Hawke's Bay tamariki will have the opportunity to carry a torch in a massive world peace relay.
Hawke’s Bay schools are being encouraged to take part in the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, which is described as the world’s longest torch relay.
Organisers said the torch has been run through over 150 countries since 1987, and this year from October 16-19 a team of volunteers are visiting primary schools in Hawkes Bay that were particularly affected by cyclone Gabrielle.
“The motto of the Peace Run is “peace begins with me!”, so children can feel that they have the power to change their lives and the world around them,” organisers said.
“They are symbolically connected to the thousands of children around New Zealand and the world who also have had the thrill of running with the torch.”
Famous New Zealanders that have held or run with the torch include sports’ stars Lisa Carrington, Tom Abercrombie and Rod Dixon.
International luminaries that have held the torch include the late Muhammed Ali, Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa.
The public can also join the team outside Magnet Cafe on Marine Parade on Tuesday October 17th at 3.25 pm.
They can run with the flaming torch and pass the torch to Mayor Kirsten Wise at 3.45pm at the basketball court opposite Cape View House, 245 Marine Parade.
Cyclone review underway
The process to independently review the performance of Hawke’s Bay’s flood scheme assets and river management programmes in response to Cyclone Gabrielle is underway.
The review has been instigated by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council but is independent of the council and covers all of Hawke’s Bay from Wairoa to Pōrangahau.
The Review will seek to understand the circumstances and contributing factors that led to the flooding. This includes looking at flood management schemes and programmes and how each performed, the decisions made by the Council during the cyclone, and whether these remain viable.
It will also consider and recommend a wider range of total catchment options to make the schemes and programmes more resilient into the future.
It is not looking at district or city council roles/responsibilities during the cyclone, the local civil defence emergency management response, or the recovery phase of the flood event.
A panel of three independent reviewers is conducting the Review, with experience in resource management, engineering and the law, as well as experience in these types of reviews. The independent panel are Dr Phil Mitchell (chair), Bernadette Arapere and Kyle Christensen.
The review is expected to be completed by the end of May 2024.
Award for Hawke’s Bay Airport
Hawke’s Bay Airport picked up a top accolade at the NZ Airports 2023 Awards evening held on Thursday in Christchurch.
The airport won Medium-Sized Airport of the Year.
The judges were impressed with how the airport demonstrated excellence this year while at the coalface of a major emergency response.
NZ Airports CEO Billie Moore highlighted the fact that Napier was isolated except via air immediately after the February cyclone, and the airport became a major hub for relief efforts.
Major Taihape - Napier Rd bridge closure
The Taihape-Napier Road is expected to be closed until Wednesday next week.
It was closed on Tuesday morning after it was found urgent repair work was needed on a bridge.
Hastings District Council said that following a recent inspection of the Swamp Cutting Bridge, a large cavity was identified under an abutment.
Signs were set up on either side of the bridge near Kuripapango where a hard closure is in place. Downer has also placed signage in advance of the site at the Hastings end.
There were also warning signs set up near Fernhill.
Any updates will be displayed on Hastings District Council’s social media and its website.
Troy’s Memorial Drive to help six-year-old walk again
The owners of The Union Hotel and Three Doors Up restaurant in Ahuriri will run its annual fundraiser Troy’s Memorial Drive on Saturday, October 28, raising funds for a young boy to walk again.
Their first fundraiser in 2020 raised almost $18,000 for Cranford Hospice, with funds being raised through the drive, over the bar, raffles and an auction.
While this year a chunk of the money raised will also go towards Cranford Hospice, a percentage will also go to 6-year-old Rocco Green who has cerebral palsy.
The money will help Rocco and his family receive important SDR surgery in America that will hopefully allow him to walk again.
Organisers are also calling out for items for raffles and an auction. Any item/ voucher/ service would be put into a raffle or auction to be drawn at The Union Hotel after the Memorial Drive on the event day.
People can register their vehicle at https://form.jotform.com/232288906028865
One stable and one still critical after two Hawke’s Bay incidents this week
A man in his 70′s who was rescued from a large flat fire in Camberley on Wednesday was in a stable condition on Friday. The man was transported to hospital on Wednesday afternoon in a serious condition, with his rescuers believing that he had broken arm.
Another incident in Mahora on Thursday saw one man taken to hospital in a serious after a reported assault that is thought to be gang-related. A Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay spokesperson said the man in his 40′s remained in a serious condition on Friday.
Evergreen Foundation to run ‘Hort Day’ to support growers
The Evergreen Foundation has invited 130 Hawke’s Bay growers to a one-off event to support the horticultural sector still enduring hardship after Cyclone Gabrielle.
A statement from the Evergreen Foundation said ‘Hort Day’, to be held at Tumu Timbers, Hastings, on Friday, October 12, will bring growers together to connect with each other, with industry experts, wellbeing providers, and valuable business support services.
“Each Hawke’s Bay grower will take away a fruit bin ‘goody bag’ full of practical items, orchard tools and equipment and some feel-good items to help offer a pick me up to this hard-hit sector,” the statement said.
“Each bin is worth $4000, and with funding from The Evergreen Foundation and our generous suppliers, these will be free to the growers attending.”
NZ Apple & Pear Incorporated and New Zealand Fruitgrowers Association have advised about the growers most in need and the Evergreen Foundation aims to also transport bins to growers in Wairoa and Tairawhiti/ Gisborne
Police seeking more information on alleged kidnapping
Police are appealing for further information relating to the alleged kidnapping of two children in Havelock North last week, in particular information about a mauve-coloured night dress.
A 38-year-old man has been charged with kidnapping and threatening to kill/do grievous bodily harm, and was remanded in custody to appear again on October 31.
The incident happened about 6.45pm on Thursday October 5, when two children walking in the Nimon St area were approached by a man and coerced into going with him.
Police say the man made threats to the girls and forced them to stay with him, but the children managed to escape and ran to safety at a nearby house, where the homeowner alerted police.
A black puffer jacket that was previously considered an item of interest has been found, but police were still trying to identify where a mauve-coloured night dress was taken from.
“We are also aware there were a number of potential witnesses in and around the Nimon St area at the time of the incident, who may not yet have spoken to police - including people who were out walking dogs or playing sport in the area.”
If you are able to help, please contact police via 105 and quote file number 231005/2426.
Trio set for shearing record in Southern Hawke’s Bay
A sheep flock south of Dannevirke is now being prepared for a place in the record books – for shearing.
Shearers Hemi Braddick, from Eketahuna, Dannevirke-based Ray Kinsman, originally from South Canterbury, and Flynn Harvey, originally from Kaitaia, will on January 19 attempt the World three-stand, 8-hours record for strongwool ewes at Pohuetai Station in remote rural country south of Dannevirke.
The Current record of 1611 was set by Luke Mullins, Eru Weeds and James Mack at Waitara Station, between Napier and Taupo, in January 2017.
Celebrating choir singing
Four Hawke’s Bay choirs – Hastings Choral Society, the Choralairs, Central Hawke’s Bay Concert Choir and the Hawke’s Bay Community Choir – will get together on Saturday morning to celebrate the joys of singing in choirs.
Each choir will present a short selection of their favourite music, and then the massed singers will perform a song they have rehearsed earlier under the direction of Takapau composer and conductor, Stephen Lange.
The event is part of a nationwide series of SingFests promoted and supported by the New Zealand Choral Federation, the umbrella organisation for choirs throughout the country.
The local SingFest concert will start at 11.15 am in the Baptist Church on the corner of Karamu and Lyndon Roads in Hastings. Everyone is welcome to come along to enjoy this hour-long feast of song, at a cost of $5.
Virgil for Israel
A Candlelight Vigil will be held at the Hastings Town Clock on Tuesday evening at 7.30 PM for Israel’s hundreds of dead, hospitalised, and over 100 people held in captivity in Gaza by Hamas.
People are welcome to stand in silence and in prayer.
Man appears in court in relation to Akina death
A 59-year-old man has been charged with assault with intent to injure in relation to the death of a man at a Willowpark Rd house on Saturday October 7, and was due to appear in court in Hastings on October 9.
Officers were called to a house after reports a man had been assaulted. Police said the victim died at the scene.
An investigation into the death is ongoing and further charges are being considered, police said.
Hawke’s Bay road running success in Latvia
Hawke’s Bay runner Eric Speakman has kept on keeping on by running a personal best 5km time on the seal at the World Athletic Road Running Championships in Latvia.
The 33-year-old, who has 10 national titles to his name and is regarded as one of the most-consistent endurance runners in New Zealand, ran 13min 49sec in finishing 26th behind winner and 2016 Rio Olympic Games bronze track 5000 metres bronze medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet, of Ethiopia, who ran 12min 59sec.
The championships were run in Riga, the Baltic seaboard capital of Latvia.
Recovering from a foot injury, the Napier Harriers runner, and former national 1500 metres champion, last year took leave from his job teaching in Hutt Valley in what became an unsuccessful attempt to run a Birmingham Commonwealth Games qualifying time for the 5000m, in which US-based Hawke’s Bay runner Geordie Beamish eventually represented New Zealand.
Tamatea Medical Centre celebrates 50 years
From small beginnings in October 1973, when the practice was elevated above the Tamatea town centre, Tamatea Medical Centre (TAMC) continues to provide healthcare for people in the area.
Over the years the practice has had to evolve from an ‘easy on the day walk in service’ to a ‘fully booked’ community health provider including speciality services, TAMC practice manager Wayne Walford said.
Many former staff who worked at the centre over the years are returning for a luncheon on October 15 to share stories and anecdotes from their era.
The current TAMC team will host a barbeque at the centre on October 14 to celebrate and welcome past staff to meet the current team.