Book supply for prisoners
Inmates at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison now have more reading options thanks to a large donation of books from the Havelock North branch of the Rotary Club. Last Friday the club gifted more than 100 new books to the site for prisoners to read.
The donated books include easy reads to target lower ability readers but with age-appropriate content; and books about cookery, Maori whakapapa, cars and transport. Corrections' Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services general manager Alison Thom said many prisoners used libraries to support their prison-based or distance learning programmes. "Reducing re-offending is our ultimate goal and libraries can play a vital role in working towards offenders becoming productive members of society," Ms Thom said.
Dog-handler makes top 10
Hawke's Bay police dog handler Senior Constable Andrew Knox and his dog Stein gained a top 10 finish in the National Police Patrol Dog championships at Trentham last week. The pair finished eighth in the 12-strong field drawn from all across the country. The championship was taken out by Tasman's Constable Julian Lewis and his dog Saegar. The teams engaged in tracking, heelwork, general criminal work, and narcotics and explosives detection.
Wairoa expands on web
The Wairoa District Council has launched four new websites in order to bring its online accessibility up to date with other councils. The websites cover the Wairoa District Council, Wairoa Centennial Library, i-Site and YROA YNOT. Each has its own design and can be accessed through its own domain name. District council administration manager James Baty said it was great to be at the "go-live" stage. "The purpose of the websites is to act as a tool for people, be it to find accommodation through the i-Site, search cemeteries on the council site, find YROA YNOT events or connect with e-books at the library," he said.
Waste management problems aired
Waste Management Institute New Zealand (WasteMINZ) is holding its two-day mid-year conference at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings, starting today. It involves about 120 leaders from the country's waste, recycling and resource recovery industry who will share their ideas and initiatives such as the emissions trading scheme and how the country should deal with car and truck tyres which have reached the end of their life. WasteMINZ chairman Paul Bishop said bringing the conference to Hawke's Bay was timely as the Hastings District and Napier City Councils put the final touches on a new waste management and minimisation plan. The conference will be opened by Hastings Deputy Mayor Cynthia Bowers and delegates will be taken on a tour of the Omaranui landfill.
Hero O'Keefe shares tales
Flaxmere man and New Zealander of the Year local heroes award winner Henare O'Keefe will be the guest speaker at the 2012 Hastings Civic awards, to be held at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings on May 7. The 2012 awards will honour seven people and one group. Nominations were received for people from all walks of life and the winners have been selected by the council's civic pride committee. The awards will be presented by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule.
Women's scholarship opportunity
Women aged over 30 are being given a second chance to apply for a Zonta Club of Hawke's Bay Area Inc scholarship. The Catherine Charman Memorial Award will give $2000 to a woman wishing to commence or continue an education programme in 2013. The applicant must be a current resident in Hawke's Bay but can use the award outside of the region. The finalists will be interviewed on June 30 and the winner announced at an awards dinner in July or August.
Entries close June 2.
For further information and an application form email hawkesbay@zonta.org.nz
