
North Shore Abilities Group recycling plant seeks community support after huge fire
The Abilities Group said a fire investigator had been at the site on Friday, and the building was being dismantled.
The blaze destroyed critical equipment, it said.
Managing director Peter Fraher was calling on the public to support recovery efforts.
'Abilities is more than a workplace – it's a supportive environment where disabled people find purpose, opportunity, and community,' he said.
'Losing that is a huge blow.'
Fraher said the organisation provided employment and support to more than 100 disabled people, and was launching an urgent drive to raise funds.
Donations would go towards supporting those staff affected by the fire, finding a temporary site, and replacing what was destroyed in the blaze.
A Givealittle page has been set up for those wishing to donate.
Fraher said the support from the community had been overwhelming, and he thanked emergency responders for their work controlling the fire.
'We've had an incredible outpouring of kindness from the community already, and we're so grateful.
'Now we're asking anyone who's ever believed in our mission – or simply wants to help us support our team as we rebuild – to support our fundraiser.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Survivor recounts narrow escape from blaze that destroyed home
A Dunedin man seriously burned in a ferocious house fire says his family had a minute to escape the inferno "or we would have all been gone". Luke Chapman was woken at 3am after hearing a "crash" and "bang" in his home in Allandale Rd, St Clair. The sound was a roaring fire smashing his windows and engulfing a wall. He yelled for his two adult children to get out and, 10 minutes later, the house was fully engulfed in flames. "One more minute and we would have all been gone," he said. By morning, the home was a total loss — as well as everything inside it. At the fire's peak, 26 firefighters were battling it. Three weeks on, Mr Chapman said he was "in awe" of the generosity of the Dunedin community. "The generosity of the community and how quickly they jumped to task was so humbling — everything from clothing through to a house was offered." A Givealittle page was set up for Mr Chapman and his family, and the funds raised were going towards supporting them day to day. Mr Chapman, who works for Allied Productions, said fire was a "beast", and warned that it was a lot more intense, fast-moving and dangerous than many people thought. "The fire bit me for less than a second, yet I ended up with second-degree burns, seven days in hospital. Most of my back's all chewed to pieces and disfigured for whoever knows how long. "It was less than a second of exposure to the radiant heat. I didn't even touch the flames." Burns covered 18% of his body — if it had been 20%, he would have been sent to the burns unit in Christchurch. His injuries were "evolving burns", which meant they got worse in the first week before beginning to heal. Losing all his possessions was also something he had to come to terms with. "Even simple things ... like our cars were in the driveway, but all the keys melted with the house, so we had to get all new keys cut — all little things that are now all gone." Videotapes with his children's first moments were burnt, but luckily a hard drive of family photos had been left at work earlier that week. However, at the moment, Mr Chapman was "nobody", as all his formal identification was destroyed. "We keep all the passports and the birth certificates in a safe drawer on the desk in the hallway, supposedly to grab on the way out when there's a fire — doing that didn't even cross my mind. It was 'let's just get out of here'." He suggested people store identification in a fireproof safe, because it was "very, very difficult" to get new identification. The house had working smoke alarms, but he did not notice if they activated in the rush to escape. Fire investigator Scottie Cameron said the the cause of the fire had been determined and the blaze was being classed as accidental. Mr Chapman's burns were now healing well, and slowly things were falling into place. "The nightmares that I have is if I had woken up one minute later, the house would have been full of smoke and there would have been flames everywhere. "It would have been a totally different kind of fire."


Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Intensity of house fire still with victim
A Dunedin man seriously burned in a ferocious house fire says his family had a minute to escape the inferno "or we would have all been gone". Luke Chapman was woken at 3am after hearing a "crash" and "bang" in his home in Allandale Rd, St Clair. The sound was a roaring fire smashing his windows and engulfing a wall. He yelled for his two adult children to get out and, 10 minutes later, the house was fully engulfed in flames. "One more minute and we would have all been gone," he said. By morning, the home was a total loss — as well as everything inside it. At the fire's peak, 26 firefighters were battling it. Three weeks on, Mr Chapman said he was "in awe" of the generosity of the Dunedin community. "The generosity of the community and how quickly they jumped to task was so humbling — everything from clothing through to a house was offered." A Givealittle page was set up for Mr Chapman and his family, and the funds raised were going towards supporting them day to day. Mr Chapman, who works for Allied Press, said fire was a "beast", and warned that it was a lot more intense, fast-moving and dangerous than many people thought. "The fire bit me for less than a second, yet I ended up with second-degree burns, seven days in hospital. Most of my back's all chewed to pieces and disfigured for whoever knows how long. "It was less than a second of exposure to the radiant heat. I didn't even touch the flames." Burns covered 18% of his body — if it had been 20%, he would have been sent to the burns unit in Christchurch. His injuries were "evolving burns", which meant they got worse in the first week before beginning to heal. Losing all his possessions was also something he had to come to terms with. "Even simple things ... like our cars were in the driveway, but all the keys melted with the house, so we had to get all new keys cut — all little things that are now all gone." Videotapes with his children's first moments were burnt, but luckily a hard drive of family photos had been left at work earlier that week. However, at the moment, Mr Chapman was "nobody", as all his formal identification was destroyed. "We keep all the passports and the birth certificates in a safe drawer on the desk in the hallway, supposedly to grab on the way out when there's a fire — doing that didn't even cross my mind. It was 'let's just get out of here'." He suggested people store identification in a fireproof safe, because it was "very, very difficult" to get new identification. The house had working smoke alarms, but he did not notice if they activated in the rush to escape. Fire investigator Scottie Cameron said the the cause of the fire had been determined and the blaze was being classed as accidental. Mr Chapman's burns were now healing well, and slowly things were falling into place. "The nightmares that I have is if I had woken up one minute later, the house would have been full of smoke and there would have been flames everywhere. "It would have been a totally different kind of fire."


Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Aim to have new 5km river track ready by Christmas
The new 5km 'true right' track to be completed by Christmas this year will run from the Lake Hawea dam to Camphill Rd. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust is moving ahead with plans to complete a brand-new 5km track along the Hāwea River, aiming to have it ready by Christmas this year. The new "true right" track will run from the Lake Hāwea dam to Camphill Rd on Department of Conservation land, with approval from the Queenstown Lakes District Council. Designed as a peaceful getaway for walkers and cyclists, it promises a quieter alternative to busy commuter routes and will be accessible to adaptive bikes and strollers. Although construction has yet to begin, trust chairman David Howard is optimistic the project will be finished on schedule. The budgeted cost is $154,000, and while there is still a funding shortfall, founding member John Wellington said the trust would proceed cautiously while seeking additional support. To date, significant contributions have come from Central Lakes Trust ($38,346), Otago Community Trust ($30,000), New Zealand Bike Trails ($1500) and the Hāwea Community Association ($3000). The trust recently received a further $2500 from the final Wheels to Wānaka event and has launched a Givealittle page to attract more supporters. As part of the project, small clearings will be created along offshoots of the track where users can pause to enjoy the scenery, dip their feet in the river, or picnic. "What better way to enjoy the Upper Clutha's summer than with a cold leg of chicken in one hand and a plastic cup of elderflower cordial in the other?" Mr Howard said. Last month, trustees approved calls for tenders to tackle challenging sections near the "wave", widen parts of the trail and build a boardwalk across a wetland. Environmental surveys have ensured the track will not disturb local lizard populations, and discussions are ongoing with Contact Energy regarding a safe crossing at the dam. Meanwhile, the trust is holding off on upgrading the existing Wānaka to Hāwea track due to funding uncertainties. A recent grant application to the Lotteries Board was unsuccessful, prompting the trust to rethink its approach to this major maintenance project. — APL