Fire Brigade Report

Brent Townsend

By Chief Fire Officer Jake Hawkins

We reached the milestone of 200 Medical First Responses so far this year at Labour Weekend and we are rapidly approaching 300 calls in total. 

Our new Medical Responders are on board with training completed, and are now out responding to help in the community. A big thanks to everyone whom generously donated at the Town Hall Market Days over the long weekend, it will ensure we have the best equipment on hand when we are called to assist.

We are starting our planning and training for the forecast El Nino summer ahead. Remember, if you smell smoke or see smoke its time to Dial 111 immediately.

We have responded to several vegetation fire lately, its drying out, and a worthwhile reminder for people to be careful with controlled burns, check the weather and fire seasons with permit requirements for all types of fires (including braziers and cooking fires) – these can be checked anytime online at www.checkitsalright.nz 

Congratulations to Brett Townsend on completing thye Station Officers Course and his promotion to Station Officer and to Tamara Hudepohl, John Crighton and Corina Lawson on completing their Qualified Firefighter Course, all the feedback was hugely positive with lots of new skills ready for consolidation over the next few months. … Continue Reading

Country Dog City Dog

Maree’s Musings

Sandcastles and Sundry stuff 

I’m over election fever, and probably you are too. Something completely different was called for. But sandcastles? The word actually popped up in an electioneering speech. I have no idea why now, but that was enough. 

We all have a sandcastle in our life. Their utility value is nil, although their artistic merit makes up for that. Size doesn’t generally matter, and they only last until the next big wave or deliberate demolishment [I made that up] by its creator, making me wonder if transience is in the builder’s mind, perhaps reflecting the transience of life. Golly! 

The art of sandcastle building is nearly as old as time, but documented evidence started much later. The first recorded ones were built by the 14^th Century [that’s the 1300’s – to save you doing the math] by Indian poet Balaram Das as an expression of devotion. I do hope his devotion lasted longer than his icons. 

Inevitably, the competitive spirit soon took hold. In 2021, the world’s biggest sandcastle was created in the small Danish seaside town of Blokhus. At higher than 69ft, it toppled the previous German one [figuratively speaking, naturally]. And it also had a message. 

Here’s the story. The Dutchman Wilfred Stijger and 30 of his mates used nearly 5,000 tonnes of sand, with 10% clay added to aid cohesion, and a protective layer of glue so it would survive for a while. The completed work was a pyramid, with a replica of the coronavirus wearing a crown on top, and built to represent the power that Covid had had since the pandemic’s beginning.  … Continue Reading

From the Mayor

Martin Connelly

I feel as if this is the first of these articles that I have written when the weather was fine. The recent better weather lets me take longer walks with Carlos, and to finally confront the garden.

Just as the good weather seemed to be settling in, the bad weather returned with a vengeance last weekend with truly frightening winds closing the hill road and also doing a lot of damage. I am told we should expect much more windy weather before the spring is over. Please take precautions.

People sometimes ask me how does the council support economic activity in the district? The short answer is that we help to fund Destination Wairarapa and the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy. Both organisations are collaborating at the present time to help us reap the benefits of having become a Dark Sky Reserve.

A recent event that the Council supported was the Wairarapa Rebel Business School. The Rebel Business School supports regional economic growth across Aotearoa. It does this by providing free entrepreneurial training courses to (primarily) young people wanting to start their own business. The recent Wairarapa Business School was the first time such a course has been run locally, and it was very well attended. By the end of the course many attendees had developed their business plans and others were implementing their business ideas.

Alongside initiatives such as this, a lot of what a council does day in and day out also supports the local economy. Roads are fundamental to most businesses, as are many other council services. Importantly, enabling new people to come and live and do business in the district also supports economic activity. … Continue Reading