KRAKOW, at the bottom of Poland is turning into a destination city, and for good reason. After a week in Northern Ireland, we decided it was time to step out of our comfort zone. So we booked a plane to Kraków on a friend’s recommendation, found...

I was interested, but not surprised, that TV coverage of the Tolaga Bay flood meeting was disallowed. Was it at the public or council’s request?Another question, after previously reporting in a Q&A forum — where the question was how often does...

“LET the Games begin” will ring out over Rio tomorrow when the 2016 Olympic Games are officially opened and it is fitting that Poverty Bay club hockey’s champions will be decided on the same day. The intensity, thrills, agony and ecstasy of...

I don’t know whether it’s just my perception or whether the election circus has developed new dimensions this year — so many promises of things bidding politicians are telling us we want — to be paid for with our money. It is so easy to lose...

The council is set to make a major backtrack on its approach to the Long-Term Plan (LTP) which will repair its position with regard to wastewater treatment and disposal commitments, and rile those who accuse it of fiscal profligacy. There was...

A RECOMMENDATION from Mayor Meng Foon to reinstate crossings on the raised pedestrian walkways in the city centre failed to attract much support at Gisborne District Council’s assets and infrastructure committee meeting. His report on it was...

Hauora Tairawhiti has apologised to a Gisborne couple and says it will review processes around how people receive help from its mental health team. At around 2am on Wednesday of last week, a Gisborne woman told her husband she wanted to end her...

Gisborne District Council is one step closer to returning land at Tokomaru Bay to its rightful owner, having issued a letter of intent. In September, Nga Hapū o Tokomaru Ākau — comprised of neighbouring hapū Te Whānau o Te Aotawarirangi and Te...

Two teams unbeaten in local competitions so far

I wrote a letter a couple of years ago complaining about the poor condition of the non-members stand at the Gisborne races. I’d just like to say thank you for the tidy-up. The seats were clean and there were no visible nails. It was appreciated...

“There is something special about Tairāwhiti, I think that we have had a really strong tradition of takatāpui (sexual and gender diverse individuals) here and for longer, says Green Party MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere. The historic meaning of...

DISCOVERERS of various aspects of evolution such as Charles Darwin and New Zealand’s Allan Wilson are now joined by Dr William Peters, who returns to his home town this week to launch the publication of his findings. One year ago the pioneer of...

REGULAR Dry July participant Tess Brownlie knows all about the anguish cancer can bring.“I've been observing Dry July for years now,” she said.“I lost my dad to cancer 12 years ago and I have had other friends and family members die from it...

A YOUNG child drowned in a backyard swimming pool at a house in Gisborne on Wednesday afternoon and emergency services have extended their sympathies to the family in the wake of the tragedy. Police and St John ambulance staff were called to the...

THE new Tairawhiti Fire Plans have been completed following a period of consultation and have been made available for the public to view on the Fire and Emergency NZ website. The plans came into effect from July 30 and cover the next three...

THANK goodness for that. We made it through another winter. As much as we all enjoy those cosy fires and indoor days, isn’t it fantastic to feel the sun?The new season means time to pay attention to our skin again as it’s had a rough time over...

The Kiwifruit started to come off the vines around the district this week and NZ Fruits is working towards the first export shipment of the season from Eastland Port on March 15, Sunday week.“We expect to be able to export around 300,000 trays, or...

Tairawhiti police have brought an extra 40 staff into the district for the festive season to help manage the anticipated influx of holidaymakers. The extra officers from around the country will be here until the middle of January.“We are expecting...

NGATI POROU surfer Geoff Pardoe, of Gisborne, retained his stand-up paddleboard (SUP) title and finished runner-up in the longboard at the Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles at Waitara, Taranaki, over the weekend. And while Pardoe was the only Gisborne...

Geordie Bull loves driving into Gisborne for the Poverty Bay A and P Show. His father Martin is from the region. He is remembered by many as a great horseman who did a lot of breaking and shepherding, and hunted the hounds in Mahia and Hawke’s Bay...

Poverty Bay have now tasted victory. The Jimmy Holden-coached Mixed Schools team won their second 30-over match at the Riverbend Year 8B cricket camp by 15 runs. The Bay achieved victory over Whanganui yesterday morning with a great performance but...

The most advanced and expensive telescope ever built is going to explore the “cosmic dark ages” and hopefully see into the first galaxies and stars since the universe came to be. The James Webb Space Telescope (known as JWST or Webb) infrared...

A WAIROA man who sexually abused two of his nephews was yesterday jailed for five years by Gisborne District Court judge Warren Cathcart. The man’s details are not being published to protect the boys’ identities. His name will now be entered on...

A man turned himself in to police after deliberately slamming his partner’s arm in a car door during an argument at Tatapouri Beach, Gisborne District Court was told. Rihara Eruera Raharuhi Maxwell, 34, appeared for sentence by Judge Warren...

Poverty Bay players will be sporting newly designed uniforms for their Ranfurly Shield challenge tomorrow and a lot of thought has been put into it. The strips will still be the traditional scarlet in colour to stay true to the region but will also...

Re: CBD parking meters. As an old hat, I was so used to the old meters, so it was time to change. After parking in Peel St outside the library, I walked down to the new meter and followed the instructions: rego and money entered, all good, pressed...

A rocket launched from Mahia last night marked a “major step” towards being able to make rockets re-usable, launch company Rocket Lab says. The mission, named ‘Running Out Of Fingers’ in recognition of Rocket Lab’s tenth launch, lifted off...

I have refrained lately from the ‘male v female' and the cultural-guilt discussions that have dominated your columns lately, as most of them do not auger for a better society locally or around the world in general. While the “British”...

From a Neil Diamond tribute to The Beatles a capella. From ukuleles to hauntingly beautiful Celtic music . . . the Musical Medley concert in aid of Alzheimers Gisborne Tairāwhiti had it all on Saturday. The fundraising event made about $1800, almost...

A brain injury survivor told Gisborne District Court a woman got it all wrong when she thought she saw him assaulting a man outside the public library. It was he and associates who were under attack, the accused, Louis Rehutai, told the judge. The...