Women encouraged to consider career in Fire and Emergency to introduce different skill set
Samantha Jensen knows she doesn’t fit the firefighting calendar cut-out cliche.
The petite mum-of-two and self-proclaimed girly-girl loves heels, dresses and the odd manicure.
But Jensen has infiltrated the firefighting "boys’ club" and is two and a half years into her career.
She’s the only qualified female firefighter working out of Hamilton’s three stations.
This year, there has been a significant decrease in the number of new applicants across the board, national recruit manager Rochelle Martin said.
A recruitment campaign was launched in July to address a lack of diversity - including the lack of women - working in Fire and Emergency.
About 3 per cent of New Zealand’s career firefighters are women.
Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin, who visited the Hamilton fire station, said while a quota wouldn’t be introduced, it is important for women to be aware that firefighting was an option for them.
"I think here in New Zealand we think because we gave New Zealand the vote first in the world that somehow we solved this problem. "Women bring a different set of skills. ‘‘Women bring empathy and different problem solving skills."
For Jensen, the seed was first planted when she worked in banking and a firefighter visited the office to sell calendars.
"You look at the calendars and that’s what they represent and you watch the movies," the smiley 34-year-old said.
"I definitely didn’t fit that going from high heels and makeup.
‘‘And I was tiny.
‘‘For me it was stereotyped - you had to be a big strong male."
At a slight 49 kilograms, Jensen failed the physical pre-entry test the first time by a long shot, emerging black and blue from falling over.
Yet she balked at the idea of calling it quits. So she scoffed carbs, protein and worked out six days a week to get stronger.
And 10kg later, she was in.
"It’s been a boys’ club," she said.
"But there’s still a lot of them that are very
"Women bring a different set of skills. Women bring empathy and different problem solving skills." - Minister for Internal Affairs Tracey Martin.
accepting. It’s been a slow process because of the fact that they’re used to just boys and [they’re] having a small girly-girl come in.
"Definitely as a female, you have to work to prove yourself harder."
But Jensen loves her job - with four days on and four days off, she has more time to spend with her kids. It’s physical and rewarding.
She looks forward to returning to her "family" of firefighters after days off.
She feels like she - and other women - bring an empathy and softness to the role that can be missing otherwise.
"We don’t just deal with fires - we go to car accidents, we go to medical emergencies.
‘‘You’re seeing families, you’re dealing with death. We’re not just firefighters. I’m a lot more than that."