Latest from Gisborne District

Senior Whakatane Maori academic drowns
A senior member of Whakatane's Maori university, Mark Laws, drowned yesterday at the East Cape settlement of Te Kaha.

Improved crowd control promised at music fest
Crowd control at Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines festival is being improved after boisterous partygoers forced organisers to shut down bus services last night.

Fourth officer attacked on job
A Wairoa policeman became the fourth officer to be attacked on the job this month after he stopped two men suspected of carrying out a series of burglaries on the East Coast.

East the place to be for a feast of New Year sunshine
New Year's Day is tipped to offer sunny weather for most of the country and some respite from the recent muggy, humid weather.

Crown and Ngati Porou sign Treaty deal
The Crown and Ngati Porou today signed a Treaty settlement giving the iwi $110m and the return of approximately 5898 hectares of land.

Extra security at hospital after gang brawl
There is extra security at Gisborne Hospital following a gang brawl between Black Power and the Mongrel Mob last night.

80 jobs axed at Ohakune sawmill
Another 80 job losses announced today in a third sawmill unable to profitably export timber suggests the wood industry is in crisis, says a union representing workers in the sector.

Jobs cut at two sawmills
More than 50 sawmill workers at two North Island sawmills have been told they will lose their jobs.