21 February 2013

Tapora Fire

A fire stretching across 85 hectares of conservation land at Tapora, west of Wellsford, continues to burn in places today.

Bryan Cartelle, Principal Rural Fire Officer, says the fire service currently has a team of 26 volunteer rural firefighters working on the ground, supported by heavy machinery and aerial support.

“Our team, with the assistance of the Department of Conservation ground crews and forest contractors, worked overnight to dampen down hotspots and extend the current firebreaks.

“We are fighting this fire from the perimeter because, as the tall pines burn and fall, they are a real danger to anyone onsite. We will not take any risks with our team; safety is paramount.

“Locals can expect to see visible flames and smoke flare ups within the containment lines for some time yet. However, they can rest assured, no properties are under threat and our crews will be there day and night to monitor the containment,” he said.

A fire investigator is looking into the cause of the fire.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>