Latest news with #PōrangahauPlaycentre
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Central Hawke's Bay Winter Olympics team present $53,300 to Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter
'We are coming to visit our chopper,' Wilson said. Flemington School, Pōrangahau Playcentre, the Dannevirke Hunt and the Paul Hunter Centre, a disability service provider, the chosen charity of Property Brokers, would each also receive $6600. 'I think it is amazing – us horse people aren't so bad after all.' The donation is $3300 more than the 2024 total of $50,000, which secured their Winter Olympics unicorn logo on the chopper for three years. 'We were looking like we were struggling to reach last year's target, and then we had a couple of amazing auction items come in at the last minute ... that well and truly blew the record.' She said it was hard to put a price on doing great things in the community, and together they wanted to help enable future missions and contribute to the new rescue helicopter. 'Our $53,300 is going to enable that chopper to go out a few times,' Wilson said. HBRH chief executive Andy Quayle said this year the Winter Olympics event was acknowledged with its logo added to the front of the hangar – which previously only featured sponsors PanPac and Unison – to cement the strong bond between the two groups. 'They are the only interest group we have got on the front of the hangar as a signboard. 'Our hangar is the heart of our operation. The helicopter provides the service, but the hangar houses the crew, and has everything in it, and it's the hub of where everything is co-ordinated from.' He said that to 'adorn the exterior' with the Winter Olympics logo meant a lot to them all. 'It's incredibly powerful, I've said to Claire their group would be one of the top fundraising groups in Hawke's Bay, and I don't say that lightly.' Quayle said any donation, big or small, was appreciated and helped the service remain in all-hours operation across Hawke's Bay. He said they were in the process of pulling together the various components needed to equip a new helicopter, which is due for delivery in September 2026. 'That includes having a good, hard look at our current hangar facility to make sure it can accommodate the helicopter and all the equipment it will need alongside it.' The new aircraft comes with enhanced patient and crew comfort features, longer mission range through greater fuel capacity and an increased weight limit, enabling transport of multiple patients and whānau.
NZ Herald
29-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Central Hawke's Bay Winter Olympics fundraiser helping to save lives
'It's got a great, encouraging, friendly feel about it.' Between 2010 and 2024, the Winter Olympics raised a total of $360,000, which was shared between schools, clubs and organisations and placed it in the top four sponsors of the HBRH. As a result it even had its logo featured on the helicopter. She said members of her family and many friends had needed the service, and it was of huge importance for rural communities. 'You are very grateful to hear that chopper coming - it's priceless- and if we can help keep that service free to the people in Hawke's Bay, we are very proud.' This year's funds would be donated to Flemington School, Pōrangahau Playcentre, the Dannevirke Hunt, and the Paul Hunter Centre, a disability service provider, the chosen charity of Property Brokers. Wilson's intentions were also to promote horse riding and encourage young riders, professionals and all those in between to have a go in a laid-back fun environment. 'Every year it's grown and now it's evolved into this massive show, and it has a variety of events that cater to all levels.' Wilson said she expected to come close to last year's total of $75,000 as she waited for the final tally to be counted. This year's event saw 170 riders and even more horses and spectators participate in a day of horse jumping, cowboy challenges, and hunter jumping, with a kindy ring to entertain young children and a hobby horse event for those who don't have a horse. New to the 2025 event was an area called the 'fun zone', with bouncy castles, face paint and crafts, for kids who were siblings of riders or had finished riding. 'It's back to that old-fashioned and good community spirit, everybody getting in and helping and encouraging each other.' Despite getting around on crutches with a broken femur - a second time Wilson faced the event injured - she said the day couldn't have gone any better. 'It's kept me pretty busy and I haven't had time to feel sorry for myself.' Alongside the actual event, Wilson was busy behind the scenes for three months in the lead-up, auctioning off donated goods and services. Wilson said the highest-paying auction item was a native tree planting service by the Pōrangahau Catchment Group that sold for $1600. 'Some people who I don't even know, and they live in the South Island and up north, and they have been donating to this cause - it's amazing generosity and support.' Wilson said she hadn't thought about next year's event yet, but had no doubt it would continue to evolve and grow.
