Opening of the new Paraparaumu Fire Station

Good morning and thank you very much for the warm welcome I have received here today.

I would like to acknowledge the chair of the New Zealand Fire Commission Dame Margaret, Her Worship the Mayor of Kapiti Jenny Rowan, Fire Service Commission member Bob Francis, the National Commander of the New Zealand Fire Service Mike Hall and the Commander of the Arapawa Fire Region Ian Pickard. I would also like to welcome the MP for Otaki Nathan Guy and the MP for Mana Winnie Laban.

I am pleased to have been invited here today to come and open our new fire station in Paraparaumu.

As I do so I am conscious of the devastating impact of the fires which have swept through the state of Victoria. The Prime Minister John Key and I had the privilege to farewell the New Zealand firefighters in Auckland before they left to help their Australian colleagues to bring the wildlfires under control.

I am sure we all extend our deepest sympathies to the families and communities that have been torn apart. Those shocking events leave no doubt in any of our minds about the importance of the work you do.

For me the Ministerial responsibility of a role in respect of fire in the present government is a privilege. I recall my firefighting experiences in the Navy when our ears were the control means to judge a separation margin from the fire scene. When our ears blistered we knew that we were close enough.

But back to matters at hand - the opening today of this fine new station in Paraparaumu. The establishment of this fulltime station reflects the rapid growth of the Paraparaumu township and the additional pressures this growth places on the Fire Service.

The slogan "Paraparaumu - A Small Town No Longer" sums up the growth that has been typical of the Kapiti area over recent decades. As I'm sure you're aware, the area's population has grown from 19,000 in 1996 to over 25,000 in 2006, making it one of the fastest growing urban areas in New Zealand.

Inevitably, the larger a population is, the greater the required capacity for first response services from the Fire Service. The 24-hour capabilities of this station will ensure effective responses to fires and other emergencies in the region are available at all times.

As with any fire station there are specific characteristics of the local community that need to be taken into account. Yours is no different. Your proximity to State Highway 1 creates additional responsibilities to attend non-fire accidents where your skills and equipment can be a decisive factor.

The high representation of people over 65 in your area also presents its own challenges and responses. I trust that the new station will allow you to continue the work you are already doing and even extend your capacity in key areas.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the valuable role that has always been, and will always be, played by volunteers in your area. I have been involved with the volunteer community for many years and I understand first hand the level of commitment required. Thank you for your continuing service to your community.

To the career firefighters who are being transferred from other stations, I would like to extend a warm welcome to your new station. Career and volunteer brigades both provide invaluable services to this community. These services will be extended by the employment of 12 more full-time firefighters.

The way your volunteer and career firefighters are integrated is a distinctive feature of the Paraparaumu Fire Brigade. I am confident that it will continue to be a genuinely effective system in the future.

I realise that the opening of this station represents the culmination of a considerable amount of hard work by many different people, so I congratulate you all on your efforts.

You can be very proud of this new station. Its design illustrates the level of detail and planning that has gone into its construction, and reflects a conscious effort to increase the efficiency of power use. The Kapiti Coast Community Plan highlighted increased energy efficiency as a key goal for everyone to strive for.

The implementation of eco-measures in this new building demonstrates an awareness of the wider issues we are all faced with today.It is also obvious that a great amount of thought has also gone into meeting the requirements of future Paraparaumu fire brigades and the communities you protect. The size of the station gives scope for your brigade to grow comfortably.

Of particular note is the enhanced independence and resilience afforded by the inclusion of a stand alone generator in the station. I hope you find little need to rely on emergency measures such as this. But its addition will greatly increase the operational capacity of the brigade when the power is down.

Its portability means that you have the capacity to relocate to any emergency location during a major crisis. This grants you far more organisational and operational options during critical events, allowing you a greater ability to provide critical services to your community.

Finally, I would like to wish you all the best for the operation of your new fire station and your continuing service to the community. I am sure that the significant thought that has gone into designing this station will enable your brigade to operate to its full potential. I take great pleasure in officially declaring the Paraparaumu Fire Station ‘open'.