The official opening of the St John Ambulance Administration Centre in Auckland was on 21 July 1984 at a ceremony attended by over 500 guests.

The afternoon started at 2.00 p.m. with the arrival of the Official Party, accompanied by members of Priory Council and Chapter. After the National Anthem, Sir Tom Skinner, Chairman of the Auckland Centre Trust Board, welcomed everyone to the opening.

The Prime Minister Elect, David Lange addressed the Members and guests and said he could not turn down an invitation he received before the election.

Speeches followed from Mr H. Bean, Mayor of Mt Wellington, Mr W. Strevens, Deputy Mayor of Auckland, Dr F. Rutter, Chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, the Honourable R. Tizard, MP for Panmure, and Sir Randal Elliott, Chancellor of the Order of St John in New Zealand.

Sir Tom Skinner officially opened the Centre after the Very Reverend J. Rymer dedicated the building and David Lange unveiled the Commemorative Plaque in the foyer.

During a four day visit to New Zealand, and in her capacity of Commandant In Chief of Cadets, Princess Anne agreed to spend an hour with St John Cadets in Auckland on 15 March 1999. To maximise publicity and to share with the public of Auckland what the cadet movement was all about, the event was held at Aotea Square, on Queen Street, Auckland.
 
Her Royal Highness was met on arrival and escorted onto the parade ground for the Royal Salute. An inspection was then made of the Guard of Honour made up of cadets from Auckland, and representatives from the other Regions.
 
After being introduced to members of the Official Party, Princess Anne then mixed with Cadets involved in various activities. These included a first aid competition display including casualty simulation, camping and outdoor activities, a fire safety display, first aid and CPR training. Displays depicting St John involvement in the community were also set up.

On the morning of Tuesday February 3, 1931 just before 11 o’clock the earth gave a sudden lurch, and everything went mad. The ground rocked and buildings collapsed trapping people inside. Cars fell into chasms and power lines came down. The shaking continued for two minutes and in that time 246 people died. Flames were seen over Napier and the town was covered by a pall of thick black smoke.

St John members in Auckland made themselves available to assist the devastated area. Twenty members, four transport officers in two ambulances, and two cars loaded with medical supplies headed to Napier. Members rescued burnt victims, washed and fed patients, made tent pegs, assisted in operations and moved casualties to the Waipukurau hospital for major surgery.
 
Four days later, the transport officers left Napier field hospital to return to Auckland. The brigade members continued to work at the field hospital for a further 6 days working sometimes as long as fifty hours without sleep. Our members returned to Auckland on the H.M.S. Diomede, as guest of the Navy. They even qualified for a tot of ‘Nelson’s Blood’ on the way home

It was the Depression and on 14 April 1932, a melee started in Karangahape Road and spread as the crowd rushed down Queen Street looting and ransacking shop windows. It was later described as a riot.

Over 30 St John members walked the streets and dressed wounds under street lamps. They were in the thick of the fray, some were hit by bricks and two went to the rescue of a fallen constable and were mauled by the mob.

 The New Zealand Herald reported:

“Some of the finest and fastest first aid work ever done in Auckland, was accomplished by the St John Ambulance and Auckland Hospital staff, in a hectic four hours. For over three hours a continuous stream of people filed through the main lobby of the hospital. Every few minutes an ambulance arrived to deposit a cargo of bruised and battered rioters. On one occasion 16 men were discharged from an ambulance, nursing their heads.”
 
It is estimated 150 people were treated over three hours.

In 1978 a representative from the Cook Islands visited the Auckland Headquarters to enquire about setting up a St John Division in Rarotonga. Joyce Frederickson (Otahuhu Nursing Divison) was a regular visitor to the Islands and with Evelyn Howell (Howick Combined Division) offered to visit Rarotonga to investigate.

In August 1979 Joyce, Evelyn and Assistant Commissioner Trevor Hamling returned to the Island to complete the formation of the Combined Division. Whilst there, they conducted a number of first aid and home nursing classes for members as well as a refresher course for the Crash Fire Division. The Titikaveka High School, Seventh Day and Adventist Junior High School.

75 hours of instruction was given and 118 first aid certificates were sent up to Raratonga. On 4 October the certificates were presented by the Minister of Health, Dr Koteka. Doctors Maoate and Matenga were also in attendance and Dr Matenga took over the responsibility for running the Division.

Unfortunately after Dr Matenga moved on, the Division only lasted until 1986.

In July 1975 the first national Telethon appeal conducted by TV2 raised $593,767 for St John to launch the National Ambulance Officers’ Training School to train fulltime and volunteer ambulance officers. The project was managed jointly by the Auckland Centre Trust Board and Priory Chapter under the National Ambulance Officers’ Training School Administration Committee. 

Prior to the 1939/45 War there were St John First Aid Posts on many of the popular Auckland beaches.

Because the beaches were thought to be of a considerable distance from the nearest Doctor’s Surgery or Hospital, the establishment of Beach First Aid Posts by various St John divisions grew and were still being opened as late as the 1960’s. They had a dual use – providing members (and their immediate family) with the opportunity of a free holiday at the beach, in return for the St John member giving 24 hour first aid cover at some of Auckland’s most popular family holiday destinations.

Records exist of St John First Aid Posts being established at Bucklands Beach; Eastern Beach; Maraetai; Herald Island; Rangitoto at Islington Bay and the Wharf; Long Bay; Martins Bay; Mission Bay; Muriwai; Orewa; Red Beach; Waiheke Island at Onetangi, Oneroa and Palm Beach; Blockhouse Bay; and Redwood Park at Swanson.

Rosters of members were drawn up to man the posts during the summer months and holiday weekends.

One of the biggest events St John was involved in during the 1970s was the Commonwealth Games, held in Christchurch between 24 January – 2 February 1974 at the new stadium complex Queen Elizabeth II Park.