Teen firefighter recognised for road safety efforts

A Cooks Beach volunteer firefighter and high school student has been recognised for her dedication to promoting road safety, an honour she hopes highlights “the everyday actions” that help make a difference.
Mila Smith de Zeeuw, 17, was named the Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Hero by the road safety advocacy group Yellow Ribbon Safety Alliance on May 12.
According to Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the award recognises individuals who have “demonstrated exceptional dedication to promoting road safety in their communities”.
Mila officially joined the Cooks Beach Volunteer Fire Brigade on her 16th birthday in 2023.
Before then though, she’d helped out with fundraising and training exercises, and was even the brigade’s ‘test dummy’ for many years – which included being cut out of cars.
“I was given this opportunity because growing up, my dad was in the brigade for many years and my brother also joined in 2022. I was always very interested and motivated to join as I got to experience how they work together and always wanted to be part of it.”
Not only does Mila help patients during motor vehicle crashes through her role as a firefighter, she also aims to reduce harm on the local roads through leading Mercury Bay Area School’s Students Against Dangerous Driving [SADD] committee.
She organised a week where police visited the high school to run activities, and, together with the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade, they ran a car-cutting demonstration, which Mila said she did to “spread the message about what happens if you do crash your car, how the emergency services respond, and the effects it can have”.
“I feel this message is important because most car accidents are by young drivers, especially due to drunk driving or other distractions,” she said.
“In Cooks Beach, it is a very small community, so there aren’t many major call outs, but when you live in a small community like ours the chances are much higher that you know the victims, and what could be another car crash can become quite personal.”
Mila said the brigade’s callouts could involve a range of incidents, such as fires, medical first response, helicopter landings, and crashes.
One of her very first callouts was to a major beach-side house fire in December, 2023.
“Having a great support group always makes callouts much easier, knowing I have that support from my family and friends,” she said.
Mila – who is in Year 13 at Mercury Bay Area School – said it was “a real honour” to be awarded the Yellow Ribbon Award by the Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Alliance.
“I appreciate the award, and I hope it helps highlight the everyday actions that can make a difference.”