News Archive : December 2014

Harcourts Foundation » New surgical equipment helps to save birds’ lives
New surgical equipment helps to save birds’ lives
December 11, 2014

NZ Bird Rescue low res

Survival rates for injured native birds will be enhanced thanks to innovative new surgical equipment to be used by New Zealand Bird Rescue.

An electrosurgery unit that is normally used for human operations will soon be put into action by New Zealand Bird Rescue veterinarians operating on injured birds in Auckland.

The surgical unit was purchased by the New Zealand Bird Rescue Charitable Trust with support from local real estate group, Harcourts via the Harcourts Foundation.

Chair of the New Zealand Bird Rescue Charitable Trust, Dr Berend Westera says that the equipment will help to enhance the survival rates of injured birds undergoing surgery.

“Birds have tiny, fragile blood vessels that can easily be damaged unwittingly during surgery. This can lead to severe blood loss and death in some cases. The electrosurgery unit cauterises the blood vessels as it cuts making it much safer for birds,” says Westera.

Representatives from …

Harcourts lends support for new bicycle track at Whangaparaoa Primary School
December 10, 2014

Students from Whangaparaoa Primary with Harcourts business owner Colin Hair low res

Whangaparaoa Primary School is a step closer to a new bicycle track thanks to a financial grant from Harcourts Whangaparaoa via the Harcourts Foundation.

Students at Whangaparoa Primary School have set their sights on developing an off-road bicycle track that will run the circumference of their school field. The proposed 650m track will provide the students with more space to practise their cycle skills and has been designed to include technical features to build confidence.

Whangaparaoa Primary School Teacher, Debbie Thompson, says the students conceived the idea as a way to address the need for more space to enjoy riding their bikes on regular cycle days held at the school.

“The students currently use the asphalt area for cycle practise and it simply isn’t big enough for our growing student numbers. The students identified this as an issue and have helped to design a new off-road bicycle course.

“The …

Harcourts supports lighting upgrade for helipad in Mahurangi East
December 9, 2014

Ross McFarlane Colin Hair Christine Kyle Richard Willcock low res

New helipad lighting at the Mahurangi East Fire Station is helping helicopters to land safely.

Imagine it is late at night. The Westpac helicopter has airlifted an injured hiker from a remote track on the Mahurangi Peninsula and the helicopter is heading inland to connect to land transport. The pilot hits the trigger and suddenly out of the darkness the helipad lights at Mahurangi East Fire Station are ignited, guiding the pilot and injured passenger safely in to land.

Mahurangi East Fire Station Officer, Richard Wilcock, says this type of scenario is why it was important for the helipad at Mahurangi East Fire Station to undergo a lighting upgrade when the existing lighting became flooded and was no longer operational.

The replacement lighting was financed by the Mahurangi Community Trust, with support from local real estate group Harcourts.

Representatives from Harcourts Warkworth and Snells Beach visited the Mahurangi East Fire …

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