Two of the biggest conscience issues of all for politicians, abortion and euthanasia, will be voted on in the near future. Our Parliament has also shown backing for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis and MPs are working out details, while...

Re: Sestercetennial hijacked, April 9 letters. The serial writers of both articles are well known for their right-wing, scaremongering racist views. In the early 21st century there has been a tectonic-like global shift in the way historical issues of...

People of Tairawhiti will once again be entertained by Indian cultural performances, henna art, bouncy castles and free Indian food as the Gisborne Indian community prepares to host the annual festival of lights celebrations. The event will be held...

AN update on the Olympic Pools Complex redevelopment will be presented at the Sustainable Tairawhiti meeting on March 18. Gisborne district councillor Pat Seymour asked for an update during an operations committee meeting. She noted “the...

MORE than 80 riders took part in the Poverty Bay Hunt’s 15th annual trek last weekend based at Te Hau Station woolshed at Whatatutu, with riders from all over the North Island. The riders travelled from as far away as Northland, Otaki, Hawera and...

Ambitious plans for the Gisborne YMCA include creating a community wellness hub, an increased focus on youth and redeveloping the Childers Road stadium. Gisborne district councillors received a presentation from YMCA acting chief executive Janene...

THE New Zealand Rally will return to Gisborne roads next month, at a possible cost of about $50,000 to Gisborne District Council. An application for temporary road closures to host the rally was considered by the council’s infrastructure services...

I have had a response to my letter to the New Zealand Geographic Board. Roger Handford is correct. The signage at the entrance to Gisborne is in breach of NZ Transport Agency rules. It is illegal solely because the name Turanganui a Kiwa is not and...

Committed Kaiti Hill challenger Graeme Braybrook had just completed the equivalent of the Mount Everest ascent when The Gisborne Herald phoned. Before his last push to the summit, he noted on Facebook he initially felt like Tensing Norgay, the sherp...

THE collective effort to rescue a dog abandoned at Midway Beach has been described as “fantastic” by Gisborne District Council animal control team leader Ross Hannam. After many attempts by Mr Hannam and his team over seven days, they were...

A drink-driver who crashed and rolled her car on Gisborne's “Mad Mile”, seriously injuring some of her passengers, has been discharged without conviction. Shantay Destany Marsh-Smiler, 20, pleaded guilty to two charges of drink-driving (...

Gisborne Hospital has been “pretty full” in the last three weeks. That is how Hauora Tairāwhiti chief executive Jim Green described the hospital in his final report to his board as the country's 20 district health boards were incorporated into...

SURF lifeguards of all ages from 30 years upwards took to the water at Midway Beach today in the New Zealand Masters Championships — among them veterans aged in their late 60s and 70s. The day-long masters competition included the full array of...

I watched the TV1 programme “That’s A Bit Racist” on Sunday night, with the hope that I might learn something. One segment asked the public, at random in the street, if they knew who was on the $5 note and then asked who was on the $50 note...

Writhing in rhythmDivining in vines’Tween Mary Christ-massAnd New Year timesThe town is buzzingWith out-of-town classFrom young hippie campersTo “Golden Princess” cruisersAt the busy harbourTraffic flows smoothlyBridge-borne...

Two letters on Monday (Gisborne Herald, July 10) took my attention. The subjects of parking and the rail link were mentioned. The cost to ratepayers for modern “smart” meters is out of all proportion to the benefit. The parking regime should be...

A DRINK-driver deliberately steered at speed towards a police car, momentarily taking his foot off the accelerator before crashing into it and causing nearly $10,000-worth of damage, Gisborne District Court heard. Two police officers were in the car...

B+LNZ extension manager Mark Harris had a special festive season message in his final e-dairy of the year yesterday that bears repeating in FOL — “This morning as I walked towards Midway Beach on a beautiful Gisborne morning, I reflected on what...

PRIVILEGED people have a moral and ethical responsibility to help disadvantaged children in Tairawhiti. That is the adamantly expressed opinion of White Ribbon ambassador, dental therapist, Tairawhiti Multicultural Council founder and health board...

WINTER sport continued at full throttle in Gisborne over the weekend. Premier club rugby produced a cracker of a game between YMP and OBM; the YMP women powered to a premier-grade netball victory over Waikohu; Gisborne Boys' High and Waituhi played...

?EVENT-goers used around 374,181 voice-calling minutes over the course of the Rhythm and Vines festival, the equivalent of 130, 12-hour days. From Thursday December 28 to January 1, Spark recorded a total of 202,181 voice-calling minutes during the...

SURF lifeguards have urged beach goers across Tairawhiti to be extra vigilant next week as predicted big seas generated by a passing ex-tropical weather system hit east coast beaches. Surf Life Saving NZ national lifesaving manager Allan Mundy said...

Grey Power Otamatea Inc has started a petition for the re-legalisation of cannabis, which has been medicinally used for at least 10,000 years. Many will be unaware that up until the late 1920s, cannabis was legal throughout the world. Hemp was so...

One of New Zealand's diplomatic relations is actually not with another country, but with a peculiar legal corporate person under international law called the Holy See. The Holy See is often mistakenly referred to as the Vatican. However, the Vatican...

A blanket of thick fog at Auckland Airport delayed people travelling in and out of Gisborne by plane this morning. The 6.15 flight from Gisborne Airport was delayed until just before 9am and the 9.40am flight was cancelled. The 10.45 flight out of...

Contractors yesterday began the $52,000 further “partial” clean-up of the city beachfront, targeting the considerable amount of driftwood debris between Grey Street and Beacon Street Reserve. Work is expected to be finished by Friday. Gisborne...

Gisborne District Council is working through 118 submissions for the final fees and charges of the Kiwa Pools following community consultation. The $46 million complex is set to open in March 2023, but local swimming club Comet expressed concern last...

Two historic fire bells in a specially-made belfrey are now on permanent display near Peel Street Bridge to the delight of the man who instigated their relocation project. Contractor Currie Construction started installing the belfry (bell tower) next...

Students nationwide have reportedly been complaining about doing the annual school cross-country but these participants had no problems at Lytton and Campion College’s versions this week. Recent rain made for plenty of mud and a few obstacles...

CAREERS Industry big day out (IBDO) was so successful here it will be rolled out to the rest of the country, says Careers New Zealand education to employment connections adviser Kim Holland. The IBDO engaged school students with a range of career...