Media Release for immediate use 24 March 2009

Safety Ensured At Macaulay Hut Thanks To Meridian Community Fund

During the past few months the mountain radio at Macaulay hut, in the Mackenzie Country, has been used a number of times to help trampers who were lost or stranded by rising rivers.

The facilities are overseen by members of the Mackenzie Alpine Trust, who built the hut in response to a need for safe accommodation in the area.

In mid-2008 the mountain radio received a new lease of life when the Trust received financial support from the Meridian Waitaki Community Fund to purchase mountain radio batteries and replace a solar panel, used to charge the batteries.

John McKenzie, Secretary of the Trust, says it is vital that the necessary safety equipment is available to trampers in the area.

“The support from the Community Fund has been invaluable. The mountain radio has been used a number of times for rescuing overdue and lost recreationalists. It has also been used when people have been stranded by rapid river level rises – a common concern in the area,” says John McKenzie.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of people carefully checking the weather forecast before leaving home. They should always ensure someone knows where they are and when they will return home. They should also make sure they carry the necessary equipment, clothing and reserve food they would need if they couldn’t cross swollen rivers,” he added.

Each year around 2,000 visitors use the 14 bed facility at the Macaulay River Valley. During the warmer months, families and tramping groups use it regularly, and during the winter many hunters use the hut.

Mark France, chair of the Waitaki Community Fund, says the panel is delighted to support an initiative that will help ensure the safety of recreationalists in the Mackenzie area.

“The Macauly Hut is an excellent facility that is enjoyed by many. The Community Funds were created to support initiatives exactly like this one. It is vital that huts like these have the necessary equipment to ensure that recreationalists can enjoy everything the area has to offer, safe in the knowledge that if they get into trouble, help is at hand,” he says.

The Meridian Waitaki Community Fund is to the value of $1 million over three years and is managed by a panel of community members and Meridian staff who work together to help decide which local initiatives are supported.

Successful applicants for the February round of funding will be announced in March. Applications for consideration for the June round of funding must be submitted by 2 June 2009.

To find out more about the Meridian Waitaki Community Fund visit http://www.meridian.co.nz/AboutUs

ENDS

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