Hawke's Bay News in brief: 1080 protest, dog mauls sheep

Protestors have taken to the streets in Hawke's Bay to fight 1080.

Fruit trees at risk

Hawke's Bay apple and stonefruit industry members are waiting to find out if they will have to burn thousands of fruit plants. A two-day judicial review in the High Court at Wellington will decide if four Bay growers will have to destroy trees planted six years ago. The group and a Cambridge-based company are seeking to overturn an MPI decision to destroy plants from a quarantine centre at Washington State University because of a potential biosecurity risk.

Camp Kaitawa grant

Greenmeadows Rotary Club have presented $20,000 to the Camp Kaitawa Trust. The money was raised through Art-x, the club's annual art exhibition and sale held from June 23 to July 8 at the Napier Municipal Theatre. Ross Pinkham received a $20,000 cheque on behalf of the trust and expressed his gratitude to the members of Greenmeadows Rotary Club for the grant which would be used to replace the carpet and some cladding at Camp Kaitawa near Waikaremoana. New carpet would also be laid in the dormitories.

1080 protest

Four protesters and a pig dog took to the streets on Saturday morning to speak out against 1080 poisoning in Hawke's Bay. Led by Napier man John Simpson, the group stood outside the Department of Conservation offices on Marine Parade for four hours. Simpson said during that time they gained five and a half pages of signatures, plenty of car toots and shout-outs. Simpson is planning to head to Wellington on September 8 for a peaceful protest at Parliament.

Dogs attack sheep

The Wairoa District Council is warning owners to keep control over their dogs at all times after three separate attacks on sheep in recent months. The sheep were killed and the dogs were subsequently destroyed as a result of the attacks. Compensation requirements and infringements were also issued in all three cases. The council's enforcement team leader, Paul van Dorrestein, is reminding owners to be extra vigilant and ensure their dogs cannot freely roam.

Car hits pole

Police were called to Porter Drive in Havelock North after 9pm yesterday to attend an incident involving a car hitting a power pole. A police spokeswoman said the car struck "a pole" causing a power outage in a small block of the village. St John Ambulance Service were called, but was stood down.