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lockout and lost key AA callouts since Dec 1 for all of 2016 emergency jobs involving children and pets locked in cars
He said parents and caregivers needed to make sure they always had their keys on them when in and around their vehicles, especially if kids and pets were inside.
“Remember to check your boot before you shut it and never give your keys to the kids to play with — it often leads to them getting locked in, and it’s so easily avoided.
“The good news is we’re doing better as a nation than we were at this time last year, but it’s important to remember that a lot of vehicles have automatic deadlocking, which makes it easier to get caught out and harder to get into.”
The AA prioritises any calls involving children or pets locked inside a vehicle.
If the situation is deemed to be serious, the AA also notifies the Fire Service in case there is a delay in arrival.
To call the AA for emergency lockout assistance, dial 0800 500 222 or *222 from mobile phones. Troublemakers have targeted Wellington’s Botanic Garden again. This time part of a student light installation called has been stolen. It was part of three installations by Massey University students, one of which was a tribute to Kaikoura after the November 14 earthquake. A World War I memorial sculpture was damaged and litter and broken glass were found strewn around
in September last year.
from acrylic materials, mirrors and LED lights, which were built into 1sq m cubes to create a tunnel effect across a creek. The art installations are part of the Meridian Gardens Magic outdoor concert series that aims to showcase local musicians and rising stars. School of Design senior lecturer Antony Nevin said the theft of several cubes and transformers was discovered over the weekend. He said the hoard was worth more than $1000. “It’s not a cheap thing for students, who are leaving university with $50,000 to $60,000 worth of debt, to have $1000 swiped out from underneath them. Pretty horrible.” Nevin said it would have taken some planning to cart the large cubes through the creek and out of the garden. “I find that’s the hardest thing to stomach, that someone’s really thought ‘I’m going to steal these’ and done that. “So, I think it really doesn’t have a great influence on how we go forward with things like the Gardens Magic.” Nevin said summer events in the capital were meant to be free and accessible for everyone to enjoy. He said the recent theft did not give him great confidence in helping to put on future ones. Nevin said the thieves could return the installation to the police station, Botanic Garden or Wellington City Council with no questions asked. — Newstalk ZB