Waihi Beach Community Shop Set to Reopen After Vehicle Crash

The Waihi Beach Community Shop is expected to reopen in early October, more than two months after a vehicle ploughed into the building on 18 July. Committee spokesperson Gary Alway said a local resident suffered a medical event while driving, causing their car to crash through the front of the shop at around 2pm that day. The Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to the scene and, with help from Waihi's brigade, freed the driver from the vehicle. A staff member inside was pinned against the counter but was not seriously hurt.

The vehicle's petrol tank ruptured during the incident, spilling fuel across the shop floor. The carpet had to be stripped and the concrete floor polished and sealed before new carpet could be laid. All clothing and fabric items were taken home by volunteers, washed and ironed, and are ready to go back on the shelves.

Alway said the financial impact on the three local charities that benefit from the shop — Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Waihi Beach Coastguard, and Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade — has been significant, as the shop has had no income since the accident. The shop was not insured for stock or lost profit, though building repairs were covered by the landlord's insurance. Alway praised the landlord, Rob and family, for their support throughout the ordeal.

The shop, which is run by between 25 and 30 volunteers, needs donations of bric-a-brac items such as pots, pans, glasses and cups to replenish its stock. Updates on the reopening are being posted on the Waihi Beach Community Shop Facebook page.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).