Collect Seaweed and Earn Money
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Collect seaweed and The Fire Siren By SSO Derek Collier earn money Sponsored by Safety Safety + Apparel - tel 0800 726 726 May was another quiet month for the Zealand, fourth place was still a great effort They say money doesn’t grow on trees but it the old Coast Biologicals factory in Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade with out of 17 teams. Well done guys. is virtually washing up on our beaches around Opotiki in 2011 and opened their facility in eight calls for assistance. We backed up The weekend before last our Brigade had New Zealand. With a global shortage of high Masterton earlier this year. The investment in Coromandel Town on two occasions, eight members competing in the Sky Tower quality agar (a seaweed-derived gelatinous pharmaceutical grade facilities and modern assisted the ambulance twice, were called Stair Challenge. I would suggest that most substance that, among other things, are used production systems, positions the business to set up a heli pad for the Auckland and people would struggle to climb to the top by biologists to culture microorganisms) as a world-class processor and innovator of Coromandel Rescue Helicopter, were of the Sky Tower in Auckland normally, making headlines worldwide, seaweed agar products. called to a private fire alarm activation, but these fire fighters are doing it in full processing factories in Opotiki and Masterton Company founder Phil Caskey says the assisted Hahei at a large scrub fire they had fire fighting kit and wearing breathing are reaching out to coastal communities along business is continuing to invest in new at Cathedral Cove and were called to motor apparatus. A huge effort and for a great the east coast of New Zealand, including the technologies, intellectual property and vehicle accident. cause (a fundraiser for Leukaemia and Coromandel, to collect Pterocladia seaweed processing methods to add value to seaweed Although the call-outs have been Blood Cancer New Zealand). to help meet customer demand. as a natural resource. “We are actively looking relatively quiet, the brigade has still been It’s starting to cool down, so remember Found washed up on rocks and beaches at new products for other types of seaweed in very busy with our Road Crash Rescue team to get your fire place cleaned. It might save along the east coast, the distinct red the future,” he says. competing in the national challenge that was you a visit from the Fire held in Ingelwood, Taranaki. The team has Brigade. Pterocladia seaweed is the raw material Agar is an incredibly useful and important represented not only our brigade, but also Remember, if you can’t which, when processed, forms agar. ingredient for the food industry as well as a Whitianga, to an extremely high standard be good, at least be careful. With worldwide demand far exceeding wide range of industrial applications such as for more than 16 years and although they Senior Station Officer supply, a newly refurbished processing pharmaceutical products, medical research, would have liked to have been first in New Derek Collier plant in Opotiki and newly built facility in dental prosthetics and biotechnology. Masterton are calling out for people to help Pollution and environmental conditions have collect this prized natural resource before it impacted supply and product quality from gets washed back out to sea. some countries. “It’s all pretty exciting what’s going Coopey is asking people along the east on here,” says Kath Coopey, technical coast of the North Island to help collect the red advisor at New Zealand Manuka Group, the Pterocladia seaweed, “This is an opportunity owner of the seaweed processing facilities. for the wider community as well. It’s a great “Our Opotiki plant has undergone a complete way to earn some extra money or raise funds revamp and is now producing high-grade for your sports team or school,” he says. pharmaceutical agar. And in Masterton we Anyone interested in taking part in a beach have a completely new business which collection needs to contact New Zealand started as an empty warehouse space, but now Manuka Group.The business will assist has conveyors and teams of people sorting, with the obtaining of a permit and further The scrub fire at Cathedral Cove last month. drying and processing Pterocladia.” details about collecting red seaweed will also Photo by Ken Hindmarsh of Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruises. New Zealand Manuka Group purchased be provided. Pterocladia(Agar)Seaweed CollectorsWanted VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Would you like a fun day out in the bush? If you areinterested in collecting and supplying Pterocladia Seaweed Kauri 2000 Trust is looking for volunteer planters from your local beach, please call us now for supplier packs and to help with planting kauri seedlings. information. Earn$3.00-$3.40 per kg for clean and dried We will be planting Saturday 11 June at the Pterocladia Seaweed. Matarangi reserve (Kuaotunu) For moreinformation and Fishserve permit required for collection, Starting at 9am Please makesureshoes and tools areclean please call us at New Zealand Seaweeds on 07 315 7663. to preventspread of kauri dieback. Sausage sizzle to follow planting. Please contact the office or e-mail us for details. P 07 8660468 E [email protected] SEAWEEDS DIVISION Plant a kauri … recreate a forest! www.kauri2000.co.nz www.nzmanukagroup.com by SEALY Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 692 8 June 2016.