Board member recovering from horse fall

Rodney Local Board member Ivan Wagstaff is recovering after a fall from a horse in Matakana last month.

Wagstaff said he lost his balance while riding a friend’s horse around a local park and fell, landing beneath the horse’s back legs. The incident happened quickly, but emergency services responded immediately.

As a precaution, he was airlifted to North Shore Hospital to rule out any internal injuries. He was given the all-clear and discharged shortly afterwards.

“I’m a bit sore but recovering well and back on my feet,” he said.

Wagstaff expressed his gratitude to the emergency services involved thanking, in particular, the Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade, St John ambulance crew and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter team.

“We often talk about infrastructure in terms of roads, but our local volunteers and first responders are the real backbone of our community,” he says. “Their professionalism and care were amazing.”

He says the incident is a reminder of how vital emergency services are for rural and coastal communities like Mahurangi.

“When you’re out in Mahurangi, knowing that level of support is available gives you real peace of mind.

I’d encourage everyone to support or join these groups – you never know when you or a neighbour might need them.”