Murupara has recently hosted suppers to show its appreciation of the community’s emergency first responders.

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, certificates were presented to four groups – Kāingaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade, Murupara Volunteer Fire Brigade, Murupara Hato Hone and the Murupara Community First Responders – by Whakatāne District Council Toi ki Uta Māori Ward Councillor Jesse Morgan-Ranui.

The first get-together celebrated the contributions of the Kāingaroa and Murupara brigades, along with Hato Hone St John.

The second brought together members of Murupara’s first response roopu, an eight-person group established in 2020 that does private calls in the community, engaging with police, the fire brigade, St Johns and doctors.

The group includes Lawrence Jenner, a medic/first responder who works alongside fire and ambulance, responding to 111 calls.

His job is to assess and uphold the situation until other help arrives, while doing full patient care, including resuscitation and first aid. He works for Te Ika Whenua and has special release to attend emergencies during work hours.

“These people are crucial to our wellbeing and safety as Rotorua and Whakatane emergency responders are an hour away,” said event organiser Sheena Jones.

“These gracious, dedicated souls drop everything during the night and day to become good Samaritans in emergency situations.

“We are eternally grateful to them and their families.”