lizard news
25th February 2025
Katikati & Ōmokoroa
Caring about loCal Community matters from te Puna to Waihī beaCh
Go ahead for Bowentown Rescue Hub T
By Matthew Farrell he team at Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc is fizzing to have a building permit and be ready to start constructing a new Bowentown Rescue Hub. A milestone event was held on-site at 509 Seaforth Road on Sunday 23rd February, blessing the ground and turning the dirt to signal the start of the exciting project, after a lot of gnashing of teeth over the past two years. Reon Tuanau from Ōtāwhiwhi Marae did the honours in a very special ceremony held to welcome and thank supporters. In his mihi, Reon spoke of the kaupapa or cause being one that the marae believed in and admits it took a lot of work to get the support of the hapū because the decision was easy and hard at the same time. “This is a place of great historical interest, but also a great opportunity for a service for people’s safety - a service that saves lives daily. It’s been a couple of years of going up and down, around and around for the Lifeguard board chair, Donna Pfefferle,” says Reon. Mayor James Denyer, Cllr Rodney Joyce, and Community Board representatives were also present, showing the importance of collaborative efforts to bring the project to life. “I hope you don’t need to use it for too many emergency situations, but I am glad that you will have it,” says Mayor James. Search and rescue coordinator Andrew Cochrane, a 30-year member, says
the hub will house equipment for rescues - immediately reducing a 15-minute delay in transporting gear from their base at the other end of Waihī Beach. It’ll also be a training space and a shelter for lunch. There will be a dedicated first aid room allowing for treatment in privacy, and lifeguards will be able to have a shower or undertake admin work. Donna says it’s about health, wellbeing, and resilience for a community that has dealt with flooding, a tornado, a cyclone and a shark attack in recent years - and that the lifeguards are honoured to be the custodians keeping people safe at the beach. “This shows the importance of having operational bases at either end of the community. We must also thank Bowentown campground for their practical and moral support over many years,” she says. Avan Polo, Eastern Regional Manager for Surf Life Saving NZ, says Waihī, Island View, and Bowentown patrol have put in more than 5,300 hours since July; rescuing seven people, assisting 13, providing first aid to 64, and undertaking 1,470 preventative actions to protect more than 72,000 beach goers. “For 25 seasons, our lifeguards have been steadfast guardians of the Bowentown community. Each sunrise is a new opportunity to make a difference, and every sunset is a chance to reflect on the joy we have experienced,” he says. “Haumi e, Hui e, Tāiki e. We are together as one, in a conscious moment,” says Reon.
A blessing ceremony and turning of the dirt was held to mark building permit approval for the Bowentown Rescue Hub. PHOTO: Matthew Farrell.
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