A tearful farewell to Kaikohe ABC

There were emotional scenes in Kaikohe last week as the ruins of a the early childhood centre that was gutted by fire on Wednesday morning were blessed ahead of urgent demolition.

The blaze not only destroyed the ABC building but also claimed furnishings, books, toys, staff belongings and years' worth of work.

The Far North District Council's iwi liaison officer, kaumatua Ted Wihongi, carried out the blessing on Thursday morning with a group of staff members, parents and representatives of Kidicorp ABC, the company which owned the centre, gathered around him.

Many were crying as Mr Wihongi recited a karakia.

Demolition began on Friday afternoon, later than initially scheduled because of the need to deal with asbestos in the 1960s building. The instability of what was left standing - the intense heat buckled steel framing and left brick walls bowed - meant it had to be demolished ahead of high winds forecast for the weekend.

Kidicorp ABC has vowed to rebuild on the same site, and the company was last week scouring Kaikohe for temporary premises it hoped to open within two weeks. All staff would keep their jobs and stay on the payroll while new premises were sought and made ready, Kidicorp ABC regional manager Audrey Kirk said.

A complete fit-out for the temporary centre was ready to be transported to Kaikohe.

Meanwhile fire investigators have concluded that the blaze was almost certainly caused by a fluorescent light fitting. Fire safety officer Craig Bain, who spent two days poring over the ruins with insurance company investigators, said he was "relatively confident" the fire started when molten, burning plastic from a fluorescent light fitting dripped on to mattress coverings.

Witnesses said the evacuation of 13 children, five staff members and three parents was ordered when a staff member saw smoke coming from mattresses on the stage of the former church and community hall. The insurance investigators told Mr Bain they had seen a number of fires recently caused by fluorescent lights.

He recommended making sure lights were installed properly, replacing old models with new ones, and ensuring they had plenty of ventilation because they could get hot.

All in this together

Kaikohe has rallied around those mostaffected by the fire that destroyed theABC early childhood centre in Park Roadlast week. Kidicorp ABC regional managerAudrey Kirk said staff had beenoverwhelmed by the support they hadreceived.

``It's just so lovely the way peoplehave pulled together,'' she said.

Support included offers of help fromother childcare centres across Northland,Women's Refuge and Kaikohe businesses.A `critical incident team' from the Ministry of Education had offered assistance,and ABC had made free counselling available to staff and parents.

Trumps Cafe got in early, organising asausage sizzle and cake stall for last Saturday, owner Waa Whareaitu saying his suppliers had donated food while CarolynPenney, from Kaikohe Panelbeaters, wasbaking frantically, and urging others todo the same.

``When things go wrong we bandtogether and support each other.''

Proceeds would go to staff who hadlost belongings or had otherwise been affected by the fire.