Emergency incidents can come out of the woodwork for Nelson Tasman volunteers who save lives in sometimes unfathomable scenes.
Waimea Menzshed member Riki Tamakehu has carved a taonga from Oamaru stone to acknowledge the lifesaving mahi (work) carried out by the region’s emergency services and equip them with spiritual energy for their duties.
Named Kotahitanga, meaning all as one and woven together (like at road crashes), Riki says his piece also represents Manaia, which in Māori culture is spiritual connection, protection, balance, and guardianship.
He’s carved other taonga for other organisations in Otago, including its regional rescue helicopter trust, and says Kotahitanga will enable emergency service volunteers to “feel the mauri”.
“They can have hard days, rewarding days and traumatic days… it gives them the best recovery while they go on their journey and do their duties from that day on,” he empathises.
“I have love and respect for their journey and for their work, and for them and their family also”.
Kotahitanga was blessed by kaumātua Pita Pou at Waimea Menzshed last month, with representatives from local Fire and Emergency, Land Search and Rescue, St John, Coastguard and Civil Defence in attendance.
It was installed at the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust office on Hardy St last Friday, where it will be housed before relocating to its Nelson Airport hangar next year.
