Services gearing up for a day of fun in H¯awera
South Taranaki’s emergency services crews are preparing for a big combined operation, but this one is all about fun.
It’s the South Taranaki Neighbourhood Support family fun day, on February 11 at the Hub in Hā wera.
Last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, so organisers are keen for this event to make up for that.
The day, which runs from 9am to 2pm, is aimed at families, with a variety of fun and entertainment on offer, with food and drink stalls as well.
The fun side includes a scavenger hunt that youngsters can get involved in, a chance to squirt fire hoses and switch on the siren in a police car, and other activities.
It’s also a chance for members of the district’s emergency services to meet people without an emergency situation, and for the police to show potential new recruits some of what they do.
There will be police cars on display, as well as the mobile command centre the police use when they have a big operation, Constable Ben Patterson, Pā tea, who is the South Taranaki Neighbourhood Support police liaison officer, said.
A challenge between police from North and South Taranaki and competitors from local businesses is part of the fun – and Patterson won’t know until the day what’s in store.
‘‘Wendy Foreman (South Taranaki Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator) doesn’t like to let us know in advance,’’ he said.
In past events they’ve had rope challenges, egg and spoon races and relays to run.
‘‘We won last time, we currently hold the trophy, and we are hoping to keep it,’’ he said.
The scavenger hunt involves 12 of the 50 or so stalls. Children are given a sheet with either a question or a task from teach stallholder they need to have ticked off.
A new stall this year is from the defence force, who will bring challenges for people to try.
A team from Fire and Emergency will do kitchen demonstrations and St John is going to be fundraising towards its new building in Hā wera.