Taranaki’s Toughest Firefighter – Taranaki Provincial Fire Brigades Association

Saturday 14th February 2026

TSB Hub, Hāwera.

Saturday 14th February 2026

TSB Hub, Hāwera.

What is it?

Taranaki’s Toughest Firefighter is a unique challenge consisting of 5 obstacles that firefighters complete wearing all their firefighting PPE.

The first obstacle sees the firefighter scaling 2 levels of scaffolding with a 70mm hose draped across their shoulders. When at the top, they hoist a coiled hose from the ground to the top before scaling back down the scaffolding. Obstacle 2 sees the firefighter hit the ‘Keiser’ machine with a sledgehammer until the block passes the goal, before the firefighter sets off for a quick jog through a zig-zag course. The firefighter must then pick up a charged length of hose, advancing and firing water from a set distance to open the saloon doors. The firefighter passes through the saloon doors and heads to the final obstacle, the dummy drag!

While it all sounds very technical, help and guidance is with you all the way through the course, it is very much designed for all ability levels to come and give it a go!

Taranaki's Toughest Firefighter 2026

The 2026 Event will be held in conjunction with the Hāwera Community Fun Day at the TSB Hub, Hāwera on Saturday the 14th February.

There are categories for Natural (rural) and Built (urban) firefighters as well as age-groups. You will be required to supply your own level 2’s or Rural PPE. BA sets and hose packs will be supplied.

Event registration includes a collectable event T-Shirt. Register as an individual using the link provided, if you are a member of both a natural & built brigade, you may register in both categories. You will be required to run the course twice wearing the correct PPE for each category. Pairs and Group runs will take place after the individual event, registration for these will take place on the day.

At the conclusion of the event, you’re invited to join us for a BBQ and prizegiving at the Hāwera Volunteer Fire Station.

Early bird DISCOUNTED registration closes on January 28th to allow for T-Shirt printing prior to the event. Late entries will have their shirts delivered to their local Fire Station.

Visit our facebook group.