Ahead of recharging their batteries this summer, Nelson Tasman should be checking the batteries in their vehicles, including those on the water.
Coastguard Nelson commonly responds to battery-related incidents in spring and summer and has deployed an initiative for battered battery donations to keep its training and fuel costs afloat.
Supported by a boatload of businesses, the fundraiser sees used, dead, or flat lead-acid batteries from boats, cars, machinery and other equipment donated to participating collection points in Nelson, Richmond and Motueka until the end of October.
Donated batteries are collected regularly by Coastguard volunteers and taken to recycling facilities in return for their financial turbocharge.
Crew member Angela Govier urges the public to think of them when they have an unwanted battery and what the proceeds from donating it will surface.
“Our beautiful vessel does go through a bit of fuel, the price of that is going up, over the last year we’ve spent just under 6000 hours serving the community, and we assisted 123 people on the water in the last 12 months,” she says.
“Inside of that, we saved seven lives.
“We do our training and things during the week to make sure we are ready to go, and any time we're needed, we will race out there no matter what, and I'm really hopeful that this recycling initiative will build onto that.”
Anchor sites for the battery donations include Nelson Marine Centre in Richmond, Nelson Marina, and Complete Water Solutions in Motueka.
Eurotech Automotive & Tyres, Nelson Truck Repairs & Spares, Heslops, Multiparts, Burnett Auto Electrical, Marahau Marine, and Bays Boating are also on board with saving batteries they replace for later collection.
Angela says individual collections can also be arranged through Coastguard Nelson's social media channels or by direct contact.
She says battery donations will continue to be welcomed after 31 October.
"We would absolutely love it if any businesses wanted to continue beyond then, and we would keep accepting and picking up batteries whenever they are available," Angela says.
"We would not turn down an opportunity to gain those funds for the unit because it's vital in helping us to keep doing what we're doing."
