"CONSIDER THIS, CONSIDER THIS ..."

 

The recent cyclones have brought out the best and the worst of people.

In our community I've seen and been part of incredible examples of generosity. Community members have volunteered their assistance and donated food, materials and services to fix fences, remove fallen trees, retrieve boats, provide shelter and many other things. There's been a 'London Blitz' attitude and long may it last.

This hasn't always been the case  where, in addition to fine community spirit, some arseholes have looted properties, stolen cars, threatened disadvantaged people and otherwise done things that, in wartime, they'd be shot for. In Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas locals have been forced to set up roadblocks to deter looters and other thieves. If the police can't cope, the army is ready to take over with martial law.

I heard on the news today that Piha surf lifesaving club was burgled and $35,000 worth of vital rescue equipment has been stolen.

'Nasty, gutless act': $35,000 worth of equipment stolen from Piha surf lifesaving club

A surf life saving club on Auckland's cyclone-ravaged west coast was broken into overnight, with thieves walking away with more than $35,000 worth of essential equipment.

United North Piha Lifeguard Service, which is temporarily set up behind the community hall, was raided yesterday.

Club president Robert Ferguson said 18 radios and a patrol laptop were among the stolen equipment.

The incident puts lives at risk and replacing the items would cost thousands of dollars, he said.

"It just staggers me you know, why would you do it? Why would you nick them? There is no value because they're programmed for our private radio network," Ferguson said.

Director of lifesaving Victoria Mulrennan said they were incredibly sad and angry at the theft, which she said was opportunistic and mean-spirited given the community was still recovering from the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.

"This is a nasty, gutless act. We are still trying to respond to the impact of the cyclone, and these thieves have put lives at risk, at a time where Piha is already struggling.

"Our community is still largely cut off, and we want to put our focus on recovery efforts. Without these radios, our ability to operate patrols is severely limited," Mulrennan said.

Surf Life Saving Northern region chief executive Matt Williams said while there have been many things Surf Life Saving has chosen not to get upset or angry about this summer, it was hard to look past this.

"To wake up in the morning and to find the things that are most critical to providing those services on the west coast, to have them stolen from a locked container... it just leaves a black mark on what's been a terrible week for the organisation.

"It's sad to see and it's unjustifiable," Williams said.

Surf Live Saving New Zealand was urgently appealing for $8 million of council funding to cover capital expenditure, he said.

"The loss of this theft is upwards of $35,000 in terms of replacing and reprograming the radios, Bethells Beach Surfclub was washed away by flood waters, Mangawhai Heads Surfclub has been damaged and red stickered by a landslide.

"To steal equipment used to save lives really highlights the circumstances and desperation of these individuals. This isn't just a theft from the club, it's a theft from the entire community," he said.

A police spokesperson said the incident was "incredibly disappointing given the area has been severely impacted by recent weather events".

The Waitematā West Tactical Crime Unit is investigating the incident.

          - RNZ NEWS

It's the downward pull of human nature alright.