New Tinui Fire Station opened

2 Whiringa-ā-rangi 2018

The Tinui Voluntary Rural Fire Force transitioned from a corrugated iron shed with a dirt floor and leaky roof to modern premises today when the new Tinui Fire station was opened by Fire and Emergency New Zealand chairman Paul Swain.

“Volunteer fire brigades play a huge part in protecting property and people outside our metropolitan centres,” Mr Swain said.

“Tinui is situated between Masterton and Castlepoint on a narrow winding road that is heavily used by holidaymakers and industrial traffic.

“The new station will allow the village’s volunteer firefighters to better serve both the community and visitors in the event of an emergency.”

The station has been built with support from the old Wairarapa Rural Fire District and National Rural Fire Authority, the Masterton District Council, the Eastern and Central Community Trust, the Department of Internal Affairs and local suppliers as well as Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

It includes a double bay shed with reinforced flooring, a kitchenette, training room, office, shower, toilet, laundry area, mezzanine storage level, two 20,000L water tanks that will make it easier to refill trucks after training or incidents.

Tinui Voluntary Rural Fire Force Controller Donna Schofield, said the new station was a huge boost to the brigades 17 active members.

“We’re grateful to the council for allowing us to use the shed to store our appliance, but the new station is going to make communications, training and recruitment more effective and easier.” 

Mrs Schofield is the first woman to be appointed controller of a Wairarapa rural brigade.  She is one of three women in the brigade.