Waitiki Landing service station open again

The re-opening today of the country's northernmost shop and service station, just 10 weeks after it was razed by fire, is being described as a Christmas miracle.

The general store and petrol Alley outlet at Waitiki Landing Holiday Park, 20km south of Cape Reinga, was destroyed in the early hours of October 8 in a blaze triggered by a power surge.

Managers Joyce and Rex Munns managed to evacuate 20 guests staying at the complex but with the nearest fire brigade at Houhora, 50km to the south, there was no hope of saving the service station or $30,000 of stock ready for the Labour Weekend crowds.

The service station was a lifeline for tourists making the long trek to the Cape and for locals who, since the petrol pumps at Houhora shut down on October 31, have had to drive 90km to tank up at Awanui.

The fact that a replacement service station and shop was due to open this morning was a near miracle, operations director Carl Pascoe said.

"We aimed to be fully operational by Christmas. This is our Christmas miracle," he said.

The speed of the rebuild was due to the efforts of their insurance company, builders, fuel company, suppliers and landlord, Muriwhenua Incorporation.

The Far North District Council and the mayor had also been supportive, pushing permits through as quickly as possible.

The new shop was erected by Totalspan in just 10 days.

Whereas the old service station had only 91 petrol and diesel, it now offered 95 as well and had a 24-hour self-service system for Eftpos and credit cards.

"That means my manager can sleep in, instead of people banging on her door at 2am for petrol," Mr Pascoe said.

Even with prominent signs warning drivers there was no petrol north of Awanui, up to 10 tourists a day turned up at Waitiki Landings with empty tanks. The holiday park had kept an emergency supply and dispensed 10 litres at a time to stranded motorists.

Part-owner Mrs Munns, who has managed the complex for the past seven years, said she was "absolutely stoked" the shop had been rebuilt so quickly and would re-open today after a 8am blessing by Ngati Kuri kaumatua.