Kiwigarden is a Hastings company which produces healthy snacks for kids. Photo / NZME
Kiwigarden is a Hastings company which produces healthy snacks for kids. Photo / NZME
Hastings-based company Kiwigarden, which produces healthy snacks for children, has been sold resulting in three job losses.
Parent company Ziwi recently sold the business and confirmed a total of seven people were made redundant, with four of those staff taking up jobs with Ziwi.
Ziwi operates a mega pet food factory in Awatoto and says it wants to concentrate on that industry.
Pacific Lab Holdings (based in Christchurch) has bought Kiwigarden but plans to move production out of the region. The sale was for an undisclosed amount.
Regional Council says wood debris burning most efficient disposal method
HBRC was permitted for four weeks to burn light poplar and willow left behind by Cyclone Gabrielle which could damage infrastructure if another big rain event happened in winter.
HBRC uses several methods to remove woody debris, including chipping and using the material for mulching for soil conditioning and new planting areas.
The Silt Recovery Taskforce received the ‘Most Sustainable/ Innovative Waste Disposal Initiative’ award at the WasteMINZ conference last month for its practice.
Antony Rewcastle, HBRC operations manager, said it was most efficient and cost-effective to burn in this case, about a quarter of the cost, because there was no requirement for mulch or timber elsewhere.
“Mulching as an alternative has some carbon footprint associated with machinery operation and transport,” Rewcastle said.
He said the council would continue to use the most environmentally friendly, cost-effective and efficient methods available to maintain a healthy environment, and a resilient and prosperous community.
As of Tuesday, 19 piles of debris upstream of Black Bridge had been burned in accordance with the Environmental Code of Practice For River Control and Waterway Works and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Resource Management Plan (RRMP).
“Burn piles are set back from the active river channel and are within the berm to provide a buffer from any water bodies. A hole is dug to contain the fire and ash, and only clean wood that has been left for a year to dry is burned,” he said.
“The fire is extinguished at the end of each day, and when burning is completed, the hole is covered with soil to seal any contaminants and returned to grazed pasture.”
Bookings popular for Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk
The reopened Great Walks at Lake Waikaremoana and Heaphy Track have proved popular after being closed for a considerable period.
Bookings for New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks from May 28 to June 6 showed total bed nights booked were up by 13% on last year.
”The rise is mostly due to a spike in bookings for the Heaphy and Lake Waikaremoana tracks, which are fully open again after repairs,” Department of Conservation director of heritage and visitors Cat Wilson said.
”Bed nights on the Heaphy were up 146% on last year, and more than double at 112% for Lake Waikaremoana compared with 2022 when it was last open.
”It’s satisfying to see Great Walks bookings up in opening weeks, giving more people a chance to see some spectacular parts of the country.”
Running for the kids of Gaza
University of Waikato student and Morrinsville resident Aizen Chong is doing a 326km run from Napier to Wellington, the equivalent of about seven marathons.
Chong’s goal is to raise $5000 for the Kiwi Trust for Palestinian Children Relief, an organisation helping to provide emergency aid to battle-stricken Gaza.
Chong said he hoped Palestinians knew “the people of Aotearoa are watching and care” about the suffering in Gaza.
One night closure scheduled for Expressway next week
A stretch of the State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway, just south of the airport, will be closed for one night of planned maintenance.
The state highway will close between 9pm on Wednesday June 26 and reopen at 4am on Thursday June 27, in time for early morning airport traffic.
Crews will be working on Ahuriri Estuary Bridge, next to the old bridge estuary walkway.
Work involves replacing sealant on the bridge joints which connect the bridge to the road. The sealant is used for waterproofing and to absorb movements and stress away from the concrete.
A signposted detour will be in place during the closure for all traffic, including heavy vehicles.
Traffic will be detoured down Meeanee Quay, Pandora Rd, Hyderabad Rd and Prebensen Dr, before rejoining Hawke’s Bay Expressway. The detour will be in reverse for northbound vehicles.
People can expect delays of between five and 10 minutes as a result of the detour.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) thanked all road users for their cooperation in taking the detour.
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said two people in a minor condition were assessed and treated at the scene.
Arrest in Wairoa after lockdown sparked
A 57-year-old man has been charged with presenting a firearm at a person and is due to appear in Wairoa District Court on Wednesday.
Members of the Armed Offenders Squad arrived in Wairoa and an address on Colin St was cordoned off on Tuesday, sparking school lockdowns.
Police on Wednesday said they initially received a report that a man on Colin St had allegedly pointed a firearm at another person around 7.55am on Tuesday.
The state highway, between Tutira Store and Whirinaki, will be closed from 9pm to 5ameach night between Monday July 15 and Thursday July 18. The road will be open from 5am on Thursday July 18.
Work is to allow the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) to resurface the road at Devil’s Elbow, blast rocks in the area and complete drainage and culvert work at Devil’s Elbow and Tangoio.
Guard rails will also be installed.
Road closure signs will be posted at Tutira Store north of the closure and at Whirinaki south of the closure.
Residents will have access between Whirinaki and Tangoio Settlement Road and between Tutira Store and Waikoau Road.
A stretch of SH2 will be closed next month for repair work. Photo / NZTA
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and TREC thanked road users for their patience and support over the closure period.
The agency is also aware that Hastings District Council is conducting urgent dayworks (8:30am-3:30pm) on Waikoau Gorge Bridge. Those impacted by both closures should email HDC at roadingupdates@hdc.govt.nz.
Following next month’s closure, road users will continue to see traffic management in place as recovery work continues on SH2.
This work is weather dependent. Contingency dates are Thursday July 18 and Friday July 19, 9pm-5am each night.
Man in stable condition after Quadbike rolls near Hastings
Ambulance service Hato Hone St John reported it was notified at 2.36pm Tuesday of an incident on Waimarama Rd.
An ambulance and a rapid response vehicle rushed to the scene and one patient was treated at the scene and transported to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings in a serious condition.
Initial reports were that a quadbike had rolled down a bank and that a person had received face and chest injuries.
Airport industry meeting in Hawke’s Bay
Representatives from more than ten trans-Tasman airports, as well as international and domestic airlines, Oceania tourism bodies, industry stakeholders, and partners will gather in Hawke’s Bay from Wednesday to Friday for the annual Australasian Airports Roundtable.
Hawke’s Bay Airport has been instrumental in securing the event, which will be held at Toitoi, Hastings, with support from Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, and Hawke’s Bay Tourism.
The conference programme focuses on air service development; specifically how airports can work with airlines and other destinations to attract new services, routes, and airlines to their regions.
Wendie Harvey, Chair of Hawke’s Bay Airport says the event brings together airports, tourism marketing boards, and airlines.
”The Roundtable has always been held in Australia. For the first time it has come to New Zealand, and we are thrilled that Hawke’s Bay has been selected to host.
“Air service development is always a key focus for Hawke’s Bay Airport. The roundtable is a fantastic opportunity for us to strengthen our connections in the sector and showcase our region and New Zealand to delegates.”
Attending the Australasian Airports Roundtable in Hawke’s Bay are:
Hastings Lotto player pockets $24,870 with Powerball win
Two Hawke’s Bay players struck it lucky after Saturday’s live Lotto draw, with one claiming the second division Powerball prize of $24,870.
The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold at Stortford Lodge Pharmacy in Hastings, and another normal second division ticket win saw one Napier City Pak n Save customer pocket $19,356.
Fourteen players won a second division prize, with three sharing the Powerball win.
One injured in forklift accident
One person was taken to a local medical centre after falling from a forklift in Waipukurau.
A police spokesman said police responded to a report of a person falling from a forklift on Cook St about 9.30am on Monday.
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said one ambulance took a person in moderate condition to Tukituki Medical.
Comedian Chris Parker is making his return to Hastings’ Toitoi Opera House next month for a tour focused on his love-hate relationship with his phone. Photo / Andi Crown Photography
Chris Parker’s comedy tour comes to Hastings
Comedian Chris Parker is making his return to Hastings’ Toitoi Opera House next month for a tour focused on his love-hate relationship with his phone.
In a statement, DoC said ‘seal silly season’ meant juvenile pinnipeds (adventurous fur seals/ kekeno, sea lions and seals) would start to roam.
“From June [to] September we start to see young seals begin to explore their environment, often showing up in unexpected places,” DoC Marine Science Advisor Dr Jody Weir said.
“Young seals, still dependent on their mother’s milk, tend to venture further afield during this period. It’s common to find them on roads, in backyards, or even on living room sofas.”
Dr Weir said people should enjoy observing them from a distance and contact DOC only if they are in immediate danger, such as being on a road, severely injured, or tangled in debris.
Behaviors like regurgitating, sneezing, coughing, or crying were normal for seals.
The session run by Kate Fenwick, runs from 6pm to 8pm, and costs $10 to attend. That will include a take-home goodie bag and plenty of learnings and tips to avoid food waste. Tickets can be bought online at wastedkate.co.nz.
Havelock hit and Run
Police are appealing for more information after a car crashed into a fence and knocked over a power pole in Havelock North.
A police spokesperson said staff were called at 2.20am on Saturday to an address near Lipscombe Crescent and Te Aute Rd after a person heard a large bang and soon discovered a hole in their fence.
When police arrived at the address, no vehicle was seen; however, they also discovered that a power pole had been knocked down across the road.
“Unison was notified as the power lines were across the road,” the spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we have anything to help us identify the vehicle involved, but if anyone does have information that could assist, they should contact Police via 105 and quote file number 240615/1980.”
One person is facing a charge of disorderly behaviour and resisting police after a noise complaint on Wordsworth Crescent, Maraenui, about 1.45am on Sunday.
Two people were taken into custody after police were called to reports of disorder following a noise complaint at a residential address.
Police said no one was injured in the incident, and the person facing the disorder charge was due to appear in the Napier District Court on June 21.
The other person is facing unrelated charges and was arrested on a warrant.
Shed fire in Havelock North
Fire and Emergency Services extinguished a shed fire in Havelock North on Saturday evening.
The fire occurred at a residential property on Bennelong Pl, a short walk from the Havelock North town centre.
