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Wednesday October 23, 2013
Creative Meats closing for good
Creative Meats owner Bruce Gordon is closing Creative Meats to concentrate on his other shop, Export Meats.
By Rhiannon McConnell The Creative Meats shop in the village will be closing at the end of this month but owner Bruce Gordon says it is an opportunity to provide a better service to the community at his Queen Street Export Meats Warehouse. “By concentrating everything into one shop it guarantees Wainui is going to have a dedicated butcher shop for a long time,” he says. Bruce says he is nostalgic to be shutting the village store but it will be best for the business and community. “There’s not enough population within Wainui to supply two shops.” Bruce started Creative Meats in the village two and a half years ago. He bought the Export Meats store 18 months ago. Before starting the village store he owned Creative Meats in Petone. “We came over here when the opportunity presented itself.” They chose to move their operations entirely to the Queen
Street store because it is a dedicated butcher shop and has a central location. “I think this is a better opportunity.” He says he will be able to offer better specials having one store. “At the moment I’ve got one shop competing against the other.” He says he is grateful for the support of the community over the last few years. “The people of Wainui embraced this shop and kept me going.” Bruce says he hopes his Creative Meats customers will go to Export Meats in Queen Street. “The quality is going to be better, the specials will be better.” Despite the closure, Bruce is quick to reassure there will no job losses. “I believe going into one shop is going to benefit the whole community.” Bruce says he wants to thank everyone for their support and assure his customers things will be even better with the move.
New recruits at Fire Brigade By Rhiannon McConnell The Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade has welcomed six new recruits. Fire Chief Ewen Heron says having the new recruits is great for the brigade. “It helps to boost our numbers to attend callouts.” He says having the young blood in the brigade brings a new level of energy. “They bring extra exuberance into the brigade.” Despite the new recruits, Ewen says they are still in need of more volunteers. “We need to have a few more members, especially day time staff.” The recruits joined late last year but recently attended the recruit course in Rotorua which makes them official Fire Fighters. The new brigade recruits are Tuia Timoteo, Chris Thompson, Amanda Upton, Niua
McGregor, Wes Metuangaro, and Trent Holden. The brigade also has two new operational support crew. The New Zealand Fire Service are reminding Wainuiomata residents to install smoke alarms, especially as we head into Summer. They remind residents that smoke alarms really do save lives, as they can alert neighbours, family or friends living in the house on the property, as well as those inside the sleep out. They remind residents that a smoke alarm should be installed in every room used for sleeping, including sleep-outs, garages and caravans, even when they are only used occasionally.
The new brigade recruits: Tuia Timoteo, Chris Thompson, Amanda Upton, Niua McGregor, Wes Metuangaro, and Trent Holden.