Nov 2
Sapphics Spark Joy: New Zealand’s First All-Female Firefighter Calendar Ignites Queer Fandom
READ TIME: 22 MIN.
The smoke alarm went off this week—not for a fire, but for the *Wahine Toa Firefighter Calendar*, New Zealand’s first-ever all-female professional firefighter calendar. In a country where the men’s firefighter calendar has long held a cult status, this new edition is a bold, unapologetic celebration of strength, pride, and, yes, a little cheeky fun. And among LGBTQ+ circles, especially sapphics, the excitement is positively combustible .
Thirteen women from nine stations and three cities donned their gear, flexed their courage, and struck poses that have had queer Twitter (and Instagram) in a tizzy ever since the first teaser dropped. The calendar isn’t just hot—it’s history-making, marking the first time New Zealand’s female career firefighters have united for a national fundraising project .
The calendar’s origin story is as charming as its success has been overwhelming. Co-organisers Nicole Koch and Zoe Feau were on shift, talking about the perennial men’s calendar, when one of them posed the million-dollar question: “Why isn’t there a woman’s one?” Within what felt like a blink, the project was underway. “I honestly don’t know what happened, I just feel like we had this idea and then bam, all of a sudden we were making it. It was outrageous,” Koch told *Breakfast*, her laughter echoing the infectious energy behind the campaign .
Feau added that partnering with Breast Cancer Cure was a “natural cause for us because we wanted to choose something that was really specific to women,” noting that several calendar participants had personal connections to breast cancer .
For LGBTQ+ communities, especially sapphics, the calendar resonates far beyond its glossy pages. It’s a celebration of visibility in a profession where queer women have often been underrepresented. The project’s Instagram account (@wahinetoafirefightercalendar) exploded from 500 to over 70,000 followers almost overnight, a testament to how hungry the world is for images of women—queer, strong, and proud—in spaces traditionally claimed by men .
“We’ve been getting messages from all around the world. People are really excited and want to buy the calendar. It’s actually been really overwhelming,” Koch said, reflecting the international reach and queer fandom that have rallied around the campaign .
Firefighter Samara Pepperell shared her personal connection: “Mum’s journey taught me how powerful hope and community can be. This calendar is our way of paying that forward,” she said, underscoring the emotional resonance for queer families touched by breast cancer .
As images from the calendar circulated—toned arms, confident smiles, and the kind of swagger that can drag you out of a burning building—the sapphic internet did what it does best: meme, swoon, and amplify. The calendar isn’t just eye candy; it’s a signal flare for queer representation, reminding us that strength and femininity aren’t mutually exclusive, and that queer women can—and do—thrive in every corner of society.
For many sapphics, seeing women firefighters celebrated for their skill, solidarity, and social impact is deeply affirming. It’s not just about “hotness”—it’s about community, pride, and the kind of role models mainstream media rarely spotlights. As one fan posted, “SAVE ME!”—a playful nod to both the calendar’s theme and its swoon-inducing power .
Every calendar sold supports Breast Cancer Cure, funding research into prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With $100,000 raised in just 26 hours, the project has proven that queer visibility and charity can go hand-in-hand—and that when the LGBTQ+ community rallies, it does so with extraordinary force .
Sonja de Mari, chief executive of Breast Cancer Cure, captured the significance: “Campaigns like this bring us one step closer to more precise prevention, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for women in New Zealand,” she said .
Historically, firefighter calendars have been dominated by men—often hypermasculine and rarely inclusive. The Wahine Toa Calendar flips the script, offering a playful yet deeply meaningful tribute to women who run towards danger and embody both grit and grace.
Organisers Koch and Feau navigated a delicate balance: “For a long time, the question was how to celebrate strength and femininity without being oversexualised,” Koch explained. “Now feels like the right time to show that we can honour both our profession and our femininity while supporting a cause that matters” .
While the calendar is distinctly Kiwi, its impact has been global. The outpouring of support—pre-orders from around the world, viral social media reactions, and messages from queer fans—signals the universal hunger for representation and the power of community-led initiatives.
This isn’t just another fundraising calendar. It’s a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ visibility, a celebration of women’s strength, and a reminder that queer joy can be both fierce and soft, heroic and playful.
The first run sold out in just over a day, but queer fans (and allies) need not despair. Pre-orders for the second print run are open through 10 November; calendars are slated to ship by the end of the month—just in time for a festive, fireproof December .
Bulk shipping and international orders are available, making it easier for global LGBTQ+ supporters to join the movement and hang a little queer Kiwi pride on their wall this season .
With such overwhelming demand, organisers have already hinted at future print runs and new projects. The hope is that this calendar is just the beginning—a spark for more initiatives celebrating women, queer people, and the intersection of strength and community.
As Koch put it, “Same fire. Same cause. Same unstoppable community.” . In a world hungry for good news and queer joy, the Wahine Toa Firefighter Calendar is a blazing success story—reminding us all that when queer communities come together, we can turn even the simplest ideas into world-changing movements.
