Latest from Gisborne

Falcons fly high in spectacular display

A Royal New Zealand Air Force squadron known as the Black Falcons accomplished a mission to entertain Gisborne in the air and on the ground yesterday. Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz enthusiastically accepted an invitation to sit in the cockpit of an...

Sense of land exploitation because forestry 'unregulated': inquiry chair

There is a sense that land has been exploited because forestry companies were “unregulated” and “unmonitored”, says the chair of a ministerial inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa. The inquiry was set up in the wake of Cyclone...

Word on the street

“Have you been affected by the closure of SH2 through to Napier?”

Alleged theft includes a water feature, alcohol

A woman accused of stealing more than $16,000 worth of alcohol and other goods — including a water feature — from local shops, failed to front at court when her case was called this week. Krystal Kelly Love, 38, who is listed on court documents...

Friends from Japan set up prestige event to support cyclone recovery

Plans to hold a charity auction to raise funds for our flood-stricken region in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle are well under way, with the opportunity for local businesses, organisations and services to become sponsors or donate to the event...

Pardoe surprised, humbled by doctorate honour

Tairāwhiti kaumatua Stan Pardoe has received an honorary doctorate from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi for his contributions to Mātauranga Māori — an honour that humbled and surprised the 80-year-old. When told of the honour in a phone call...

Man paid more than $50,000 to keep extortionist at bay

Having already extracted more than $50,000 from a Wairoa man by essentially blackmailing him, a woman went to his workplace to demand more money. But police were there waiting to arrest her. Diane Sandra-Leah Winter pleaded guilty in Gisborne...

Taiwan — ignore China’s conniptions

Gwynne Dyer China has been having conniptions again. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan had a courtesy meeting last week with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. Beijing reacted by issuing a “stern warning” to the...

Wellington on a good day

Travel writer Mike Yardley catches the ferry out to Matiu/Somes Island in Wellington Harbour, before travelling on to delightful Days Bay. Then he goes exploring along the Kapiti Coast. Wellington had dawned bright and brilliant as I made my way to...

Peter Martin Cup on the line in OBM, HSOB clash

BATTLE OF THE OVAL. Waikohu get an early chance of a bit of redemption in Poverty Bay premier club rugby tomorrow. Week 2 of the Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay premier rugby sees GT Shearing Waikohu up against East Coast Farm Vets YMP at Barry...

Nurses to rally nationwide in ‘time of absolute crisis’

Gisborne nurses will rally at Heipipi Endeavour Park tomorrow as part of a nationwide campaign calling on political parties to address the country’s nursing and health crisis. The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) expects thousands of nurses...

Same reforms with ‘new coat of paint’: National candidate

National Party East Coast candidate Dana Kirkpatrick says the Government’s relaunched water reforms, announced yesterday, are “the same reforms, just with a new coat of paint”. The major change in the newly named Affordable Water Reforms...

Corrections workers strike after ‘insulting offer’

Gisborne Community Corrections workers walked off the job yesterday after members rejected the department’s pay offer following nine months of negotiation. Workers who are members of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi...

Locality Plan pilot hailed as ‘unprecedented opportunity’ for region’s health needs

Te Tairāwhiti has been chosen as one of 12 regions to pilot a Localities Plan — a whānau and community-led approach to health planning and priority setting which will inform future health investment. The Localities Plan, Te Aka Whai Ora-Māori...

Crisis 'upon us': medical centre forced to reduce its operating hours

The best of a lot of bad options. That is how GP and part owner of Three Rivers Medical Fergus Aitcheson describes a reluctant decision to reduce the medical centre’s hours of operation. Its hand has been forced by years of underfunding and...

SH2 south closed for 48 hours next week to fix Morere culvert

State Highway 2 will be closed for 48 hours next Wednesday, so roading crews can replace the collapsed culvert at Mōrere, north of Nūhaka. “This is a significant piece of work, but we realise it also requires disruption to people’s lives. We...

Jailed for assault on woman out walking her dog

A morning walk with her dog by the Wairoa River turned into an ordeal for a woman when a mentally ill man tried to kiss her and drag her off into bushes. The woman managed to overpower him, picked up her dog and ran to the nearby road where she...

Burials still on hold

Options considered as water table level remains high Burial suspension notices because of the high water table level at Taruheru Cemetery since Cyclone Gabrielle remain in place. The latest suspension notice was put in place on April 5, and while it...