The last of the quake rebuilds - new Kaiapoi Fire Station opens
By reporter Carly Gooch:
Kaiapoi has a new fire station, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) in Canterbury has finally entered a new era.
Kaiapoi’s new $8m station, at the Hilton St site of the original, officially opened on Saturday. Its predecessor was built in 1962 and suffered significant damage in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
The station features three appliance bays, operational decontamination, storage and breathing apparatus filling facilities, operations, meeting, and training rooms, as well as a separate kitchen and personal decontamination facilities.
Fire and Emergency Canterbury district manager Dave Stackhouse said the reconstruction programme “ensures that Christchurch and its surrounding areas has a fit-for-purpose network of fire stations able to meet the needs of local communities”.
The Kaiapoi station marks the end of Fenz’s Canterbury rebuild programme. All up, 12 stations including Sumner, Christchurch City, Ilam, Spencerville, Darfield, Spreydon and Kaikoura, had to be rebuilt after the earthquakes.
The Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Brigade is a medical co-response brigade. It attends about 250 incidents a year including structure and vegetation fires, medical events and motor vehicle crashes.
Stackhouse said the new station ensured the community was provided with the “best possible support”.
“The earthquakes reinforced that our fire stations are more than just bricks and mortar. They support our volunteers to do what they do best - serve their community - and they will always answer the call."
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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60.1% Yes, supporting people is important!
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25.7% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.3% ... It is complicated
Poll: Do you have a go-to adverse-weather checklist for your family? ☔⚠️
As reported in the Press, the same low-pressure system that lashed the North Island over the weekend is now making its way south, bringing heavy rain and strong winds with it. It’s a soggy start to the week for many of us.
With more wild weather on the cards, we’re curious: do you have a go-to adverse-weather checklist for your family? Or are you more of a “grab the torches and hope for the best” household?
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44.4% Yes - we like to be prepared
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38.9% Nah
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16.7% This is on my to-do list!
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
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