Hato Pāora sets a shining example

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Hato Pāora

June 29 2010

Hato Pāora sets a shining example

Four members of the New Zealand Fire Service attended assembly on Friday 25th June where Manawatū Area Manager, Mitchell Brown, presented Braydon Haimona-Young with a fire safety certificate and introduced the position of Kaitiaki Kaiārahi.

Mr Brown commended Braydon for raising the alarm and ensuring the safety of his peers during the college’s dormitory fire in May, describing him as “knowing what aroha’s all about”.

He also praised the college for a “picture perfect” evacuation.

“Everyone has evacuation procedures in place, but Hato Pāora really stepped up in a time of emergency”, said Mr Brown.

As well as congratulating Braydon and his peers, Mr Brown also presented the college with a New Zealand Fire Service Kaitiaki Kaiārahi fire helmet.

Kaitiaki Kaiārahi means caretaker of the chiefs and is a new student-led fire sheriff position.

Hato Pāora College is the first school to pilot the Kaitiaki Kaiārahi initiative, which Mr Brown hopes to introduce to schools and maraes throughout the county.

Applications for this position open at Hato Pāora in term 3 and, in this role, students will take responsibility for monitoring fire safety at the college.

Mr Brown said “It is important for people to stand up and take leadership roles when it comes to fire safety”. He hopes to see many boys apply for the role to create a fire safety team.

Manwatu-Whanganui Maori Liasion Officer, Te Aorangi Harrington, also congratulated the boys and issued a timely reminder to check smoke alarms when returning home for the holidays.

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