About us

James is a paramedic for Wellington Free Ambulance and a volunteer firefighter for the Waikanae Fire Brigade.  This dual responsibility sees him responding to the community day and night, being there when people need help the most. Whether it’s a cardiac arrest, a devastating crash, or a house fire, he’s there, ready to assist, calm and focused.  

A life-changing moment

James’s journey into emergency services didn’t begin with a uniform. It began with a life-changing moment. 

Back in 2009, after breaking his leg badly, he found himself on the other side of the stretcher. The paramedics who came to his aid left a lasting impression.  James recalls how professional, composed, and reassuring they were in a moment of crisis. That experience stayed with him and during his long recovery, he made a decision that would define his future: to study paramedicine.  

What followed is a career, a calling, marked by courage, skill, and an unwavering commitment to service. 15 years later and he hasn’t looked back. In fact, James added to his community commitment by joining the volunteer fire service in his coastal community of Waikanae.  

From the ambulance to the fire truck, his dual roles complement each other in many ways. Often first on scene in emergencies, he brings his paramedicine skills alongside his fellow volunteer firefighters providing critical clinical care in those first vital minutes. 

A woman knocked from her bike, pinned under a car, multiple life-threatening injuries. James was on call for the fire service that day and due to the immediately life-threatening nature of the accident all emergency services were asked to respond. As the closest emergency service, fire was first on scene which was incredibly fortunate for the patient as James' paramedic clinician skills were immediately needed to provide lifesaving medical care.  

That rapid response from the volunteer fire service and James’ paramedicine skills started the chain of survival that ultimately saved her life. It’s a reminder of just how crucial these everyday heroes are and how much they give of themselves. 

Service as a core value

And he doesn’t do it alone; service is a core value for James' family. His wife, Hannah, is also a paramedic and leads the clinical communications team at Wellington Free who answer thousands of calls to 111 each year.  Together, they form a first responder power couple, with over 30 years of combined service, an incredible commitment to community.  Even their extended family answers the call, with his father-in-law volunteering alongside him at the local fire station. 

James and his family are deeply embedded in giving back and contributing to the community in which they work and live. Now after all those years of giving, it’s time for James to ask for your support.   

A gruelling charity challenge

In May, James is taking on one of the toughest challenges yet: climbing the Sky Tower in full firefighter gear to raise vital funds for Blood Cancer NZ. It’s not just a climb - it’s a gruelling physical and mental battle. 51 flights of stairs, 1,013 steps, 328 metres to the top carrying heavy equipment weighing nearly half his body weight. Relentless effort from the minute the climb begins.  

Every step has meaning.  As a paramedic, James has met many people living with blood cancer, often in times of crisis, seeing people during their hardest moments, so he understands why support from organisations like Blood Cancer NZ is essential.  This climb is his way of giving back, of taking on a back-breaking challenge to raise funds to support people facing an equally hard challenge living with blood cancer.  

For months James has been training six days a week, sacrificing precious family time, and pouring energy into fundraising - this challenge demands everything and he's committed to reaching the top and his fundraising target of $1,700, driven by knowing every dollar makes a difference to the eight people a day who are diagnosed with blood cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.  

Please be part of this mammoth climb and help James get to the top – support him and Blood Cancer NZ.  Every step he takes and every dollar you give supports a family in need.