Te Puna Quarry Park president Ian Cross (left) thanks Frank Aldridge, managing director of Craigs Investment Partners, for the company's $10,000 donation. Photo / Scott Yeoman
Te Puna Quarry Park president Ian Cross (left) thanks Frank Aldridge, managing director of Craigs Investment Partners, for the company's $10,000 donation. Photo / Scott Yeoman
The Tauranga and Western Bay community is rallying around Te Puna Quarry Park after tens of thousands of dollars' worth of equipment was stolen at the weekend.
Tauranga-based company Craigs Investment Partners is donating $10,000 – a generous gift met with "incredible gratitude" from the park's volunteers.
"We were absolutelyflabbergasted but incredibly relieved because while we are insured, inevitably there will be a shortfall between what we receive from the insurance company and what it will cost us to replace all of the equipment," Quarry Park president Ian Cross said.
He said the donation would go a good distance to bridging the shortfall.
"It just goes to show what a wonderful local company Craigs is. Although they are a national company, their support of the local community around here has been fantastic for a long time," Cross said.
"And for this contribution to come out of thin air, without any request on our behalf, is incredibly gratifying."
He said the wider community response on social media had also been "overwhelming".
"We realise now how important the Quarry Park is to a lot of people who live in the community around here and their response has been great; absolutely fantastic."
The break-in at the park happened sometime between Saturday lunchtime and Monday morning and an estimated $30,000-$40,000 worth of equipment was taken from the garage and storage shed.
Thieves stole a white Suzuki mini truck, a ride-on Masport mower, three chainsaws, three weed eaters, a generator, a skill saw, an electric drill, a hedge trimmer, an arc welder, a wood chipper, a concrete mixer and many other tools and equipment.
Shirley Sparks (left) and Jo Dawkins, co-founders of Te Puna Quarry Park, were left devastated by the theft of tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment at the weekend. Photo / George Novak
Frank Aldridge, managing director of Craigs Investment Partners, said it was disappointing to hear about the theft at Te Puna Quarry Park.
"The people who build and maintain the park are all volunteers, working tirelessly to provide a fantastic recreational park for everyone in our community to enjoy.
"Craigs Investment Partners is donating $10,000 to replace the lawn mower. We hope this gives the Quarry Park Trust a head start in recouping their loss."
Katikati couple Sandra and Dave Moles have also stepped in to help.
They donated a generator, a chainsaw and a brand new weed eater to the Quarry Park after hearing about the theft.
"We were so upset about it," Mrs Moles said.
"I just felt for them; it was so sad because there are so many crappy things going on in this world. We just wanted to help them."
