Community collaboration showing results in Maketu

Maketu is a small coastal town in the Bay of Plenty, a place of beautiful scenery, steeped in history, and with a population of just over 1000. Although small in size it is big in community, with a Fire Station, Coastguard Unit, Surf Life rescue, primary school, shop, café and the famous Maketu Pie Company.

The emergency services in Maketu work closely together. The Fire Station and Coastguard share a purpose-built building, and a few of the firemen are coastguard crew as well. Shane Beech, President of Maketu Coastguard and past Chief Fire Officer of Maketu, is always eager to combine services to help the community. In 2016, they realised that the community needed another emergency response vehicle. As resources were limited and both Fire and Coastguard could see the benefit of such a vehicle, they decided to join forces.

Maketu emergency response vehicle

Thanks to funding from the Lottery Minister’s Discretionary Fund, Lion Foundation and fundraising, they purchased a vehicle and equipped it with everything required for both emergency services. To be successful, the people and services involved were fully committed, and have developed clear guidelines on future use and management of any shared resource.

By combining resources, fundraising and volunteer commitment, the benefits to the services and the community increased tenfold. To be successful, all parties were fully committed, and clear guidelines on future use and management of any shared resources have been put in place.

Maketu Coastguard and Fire Service continue to work closely together, and will if possible combine resources and skills, helping to make a cohesive emergency response service for the local community.

In July 2017, the emergency services of Maketu Coastguard, Fire, Civil Defence and Te Puke St Johns are joining together again with the Community Development Project Coordinator, Clester Eru, to support the Youth in Emergency Services (YES) programme. A great opportunity for local youths aged between 16 and 18 to gain experience in all four units. Setting the groundwork for the face of the future Maketu emergency response volunteers.