Many people will have hoped that nearly three months after the land-use inquiry panel delivered its report and recommendations, the Government response yesterday would itself have been a comprehensive package of action — rather than backing for...
Winston Peters is once again in the headlines and it will be interesting to see how long and for what reason he stays there. As a follower of political trends, especially in this country, I have learned that Winston has developed a canny knack of...
Isn’t hindsight great? I have nothing but admiration for our #NZLabour Government which put Covid protections in place for New Zealanders in really tight time frames. Thousands of our peers are still here and alive as a result of those actions. We...
And so the true nature of the destruction to this country’s economy at the hands of these incompetent ideological clowns is starting to emerge, with reportedly the Govt going into full panic mode over the revelation that the books are in a $20-$30...
Many developing countries are effectively “owned” by China through its investment in their infrastructure. Now we have a political party wanting China to finance the extending and much-needed maintenance of our roadways. China already calls the...
Re: A local nurse languishing, August 2 letter. If your partner is “languishing on the couch” because she doesn’t want to wear a mask or get vaccinated, perhaps she could volunteer elsewhere. If you want to be a police officer, you have to...
The annual J and T Hickey charity sheep dog trial got under way yesterday morning at the Riding Club for the Disabled arena at the Showgrounds, with some good runs during the day. The organisers were hoping to get 60 of the total 120 entries through...
A low-loader truck used for carting heavy machinery caught fire near the Bell Road saleyards at Matawhero early yesterday morning and an electrical wiring fault has been put down as the cause. Fire and Emergency NZ responded to a 111 call about the...
Kinder weather for the East Coast is forecast, after this week’s chilling blast from the Antarctic. MetService says the next few days should be calmer, but not much warmer, with daytime temperatures around the 14C to 16C range, and a return to...
The Government response to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use is toothless and is a total disappointment, says Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti co-lead Manu Caddie. “Funding one adviser and a facilitator to the region seems like a cynical slap in the...
Studying Māori Visual Arts has been a “beautiful journey” for Bridy Rihari-Lundon (Ngāpuhi, Waikato Tainui), this year’s valedictorian for the Tairāwhiti campus of EIT|Te Pūkenga. Bridy is doing her Master of Māori Visual Arts degree at...
Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare has welcomed a report into the progress of Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, published yesterday. “The Minister of Health and I wanted to better understand the early progress Te Aka Whai Or...
Eastland Wood Council Te Kaunihera Pororakau o Te Tairāwhiti, in conjunction with member forestry companies, has welcomed the Government’s response to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use following this summer’s devastating cyclones. “It is...
The Government yesterday announced the first steps in responding to recommendations from the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use here, leaving one local iwi leader to claim none of their key recommendations had been listened to. “I cannot support...
Working to enhance the size of the roe from malnourished kina while also supporting the restoration of kelp forests and marine ecosystems is the goal of a new project involving Ngāti Porou fisheries. The 18-month Kinanomics project, led by natural...
The Government announcement in response to a damning East Coast land- use inquiry has received a fiery reception from pockets of the Tairāwhiti community.
The Government is backing a comprehensive package of action around land use in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa, Environment Minister David Parker and Forestry Minister Peeni Henare announced today..
News this week that Gisborne Holdings Ltd is not able to pay a $2.5m dividend it had previously declared for owner Gisborne District Council — following its $4.1m sale of most of the former St Mary’s site in Childers Road — was telegraphed in...
Gwynne Dyer If you are a democratically elected leader in one of Africa’s Sahel countries and you suspect the army is plotting to overthrow you, what’s the best counter-measure? Should you: A) appoint the army’s senior officers as ambassadors...
Re: Testing year but progress noted, July 29 story. Matt Todd notes “that it has been a tough year for everyone in Tairāwhiti and Eastland Group is no exception”. Although, it could be said that the employees of Eastland Group are an exception...
The National Party was formed in 1935 by conservative businessmen and farmers. For them, business comes first, then farmers. People come next. In this regard, they are dangerous. Left-wing parties are the same. Call me naive, unrealistic or any...
Four-term MP Ian McKelvie says he senses an electorate looking positively at National in election year. The Rangitikei MP was in Gisborne this week with the party’s East Coast candidate Dana Kirkpatrick, with both saying the party would work hard...
A woman’s “terrifying” experience renting a house in Tamarau has ended with her landlord being ordered to pay her damages for harassment, verbal abuse, and late filing of her bond. The woman told the Tenancy Tribunal she felt unsafe and...
WITH the government expected to update progress on implementing recommendations from the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa, forestry industry bodies say they have already implemented “a suite of sector-led measures” as...
The action started in the annual J and T Hickey Charity Sheep dog trial this morning, held as usual in the Riding Cub for the Disabled complex at the Showgrounds Park. The 120 runs will be divided up today and tomorrow, ahead of a final run-off on...
Thompson’s Horticulture from Gisborne and Ōpōtiki had a great day at the annual Silver Secateurs grapevine pruning competition at the Ashwood Estate vineyards at Makaraka on Monday. The company’s pruners came away with a stack of prizes. They...
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is calling on the government and local councils to empower iwi on the back of a visit to cyclone-hit areas. Boshier travelled to Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay this week to meet with affected communities who are still...
Barry Foster is often called on for his expert knowledge. Here he talks about the advantages of tree lucerne for bee sustainability. It’s fair to say Barry Foster is mad about bees. There’s a bee welcome mat at his front door, which is...
A whopping $377 million worth of roading and infrastructure projects aimed at rebuilding the region’s cyclone-battered highways will get under way immediately, with still more funding to come, Waka Kotahi says. The Government this week announced...
Federated Farmers has asked the Government to consider bringing back a wool levy, 14 years after farmers booted it out. The Feds wool spokesman, Gisborne farmer Toby Williams, told the Primary Production Committee last week a levy was the only way...
Just over 740 head of cattle changed hands yesterday in the monthly Cattle Fair at the Matawhero saleyards and the market had a “pretty positive vibe” about it, according to auctioneer Chris Hurlstone from PGG Wrightson. “Spring’s just...
Pay disputes between teacher and nurse unions and their respective ministries have reached milestones on the way towards resolution. The pressure to reach deals before a potential change of government to one likely to be less sympathetic will be one...
by John Wells With the Government announcement of substantial additional funding for infrastructure repairs to Cyclone Gabrielle-ravaged northern Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti/East Coast, now must be the time for Gisborne District Council to join...
Re: Alternative route to Mahia could be considered again, August 1 story. I fully support Wairoa District Council and what they are trying to do on the three kilometres of road and rail along Blacks Beach over here at Mahia. I have met with Mike...