OPEN: Kapiti Mayor Ross Church cuts a ribbon to declare the new Paraparaumu ambulance station open.
Wellington Free Ambulance's new station in Paraparaumu was officially opened on Saturday.
Over a million dollars had been fundraised to enable the major revamp of the former ambulance station in Warrimoo St.
Kapiti Mayor Ross Church said it was a facility the community needed.
"When I left home at about 9am one of the ambulances was driving down Kapiti Rd with the lights flashing going to help somebody.
"And of course there was a big accident at Paekakariki."
Just before 8.30am one south bound car crossed the centre line near Paekakariki, SHI and hit a northbound vehicle head-on.
The vehicle then bounced off another north bound vehicle.
One person was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries and the others were checked by ambulance staff and appeared to have suffered minor injuries.
"We all know how vital it is to have this service here."
The service had a special place in his heart too.
"Most of you will know that my wife suffered for a couple of years and we called the ambulance a lot and had a lot of support.
"And then my mum broke her hip three months ago and we couldn't get into Wellington because the road wasn't good enough so the ambulance staff looked after her for an hour and a half before she was flown to Wellington."
He said, "On behalf of the community I want to say thank you to everyone who has been involved in this [new station]."
The new station includes two communications rooms, kitchen, lounge, five bedrooms, shower and toilet block as well as vehicle docking bay.
