When looking for a person who has been washed off the rocks or gone overboard from a boat in the unpredictable waters of the Manukau Harbour, you need reliable gear and search equipment that’s state of the art.
In the past 18 months, Wiri Licensing Trust has supported funding applications totalling around $150,000 to ensure Coastguard Papakura can protect our community at sea.
The money has paid for a new tractor that will ensure the team at Papakura can launch its two rescue vehicles quickly and safely, no matter the tide level.
It also covered navigation equipment and high-tech binoculars with night vision and thermal imaging.
“The equipment we need is not cheap,” says Coastguard Papakura Vice President Darren Stutter.
It is, however, essential. Alongside Coastguard units from Titirangi and Waiuku, the local group is frequently asked to attend serious events and accidents, including those where people have lost their lives in the treacherous conditions created by the infamous Manukau Bar.
The thermal binoculars are invaluable when the sun is setting and it’s hard to see. “At times it’s pitch black on the Manukau,” Darren says.
In addition to making searches more effective, the binoculars contribute to Coastguard crew safety, helping them see hazards in the water at night.
But this life-saving piece of equipment costs around $10,000 to buy.
Coastguard Papakura President Rob Love says purchasing the gear the volunteers need would not be feasible without the support the unit receives from Wiri Licensing Trust.
Each month, the 25 volunteers at Papakura collectively spend more than 450 hours on training, maintenance, callouts and compliance-related activities.
“We don’t have infinite resources to fundraise on top of that. A sausage sizzle takes the best part of a day and might raise $400.”
Wiri Licensing Trust General Manager Kim Green says the organisation’s board members love being able to bolster the work Coastguard Papakura does.
“One of our core goals is to support community work that keeps the people who live in our region safe. No one is more focused on that than the volunteers at Coastguard Papakura.”
Formed in 1968, the Papakura unit’s operating region extends from the southern side of Raglan Harbour to the southern side of Kaipara Harbour, covering an area 12 nautical miles out to sea in a westerly direction. However, most of its activity is in the Manukau Harbour and across the Manukau Bar.
In addition to emergency callouts, the unit assists boaties who have broken down, supports community events, educates locals on the dangers of the Manukau Bar and works with drowning prevention programmes and education in schools.
Rob says the unit is very grateful for the relationship it has built up with the team at Wiri Licensing Trust.
“Putting in an application for funding might seem a bit daunting but after you have done it once, they are fairly easy to write and don’t take that long to complete – far less time than running a sausage sizzle!”
And the support received when an application is successful is, quite simply, a game changer for Coastguard Papakura, he says.
“In providing a rapid first-responder service, it’s important we have the right equipment and the right technologies to enable the team to safely support any situation, in any weather conditions, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
