Latest from Gisborne

Unequal impacts of plan to scrap ‘cultural’ reports

Tara Oakley Section 27 or “cultural” reports have been described by the incoming government as written by “individuals without expertise or qualifications” and as “designed to influence judges to deliver lighter sentences”. This...

Town looks unkempt, not inviting

Re the start of the cruise ship season. Great to know we are to expect lots of visitors into Gisborne this summer. It’s exactly what we need. However, can council please do something about the vagrancy and the mess they make? Can the real estate...

A classic 2023 RWC final, Jones pales in comparison

Now that NZ has had a fortnight to mourn the loss of what would have been a fourth Rugby World Cup, an Aussie from across the ditch couldn’t be more impressed with the dignity and gentlemanliness Kiwis have shown. A gutsy All Blacks beaten by the...

Contentious, not racist

Re: Talking about racism, November 9. Well, Matthew Roderick, your tirade proves my analysis. I of course am saying that racism is just one part of “the human condition” which to some extent is inherent in all of humanity. And no, it is not just...

Church leader here to support parish in commemorations

Newly appointed Presbyterian Church Moderator Rose Luxford is in Gisborne this weekend on her first “official” gig. It is a big weekend for the local Presbyterian parish with a remembrance and healing service at the Matawhero Presbyerian Church...

Kapa haka tamariki show ‘remarkable resilience’ through challenging journey to nationals

Four rōpū from different Tairāwhiti kura showed off their performance skills at Te Mana Kuratahi/Aotearoa national primary schools kapa haka competitions in Nelson. Te Kura o Manutuke, Te Kapa Haka o Puhi Kaiti,

Backpackers brought joy, laughter

Yvonne Steggall and her late husband Warwick encountered all walks of life back in 1994 when they took over Gisborne Backpackers. Yvonne chats with Loren Sirl. Yvonne Steggall has written a book about her experiences managing Gisborne Backpackers...

More to Murray Ball than Footrot Flats: son

That Mason Ball clearly shares his cartoonist father Murray Ball’s humour is evident in his just-released warm, funny, honest biography, Murray Ball: A Cartoonist’s Life. Mason talks to Mark Peters about the creation of the book. A border collie...

Massive challenge ahead for Hipkins

Chippie is back but can he reinvigorate a party that has just gone through a major rejection from the voting public? The decision of the Labour caucus to reinstate defeated Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is unsurprising, particularly as there are no...

A guide to understanding socialism

Bob Hughes Over the years here I have been called a “lefty communist” and a “watermelon” (green outside, red inside); been told I live in a cave, and that “as a worm” I would “do an admirable job” (John Fricker, 2019); and most...

Political parties, real estate firm donations, commission and house prices

Real estate political party donors will do very well if Act are able to allow foreign buyers or gift landlords $billions. But there’s really no conflict of interest eh? Really. Companies will still charge 3.95 percent commission even if the house...

Counting down to start of cruise ship season

Gisborne will next week host the National Geographic Orion, the first cruise ship visit for the 2023/24 summer season. It is scheduled to arrive at 8am on November 13, bringing about 106 passengers and 75 crew members for a day-long excursion. The...

Waihau Bay Road open soon

Waihau Road is open to residents and may soon open to the public. Gisborne District Council acting director of community lifelines Dave Hadfield, reporting to the operations committee yesterday, said the washout repair was almost complete. The road...

Rocket Lab ready to launch again from Mahia later this month, 22 missions locked in for 2024

A rare scientific phenomenon seems to have been the cause of a failed mission from Rocket Lab’s Māhia space port. The United States-based space company yesterday provided an update on the cause of an anomaly that resulted in the failed mission...

More breaks found in wastewater pipe

Wastewater works at the Lytton Road/ Stout St roundabout are taking longer than expected. The Gisborne District Council reports that as contractors were working on the repair, further breaks were identified which caused a sinkhole to develop. Other...

Errors found in vote count but final result remains same

The Electoral Commission has found vote counting errors in the East Coast electorate, but the final result has not changed. The votes were included in the preliminary count but were not included in the official count, said chief electoral officer...