Hawkes Bay Ice Company assistant manager Jaryn McFarland shovelling ice in their ice store. Photo / Paul Taylor
It's the coolest place to work in Hawke's Bay, but during a heatwave, it's not the easiest.
As temperatures soared around the region on Wednesday - the highest officially recorded mark was 34.2 degrees Celsius - Hawke's Bay Ice Company got busy.
Managing director Simon McFarland said his employees often worked at sub-zero temperatures.
"Inside the ice tower, where we shovel the ice into bins or the truck, it's -5C," McFarland said.
"But in the heat we've got to move the ice really quickly - especially when you've got big truckloads," he said.
"It's a bit tough when you're in the -5C ice store and you're going flat out and then you open up the door and 30C hits you - you've got to brace yourself."
McFarland said they had a quiet start to the month with Covid-19 impacting the company's main work source - which is meatworks and commercial fishing vessels.
But with the hot temperatures this week, business has really picked up.
"I don't really advertise to the public but this month and especially over the last week there have been a lot of people coming in because I do sell to them - selling bags, filling up chilly bins, trailers and utes," he added.
On Wednesday the top three hottest areas in Hawke's Bay were Te Pohue, Wairoa and Hastings, according to MetService meteorologist Tahlia Crabtree.
Te Pohue reached 33.2C at 2pm on January 27, Wairoa rose to 33.2C at 12 noon and Hastings peaked at 31.4C at 2pm.
Crabtree said on Thursday temperatures in Hastings and Wairoa could get to 32C, Napier may creep up to 30C and Waipukurau will reach 28C.
For road workers, these are arguably the toughest days of the year, and roading and infrastructure specialists Higgins constantly have employees working outside in the intense summer sun.
Higgins general manager Henare Clarke said they have daily morning crew meetings.
He said the meetings are used to remind the teams about regular hydration and application of supplied skin protection to areas that are exposed to the elements.
"Our teams work extremely hard during the hot summer months maintaining and improving roads for our communities," Clarke said.
"The best way the public can support them when they're out there in the heat or cold is to have patience and please always slow down to the posted speed when driving through roadworks."
Hawke's Bay District Health Board public health medicine specialist Rachel Eyre said outdoor workers can be more at risk of dehydration, sunburn and overheating when temperatures are high.
She said those who spend their working hours outside must keep themselves hydrated.
"Make sure you have water with you and drink it often - at least half a litre an hour," she said. "Wear a wide-brimmed hat, loose long-sleeved clothing that protects you from the sun, and reapply sunscreen often."
Wednesday's hot and dry day nearly took a turn as a large vegetation fire broke out in Crownthorpe about 12.20pm.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said five fire trucks were dispatched to the fire on Crownthorpe Settlement Rd.
A Fenz spokeswoman said the blaze spanned 300 metres by 100 metres along a road.
The fire was dealt with by the crews and extinguished quickly.
Principal rural fire officer Trevor Mitchell has asked that people take extra care about anything that could cause even a spark.
The region is currently in a restricted season, meaning fires cannot be lit without first obtaining a fire permit.
"We are at the time of year where people need to be extra careful," he said.