Charity’s snorkel events under threat after equipment stolen

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Noam Mānuka Lazarus, Massey University journalism graduate

A charity providing community dive lessons and marine education says its programmes are under threat after $90,000 worth of equipment was stolen.

Volunteer dive instructors of Mountains to Sea Wellington showed up with a group of students on Monday morning to find that someone had broken into their marine base at Moa Point.

The group said thieves drove off with one of the charity’s two brand-new, white Toyota Hilux trucks, and a trailer containing half of their dive snorkels, masks, wetsuits, and other equipment between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Co-director and co-founder Zoe Studd said she was “really gutted”.

The charity was without enough equipment to run its free school and community snorkel programme in the new year. “Half is not enough,” she said.

While the truck and trailer had been found, much of the gear was still missing.

The charity worked with thousands of students each year on marine education, experiences and restoration efforts.

“We’re only just managing to keep our school groups going till the end of their term, but it’s a scramble,” Marine lead Jorge Jimenez said.

The vehicle and trailer were insured but the contents were not.

“The costs of replacing our wetsuits and safety gear is well in excess of $25,000, but it also takes time to get the custom-made wetsuits for younger students that are right for our conditions,” said Jimenez.

“It’s just a real kick in the guts,” Jimenez said. “All this comes at a time when many charities are struggling to find funding to keep their work going.”

Studd said they’d reached out to supporters and local community members in the hope of retrieving the equipment and reported the theft to police.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand