Tairāwhiti firefighters take on Auckland’s Sky Tower in memorial climb

Kau Teawhitu (left), with son Laken, Manutuke's Rob Graham and Tahi Barrett were among seven Tairāwhiti volunteer firefighters involved in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Sky Tower in Auckland on Wednesday.

A group of seven Tairāwhiti volunteer firefighters were among 343 of their peers from around the country and overseas who took part in the Sky Tower 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in Auckland this week.

In full firefighting kit, they all tackled the 1003 stairs of the 60-storey Sky Tower.

The Gisborne contingent with their fellow stair-climbers from around New Zealand and overseas.

The event commemorated the firefighters lost in the 9/11 tragedy in New York in 2001 and the 68 New Zealand firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty over the years.

“It was quite a touching event to be part of,” Manutuke fire brigade’s Rob Graham said.

“The whole thing went off really well but you were puffing a bit by the time you got to the top of the tower.”

Those from Gisborne were joined by a couple of volunteers from the Hicks Bay brigade.

Hicks Bay firefighters Tahi Barrett (centre) and Kau Teawhitu (right) on the 1000-plus steps of the stairwell at the Sky Tower.

“Tahi Barrett from the Hicks Bay brigade was there to commemorate his late firefighter father Ray, who died on the way to a motor accident on the East Coast several years ago,” Graham said.

“Tahi always carries his dad’s helmet with him when he does the climb.

“It was, as usual, a very special event for all of us to be part of.”