Work is progressing well on Mahuika – the new Fire Training Facility at the Mt Albert Campus with completion expected in March 2026.
Mahuika, which will be technologically and environmentally the first of its kind in Aotearoa, is being constructed on land previously occupied by Building 170 on the North side of the campus.
- The live fire building is made of containers and will be completely contained.
The facility will be used by MIT and Unitec’s New Zealand Maritime School to train people to fight fires in a simulated ‘on-ship’ environment.
The use of natural gas, rather than wood burning, as well as augmented reality and other technologies, will ensure it will be a safe and healthy environment says Dan Brady, MIT and Unitec, General Manager of Infrastructure Operations.
- Inside the custom-designed confined space room.
“Ākonga (learners) start their training in a custom-designed confined space room where they use breathing apparatus in low light without heat or flames. Once they are comfortable using breathing apparatus in this environment, they will progress to the fully-contained live fire building.”
“This is the building made from containers which kaimahi will have seen us working on over recent weeks. The trainers will then be able to have students apply their learning in other scenarios by using augmented reality to simulate other firefighting experiences without needing live fire.
- The “BBQ pit” in the foreground is surrounded by a concrere wall and the custom-designed confined space room in the background.
“The facility is completely contained with respect to flames as well as the water and bio-based foam run-off used to fight the fires. Virtually no flames will be seen externally as the training is almost wholly done behind the steel walls of the building with the exception of a “BBQ pit” which will be used to teach the use of extinguishers.
“All run-off from the building is collected and then pumped into four holding tanks. After settling in the tanks, the run-off will be pumped through pipes to Watercare’s commercial treatment plant. Not one drop of run-off will go onto the whenua (land) around the facility and the area around Mahuika will be completely fenced off.
- Stairs inside the live fire room.
“Inside the live fire building are 14 gas fire props and two water hoses where people will be trained to fight fires in an environment that replicates a large vessel. Downstairs is like a ship’s engine room and another area similar to the narrow spaces, steep stairs and hallways found in a ship. Upstairs simulates a vessel’s bridge.
“In terms of sustainability, we have engaged environmental specialists and liaised extensively with Watercare and the Auckland Council since the inception of the project. We will be using all the latest technology to ensure it will have no negative effect on the whenua and surrounding ecology.
“Mahuika will simply be the best facility of its kind in New Zealand. When completed, it will be something that everyone who works here will be very proud of.”
Head of the New Zealand Maritime School, Rob Shaw, says it’s a very important facility for the school.
“For many roles in the global maritime industry, there is a requirement to complete on-ship fire-fighting training and have their qualification updated every five years. We provide it as a component of a lot of our programmes as well as a standalone course,” Mr Shaw says.
“The project team have done a fantastic job in designing a facility that uses the very latest technology. Our ākonga come from all over the world to do our programmes so they expect the very best training facility and Mahuika delivers. It’s exciting for MIT and Unitec that it will be open soon. We look forward to welcoming our first learners in March 2026.”
The space between Mahuika and the car park is being developed into a green space and gardens for ākonga and kaimahi to enjoy.
- An artist’s impression of the live fire building from the same angle as above.
