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After six months of fundraising and a search up and down the country, Kawau Coastguard finally has a new tractor.
The tractor is used to launch the Kawau Rescue boat, ensuring it can attend maritime emergencies.
Coastguard president Roger Davies says they have been in a precarious state, relying on an aging tractor that was prone to jamming gears, meaning the crew couldn’t guarantee an immediate response in emergencies.
Coastguard member Brett Howlett searched from Timaru to Whangarei for a replacement.
“He just loves tractors,” Roger says.
Brett won the People’s Choice Trophy at the 2013 Tractorama in Algies Bay for his restored 1950s Allis-Chalmers.
Brett finally found ‘Mr Right’ in Masterton last month – a 1996 Ford 100 horsepower tractor. Its wheelbase is 130mm higher than Sam’s and has an extra 20 horsepower.
“But the most important thing is that it goes!”
The tractor is being stripped of unnecessary equipment, painted with protective paint and the wheels are being galvanised to prevent rust. It should be in working order later this month.
The group raised $25,000 over six months for the tractor, including 18,000 from selling 2400 lotteries tickets over summer, the second highest number out of the 72 coastguards in NZ.
They also received $2500 from The Matakana Seagull Race and $900 from Wilmot Motors’ Good in the Hood promotion.
A donation from the Mansion House Music in the Gardens event has allowed the coastguard to replace the old and weathered pontoons on the rescue boat as well.
Meanwhile, Roger Davies has stepped down as president this month after four years in the role.
“It was time for new blood.”
Snells Beach resident Peter Garman was elected president at the organisation’s annual meeting on June 10.
