VAPING AMBULANCE
This ambulance may not be taking you to hospital, but its owner hopes you’ll walk away from it relatively healthier.
The 1987 Bedford ambulance, better known as the Naki Nekta vape rescue vehicle (VRV), used to service Waikato Hospital and now it’s being used to educate smokers around Taranaki on vaping.
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device. It is marketed as an alternative to smoking and there are claims it is a healthier option, which is why Graham Peters set up the VRV.
‘‘It’s all about the smoking sensation, it’s all about health,’’ Peters said.
Peters owns the Taranaki-based business Naki Nekta, an online store that produces and sells vaping juices as well as other vaping essentials, but he has dreamed of educating the public about the dangers of smoking since he quit himself.
He bought the ambulance recently, did it up and now his son Kristian Pilgrim drives it around the mountain selling vaping products and talking to smokers.
‘‘My mission is going around and helping people quit,’’ Pilgrim said.
Peters used to do lawn mowing around the mountain and watch smokers.
‘‘I’m seeing all these people smoking and I’m vaping and I’m thinking these people don’t even know about vaping, we need to show them what it’s about.’’
Peters said he used to smoke 30 cigarettes a day and vaping was a much cheaper option.
‘‘See that black BMW,’’ Peters said, pointing at a new car. ‘‘I bought that with the money I didn’t spend on smokes in the first two and a half years that I stopped smoking.’’