Pass $80m on to GDC for cyclone recovery

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The $80m Trust Tairawhiti is to receive from the sale of the electricity network should ALL be passed on to Gisborne District Council to be used for part of the cyclone recovery. Not only will it enable infrastructure to be restored more quickly and help all local businesses, but it will ease or prevent rates increases.

This should be a just reward for all the community who donated their share of the electricity network to set up the trust in 1993.

Whilst there has been opposition to the sale of the electricity network, it has been done and there is now an opportunity for the whole district to receive benefit.

Colin Sowerby