A Word from the Mayor

At the risk of repeating the message:

It should be no surprise to many of you that we are entering another summer cycle with increasing long dry spells and tinder dry conditions. It is also a time when we begin to invite visitors into our district not just for the upcoming events but also when family and friends visit over the holiday season.

I urge you all to consider and take special note on how accessible and easy to find your household or property is – particularly when the people looking for you are under urgency for fire or medical responses.

You think you are easy to find but there have been far too many examples when our Fire and Emergency personnel were unable to find you and those precious minutes may be the difference to saving your life or your property from significant damage or distress.

The Officer in charge at Hurunui District Council Liz Atkins has worked tirelessly with the community to strengthen the collaboration between the key agencies with Fire and Emergency NZ, North Canterbury Federated Farmers, NZ Police and Hato Hone St John. With the added voice, from these important agencies it is now time for you to step up and make sure you are putting in as much protection and make your property easily identifiable especially under emergency. It is important to note that it may not be a local who will be responding so they may not have the local knowledge when responding to your call.

I am an avid supporter for the programme throughout the district and currently there is an opportunity to order your RAPID number before November 3rd and be in the draw to win back the cost of the number.

This is a great promotion firstly to maximise your opportunity to be found when a critical service is required and to have a chance to win back the investment you will have made, but you need to be in to win.

I want you and your visitors to be safe and seen and together we can support and promote this worthy campaign.

The reliance on our volunteers to respond under emergency is a marker for this great district and the Hanmer Springs FENZ and rural team did a sterling job in responding to the fire on the Southern Queen Mary Hospital site over the weekend. We are all grateful for your commitment and extremely appreciative that the weather patterns were calm over the weekend.