Felled Pines Turned to Firewood for Whanau

From left Layla (2 yrs), Jackson (4 yrs) with Grandmother Lynda happy to receive free firewood.

For some Wainuiomata and Stokes Valley families, a boot load of free firewood is a nice boost as winter sets in.

The dry split wood, 30 cubic meters of it, is from trees that came down near or at the Silverstream Landfill in the 15 November storm last year. The fallen trees closed the road leading to the landfill.

Contracts Manager for Hutt City Council Colin Lunn says, “A large land slip downed trees and closed the site for three and a half days. We decided to remove several other problem pines on either side of Reynolds Bach Drive to prevent the likelihood of future falls, so in all around 80 pine trees came down.”

The wet wood was taken by a firewood contractor who, on advice from council, shared the dry wood between Koraunui Marae in Stokes Valley and Kokiri Marae, Seaview.

Excess firewood was then distributed to families in need by the two marae, kaumatua and social services workers. A Navigator for Kokiri Hauora Jane Hopkirk says, “today I was thinking, how am I going to get free firewood and then bam, I got a call from the marae to come and get some.

“This firewood means a lot to our communities, especially those in Wainuiomata and Stokes Valley as those areas are particularly damp after our cold and wet summer. This means children are showing signs of chest infections and other chest complications earlier than usual. There is also a shortage of cheap or free firewood and if anyone out there can donate more firewood to local marae or social service agencies we would welcome it.”

The firewood Jane picked up was going to a family of five that has two children with a disability. Another family (pictured) welcomed the donation as they have a child with Bronchiolitis (a lower respiratory infection in young children).

If you wish to donate free firewood, contact any social service agency or marae in your community.

ENDS

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