Fire-ravaged Kerikeri laundry back in business

Back in business after a year-long break caused by a devastating fire are, from left, Mel Richardson, owner Michelle Poole, Mikayla Clifton and Isabelle Kingi at The Wash House in Kerikeri.

One year almost to the day after a devastating fire Kerikeri Laundry Services has re-opened as The Wash House in rebuilt premises on Cobham Rd.

Before the blaze the business catered primarily to commercial customers such as motels and restaurants but was also well patronised by holiday-makers and locals without a washing machine of their own.

Owner Michelle Poole said the long wait for rebuilding - the fire was on the night of May 24 last year and the re-opening on June 1 - made for a frustrating and stressful year.

The delay was caused by a combination of factors including engineering issues, consent delays, and problems with the roof.

In the meantime she had used her home for storage and soaking and taken customers' washing to a commercial laundry in Kaikohe seven days a week.

"I found it really hard that I didn't have a place called work and a place called home. The spare room was full of linen and the bathroom was full of soaking tubs. Now home is home again and work is work. I can move on and look after my customers again," she said.

Ms Poole said she was grateful for her customers' loyalty in a difficult year. She had been overwhelmed by the reaction to the re-opening, with a stream of wellwishers bearing flowers and chocolates.

"People are really glad we're back, and to have somewhere to go locally for laundry."

The Wash House has six self-service coin-operated washer/driers while out the back three large driers and four large washing machines cater to commercial customers. It employs four staff.

The neighbouring Loong Da Chinese Takeaways was smoke damaged and re-opened a week earlier.

At the time Far North fire boss Allan Kerrisk said the building's construction, with good separation between the shops, prevented what might have become a multi-premises fire.

The cause was most likely an electrical fault in the roof space.