Latest from Gisborne

Powering up for a brighter future

Te Hapara School students have been exploring the wonder of energy this term as part of Engineering New Zealand’s Wonder Project. The free nationwide programme for schools is designed to get young Kiwis excited about science, technology...

Call to push booster vaccines as fifth wave sweeps country

Official figures for the week up to midnight, Sunday, show 69 Tairāwhiti residents have Covid-19. The country recorded 41 deaths from Covid in that week, but none from this district as the “fifth wave” of Covid-19 continues to strike New...

Asbestos delaying Olympics demolition

A control plan for asbestos at the Olympic Pool complex is under review ahead of demolition works beginning next year. Both the 50 metre lap pool and administration building are set to be levelled at the complex following the September opening of...

Discoloured tapwater came from older pipes: council water manager

Residents in the inner city area around Aberdeen Road and Cobden Street who experienced discoloured water coming out of their taps last Tuesday have had an explanation from the council. The issue was contained to that area. Council water manager Leo...

Bravery award for Wairoa River save

A Hawke’s Bay police sergeant has received national honours for his efforts in rescuing a man at risk of drowning in the Wairoa River on New Year’s Eve two years ago. Sergeant Willie Tran was presented with a Royal Humane Society Bravery Award...

Zambrero Restaurant double burglary suspect gets bail

A man accused of burgling Gisborne’s Zambrero Restaurant twice in one night and twice burgling a beauty business a few days earlier, is on bail again. After being arrested for the alleged offences in October, Aidan Wesches, 40, was initially...

Valves closed, advice is to not swim or fish

Gisborne District Council has confirmed the last emergency sewer valve was closed at 5.30pm on Monday and all sewage discharge into the city rivers has stopped. “For the next five days we advise no swimming, fishing or gathering shellfish in...

‘Transformational’ indigenous forest initiative to be presented at United Nation’s COP 28

A new initiative to help restore, enhance and plant 2.1 million hectares of diverse indigenous forest across New Zealand over the next decade has been announced by Pure Advantage. Called Recloaking Papatūānuku, it is guided by the wisdom of...

A privilege for region that Mātai has established here

Mātai is shaping the future of medical research and innovation. What an incredibly informative and inspirational symposium they held at the War Memorial Theatre last week, with so many distinguished speakers. Mātai Medical Research Institute has...

Go play on the road!?

Re: “Play Streets”. I’m confused. Are roads/streets for vehicular travel or children’s playgrounds? Are we now teaching our children that it’s a good idea to play on the road? Perhaps Health and Safety might have an opinion about this...

New Climate Minister needs to get to COP 28

Bob Hughes New Zealand has a new Government with a new leadership team. Sadly, Simon Watts will be Climate Minister outside the Cabinet. Unlike the previous Labour government with the Green Party’s James Shaw as its representative, climate change...

Positive read much appreciated

Re: Adversity and recovery themes, November 25 story in Focus on the Land. Page 16 in The Herald on Saturday was such a positive read. I am so negative about our next three years, so this article gave me the warm fuzzies! Congratulations Dr...

Winners and losers of election

The Labour Party lost the election decisively. I want to congratulate the three winning parties and the tobacco industry, and commiserate with the losers: child poverty and climate change advocates and our kids who will once again be denied the...

Hospital bursting with babies: October's mini baby boom

October brought 50 pēpi/babies into the world in Tairāwhiti at Gisborne Hospital. The busiest day of the month was Thursday, October 12, with 5 bubbas now sharing a birthday. Hauora Tairāwhiti gave a “big thank you to our maternity team and...

Police claim EM-bailee made use of approved visit to foil tracker and reoffend

Police claim a man given permission to leave his electronically-monitored bail address in Waihi and return to Gisborne for a relative’s birthday, took that opportunity to commit further serious offences here. Raniera Tekooti Reuben, 31, was...

Section of SH2 at Wharerātās to close for resurfacing

Roading crews will be resurfacing a stretch of State Highway 2 along the Wharerātās south of Gisborne next month. The highway between Maraetaha and Wharekakaho roads will close most nights from December 7-19 to allow crews to safely resurface the...