Start your engines at the mobility scooter challenge

Richard Parfitt from Whakatāne District Council

The Whakatāne Ki Mua project is asking residents what they want to see in the District, and People First New Zealand has answered the call by inviting members of Whakatāne District Council to a mobility scooter challenge.

Sylvia Ratahi of People First says the challenge aims to highlight the difficulties people on mobility scooters and power chairs, as well as the elderly, face when getting around the District. “I have had one bad tumble,” she said, “and hurt my shoulder. Some road crossings are excellent, but many still pose real problems.” The challenge will be followed by a series of workshops to get input from disabled people and seniors on how to make Whakatāne more disability and age friendly.

The challenge on Wednesday, 14 June at 2 pm is not a race, but there will be awards for the best driving. Mayor Tony Bonne and Deputy Mayor Judy Turner joined Shirley Townsend and Sylvia Ratahi in Kopeopeo to inspect the course, with the Deputy Mayor stepping up to accept the challenge as the Mayor would be out of the District on that day. The Deputy Mayor said she was looking forward to the challenge, which will commence at the car park of the old Countdown building and finish at the Whakatāne Disability Resource Centre on King St. “I am keen to see first-hand the challenges residents on mobility scooters face,” she said, “and there is no better way than some real-world experience. It’s also great to see community groups getting behind the Ki Mua project to have their voices heard.”

The workshops will be held at the Disability Resource Centre on 21 June from 5:30 to 7 pm and on 22 June from 1 to 2:30 pm, and are open to the public. Whakatāne Ki Mua project organisers will be in attendance to gather input.