Financial Help For Families Of Fire Fighters

A mayoral relief fund has raised $4000 in public donations for the families of two fire fighters who died while fighting a scrub fire at Karikari Peninsula last year.

Far North Mayor Wayne Brown opened the three-month fund on December 6 after Kaitaia Department of Conservation worker William Macrae and Kerikeri commercial pilot John De Ridder were killed when their helicopter crashed during a reconnaissance flight at Karikari Bay on November 30.

Donations to the fund totalled $4000 when it closed on March 6.

Many of these donations were from Department of Conservation workers across New Zealand.

Mayor Brown presented William and John’s partners with cheques for $2000 when they visited the Council’s Kaikohe headquarters on May 24 to receive posthumous Citizen Awards on behalf of the men.