU scholarship will be awarded to projects that will assist the Union in its policy and direction in the future.   We hope to find projects or research that will result in a robust and credible outcome and/or report that genuinely assists the Union’s future decision-making.

The NZPFU will fund up to $10,000 for the scholarship/s which may be awarded in total to one project or divided among projects depending on the merits of the applications received.  To qualify the applicant must be a member of the NZPFU.

Applications for consideration of the scholarship by NZPFU members can be made to wellington@nzpfu.org.nz no later than 1 December 2024.

• The project can be in any form with the outcome/result/report to be provided to the NZPFU no later than 1 February 2025.
• The application must set out the purpose of the project and or/research focused on its relevance to the progression of career women firefighters or women working in fire agency, and the proposed benefits of the project/research to the union.
• The application must include the estimate of all costs/expenses of the project and/or research, what the scholarship would be used for, and a proposed timeline for the project including regular reporting of progress and monitoring of the use of the scholarship funds.
• We will be looking for the exploration of issues that are not the subject of other similar research and projects, and demonstrate a strong link/benefit for the Union.

We will announce the special committee who will consider the applications in due course.

In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary