Marlborough District Council Media Statement

Christmas present for Kekerengu to replace stolen gear

Tait Communications has come to the party for the Marlborough/Kaikoura Rural Fire Authority, donating new mobile radio equipment to the Kekerengu volunteers after their gear was stolen.

Six two-way radios and the base station radio plus battery pack were stolen from the Kekerengu Community Centre shed after the November 14 earthquake had isolated the community.

The Kekerengu Fire Force Controller John Philipson said he and his crew had been disgusted to think that anyone would take their equipment, let alone at a time when the east coast was in the middle of a catastrophic event.

Marlborough Kaikoura Principal Rural Fire Officer Richard McNamara applauded the gesture by Tait Communications, saying that lives literally depended on two-way radios.

“It’s pretty appalling to think that someone would steal from a small community at a time like this.”

General Manager of Tait Communications' New Zealand business, Trevor Laughton, says the company was pleased to ensure the Kekerengu volunteer force was once again well equipped to deal with emergencies in their community.

"Our volunteer fire fighters do a vital job in rural communities, often in difficult conditions. To manage those risks it's essential that our volunteers and their officers have fail-safe communications equipment," said Mr Laughton.

Mr Laughton said it was incredibly disappointing to hear that thieves had stolen the Kekerengu equipment because all the emergency services, and those who looked after electricity and water supply and other services, needed their mobile radios to do their jobs and to keep everyone safe.

"Tait knows from the earthquakes and other disasters that it's on our worst days, when there's a lot of uncertainty, that a mobile radio can be an absolute life saver because it's engineered to keep operating in the most trying conditions.”

ENDS.

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