Latest from Gisborne Herald

Mahanga water in short supply

Residents and holiday-makers at Mahanga have been asked to conserve water, after Wairoa District Council issued a water shortage notice. “We are experiencing water shortage/over-usage at Mahanga,” a council statement said. The statement said...

Trees on power lines start fire in vegetation

Firefighters were called to Wharekopae Road on Wednesday evening after power lines began arcing on some overhanging trees, and sparks set fire to vegetation underneath. The call came in at around 6.15pm that night, to a spot about 14 kilometres up...

Million-dollar Lotto win to Gisborne punter

An online player from Gisborne has started the year on a high after winning the $1 million First Division in yesterday’s Lotto draw. The winning ticket was sold on MyLotto. Powerball was not struck and rolled over to Saturday night, where the...

Locals fume over rubbish trail left by R&V festival-goers

by Te Rina Kowhai, Whakaata Māori A reel posted on social media showing rubbish left behind after the Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne has attracted more than 20,000 views. The Facebook reel showing rubbish believed to have been dumped by...

Chances created and seized: Roy Skuse obituary

OBITUARY Roy Skuse Sports champion, businessman and Gisborne city councillor Roy Skuse extolled the attractions of his home town, but loved getting out to see the world. For 28 years until 2019, Roy and his wife Colleen organised and accompanied...

Getting the best idea of quake magnitude

Seismic activity on the East Coast in 2023 was considered normal, says GNS Science. “A total of 1455 earthquakes were recorded in the year to date in the Gisborne/East Coast region,” said GNS Science seismic duty officer Sheng-Lin Lin. “None...

Full house signs up at Gisborne holiday park

The Waikanae Beach Top 10 Holiday Park have had their biggest days of the season to date this week. Camp staff said there was little space left for campers on Tuesday night, then the “no vacancies” sign went up for the first time this summer on...

Cruise season in full swing

The “cruisers” are back today. The boutique cruise ship National Geographic Orion makes her fourth visit this summer and was scheduled to dock at Eastland Port at 6.30am, sailing again at midday for Tauranga with its 54 passengers. The Silver...

Police asking for witnesses

Police investigating a serious assault in Māhia on New Year’s Day morning have asked for any witnesses to come forward. A 34-year-old man was knocked unconscious, suffering a concussion and facial injuries, after he tried to break up an...

Cold case murders

WARNING: This story details the murders of victims in unsolved cases and may be upsetting. Each year in New Zealand about 72 people are murdered. In 2019 that number ballooned to 131 because of the terror attacks in Christchurch where 51 people lost...

Māoridom mourns the loss of rangatira Norm Dewes

by Adam Gifford, Waatea News Norm Dewes, a champion of urban Māori, died on the last day of 2023. The Ngāti Kahungunu rangatira had lived in Ōtautahi Christchurch since 1961, when he moved from Wairoa as a 15-year-old to join a Māori Affairs...

Forestry story tops online tally for 2023

Legal wrangles and the achievements of former residents proved to be the most popular news on the Gisborne Herald website this year. Notably, the Herald’s website was down for several days during Cyclone Gabrielle. The September 7 story about New...

Freedom camping at Pouawa for 50 years

It would take a cyclone at least to send stalwart camper Tony Coutts home from his favourite summertime locale. For the past 50 years — ever since his parents first took him there as a five year-old — Tony has spent every summer holiday freedom...

Mourning sudden death of surf lifesaving and business stalwart

Gisborne’s surf lifesaving clubs, particularly Waikanae, High School Old Boys rugby and the business fraternity have been shocked at the sudden death of Alistair Thorpe. He died on Sunday, December 31, at the age of 69. Mr Thorpe was managing...

Price gouging by out-of-towners pains local taxis

A Gisborne taxi company has confirmed out-of-town operators were caught price gouging at the Rhythm and Vines festival and is urging people to “keep it local”. Gisborne Taxis general manager Tikei Bell said people were “rolling the dice” if...

First-hand experience for long-time supporter

Stuart Brenchley has seen some gruesome injuries that required the response of a rescue helicopter and, as a result, has spent decades fundraising for services around the country. But until this summer, he had never been on board himself. “I’ve...