NZ pays it forward for fire crew

The idea of "paying it forward" has paid off for a group of volunteer firemen.

Almost a year ago, the Weekend Herald featured a story about three Matata women anxious to repay a debt they felt they owed to local firefighters after the May 18 floods which devastated their township.

Deb Hofert, Lesley Wakelin and Jane Hodgson asked the rest of New Zealand to "pay it forward" to the 23-strong Matata Volunteer Fire Brigade - a reference to the Hollywood film about repaying favours from one source with good deeds to another.

They said the brigade desperately needed money to equip itself to respond to medical emergencies, but the events of May 18 had put fundraising on hold. The firefighters needed more than $60,000 for a van with lights and sirens, stretchers and a defibrillator, and to put staff through basic paramedic training.

Now, it seems, New Zealand has paid it forward.

Matata deputy fire chief Gavin Dennis said this week that $20,000 of donations from people as far away as Oamaru had allowed the firefighters to buy a new van and medical equipment.

Two charitable trusts, the Southern Trust and Scottwood Trust, had also donated $30,000 and $10,000 respectively, and local radio station 1XX gave $8400. Pacific Toyota in Tauranga gave a discount on the van.

"It's just a huge weight off our minds," Mr Dennis said.