05/03/2026
Hi everyone,
as you can imagine this is a very difficult and trying time with the devastating fire that ripped through the shop ( but thankfully caught minutes before taking the house too).
I am so thankful for Peter's bladder that alerted us to the blaze at 3am Wednesday morning.
I know many of you are very concerned about your usual routine of mail, paper, bread and milk deliveries...
So here is a little update of where we stand.
The shop building is still being assessed by fire safety, investigators etc.
Another fire outbreak today has now delayed this process a little, and we have NO access to the building.
All mail that had been delivered to our postal delivery centre on, and prior to Tuesday 3rd March and uncollected is unable to be retrieved at this time. ( some in post boxes will become available when we are able to access).
All mail delivered yesterday and today by our good guy Scotty Egan , has now been delivered to the right recipients.
From Monday until the foreseeable future. Wendy-Jane Williamson, Biggles and the team have made the Pub dining room available for mail collection between 10.30 and 11.30 am Monday to Friday.
Please don't harrass the pub staff outside of these times for your mail- there is a strict process that must be adhered to. Non- compliance may be the catalyst to Waikaia losing mail service!! ( not joking...you may have to collect from Balfour or Riversdale).
Papers...
Only subscribed papers will continue to be delivered. Shop account papers will cease from today.
I am happy to help people set up a subscription in the meantime if that helps.
Bread and milk will no longer be delivered as there is no outlet available within the SDC food control plan.
Those of you unable to access essentials can leave your name at the Pub dining room on Monday so we can take a look and best assess the needs for the community in the interim.
The shop has sustained substantial damage. It will be a considerable amount of time to recover from this tragedy.
Keys being held for other entities ie. Greenwaste, playgroup, museum etc have been recovered and handed to appropriate people
Please try and show patience and kindness during this difficult time.
Also a very sincere thankyou to Waikaia and Riversdale Volunteer Fire Brigades for your incredibly swift and empathetic response and ex*****on of duty. You guys really are amazing. You can not imagine how much I admire and appreciate you.
The people who have reached out with words of support, dinner etc is truly humbling.
Thankyou so much.
It's been soul destroying and traumatic. I've cried buckets , but am thankful for so much...my family, friends and the amazing volunteer services available in rural NZ.
