As more people move into garages, sleepouts, and other non-traditional living spaces smoke alarms are often not installed or removed as they’re falsely triggered by cooking or moisture. This leaves whānau vulnerable to fire.
To tackle this issue, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) Waitematā district is launching Sound Check West, a first-of-its-kind youth social media campaign in the Henderson-Ranui area, and The Trusts is proud to sponsor this life-saving initiative.
Launching to local schools in early 2027, the campaign encourages young people to create short videos of themselves installing a smoke or heat alarm in their own home – or in the home of an elderly or vulnerable community member.
Laura Lindsay, Senior Advisor Community Readiness and Recovery for FENZ, says the project is all about empowering the next generation. “This campaign positions young people as leaders of positive change, encouraging them to take ownership of fire safety and share important safety messages with others in their community.”
While FENZ provides free smoke alarms for the initiative, The Trusts’ funding enables the purchase of specialised heat alarms for a bonus category. Heat alarms offer a practical and effective alternative for sleepouts and garages, as they aren’t triggered by everyday moisture or cooking.
It will see up to 300 young people participate, directly equipping hundreds of West Auckland households with important fire protection, followed by free Home Fire Safety Visits later in the year.
Community Support Coordinator at The Trusts, Phieng Phongsa, says the partnership is a natural fit. “We are thrilled to support a project that not only protects our community’s most vulnerable but also empowers our local youth to be safety champions for their whānau.”
By working together, The Trusts and FENZ are helping keep West Auckland fire safe.
Learn more about Fire and Emergency New Zealand at fireandemergency.nz or follow the Waitematā District team on Facebook.
If you or your organisation could use support from The Trusts, find out how to apply at thetrusts.co.nz/our-funds.
