New Zealand has marked a powerful milestone with the release of its first-ever women’s firefighter calendar, shining a spotlight on the courage and capability of wāhine serving on the front line.
The Wāhine Toa Firefighter Calendar features thirteen full-time career firefighters from nine stations across three cities, all proudly stepping forward to challenge stereotypes, uplift one another and support an important cause, breast cancer research.
The initiative, spearheaded by firefighters Nicole Koch and Zoe Feau, began as a casual conversation during a shift. While chatting about the long-running men’s firefighter calendar, the pair wondered why an equivalent for women didn’t exist.
Rather than wait for change, they decided to create it themselves. What started as a bold idea soon transformed into a nationwide project, and one that quickly exceeded all expectations.
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Despite the many moving parts involved, the pair received strong support from their male colleagues, whose advice and guidance helped ensure the project’s success. A key focus throughout the journey was striking the right balance: celebrating strength, pride and femininity without over-sexualisation. The result is a collection that honours the professionalism and dedication of New Zealand’s female firefighters while embracing the diversity of womanhood within the service.
Released through the Breast Cancer Cure website, the calendar immediately captured public attention. Teaser videos posted on social media amassed millions of views globally, generating overwhelming demand.
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The initial run sold out within hours, raising NZ$100,000 for breast cancer research in a single day. With their goal initially set at 5,000 copies of the 2026 calendar, Koch and Feau were astonished by the response and have already arranged for more copies to be printed to meet continued demand.
This is the first time New Zealand’s career female firefighters have united to create a national charity calendar, though women have previously been featured alongside volunteer crews. The project stands as both a powerful fundraiser and a statement about representation in emergency services.
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Calendars are available for purchase with postage options for New Zealand (including rural delivery), Australia and international buyers, ensuring supporters around the world can join the movement.
What began as a spontaneous idea has become a landmark moment, celebrating wāhine toa and supporting lifesaving research.
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