The 2024 Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year Field Day will be held at Michael and Karen Toulmin’s farm, Makuranui, at 231 Glenross Road in Waiwhare starting at 10am on Tuesday, May 21.
They will showcase their farm and share insights into their successful farming practices while attendees can discuss sustainability, productivity, and innovation in farming.
Elisha Milmine, Hawke’s Bay A&P Society general manager, said the society was “thrilled” to hold the event again after a year hiatus.
“This Field Day not only honours their achievements but also serves as an inspiration and learning opportunity for the entire farming community,” Milmine said.
Admission is free, but pre-registration is required, and a $10 lunch pack needs to be pre-ordered.
Distinguished gentlemen ride through Napier for Movember Foundation
Motorcyclists dressed in their most dapper attire atop vintage and classic vehicles will rock the streets of Napier for a good cause.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride involves vintage and classic motorcyclists across the world riding to raise funds for causes including men’s mental health and prostate cancer.
This year all proceeds go to the Movember foundation.
So far 58 riders have registered for the Napier ride starting 9am on May 19, raising $4976 so far.
All those who want to participate as a rider must be registered at The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride website to view local ride details.
Man missing from Central Hawke’s Bay for over one month
Earle Taka, more commonly known as Pat, is missing.
Police are still appealing for sightings of a 66-year-old Central Hawke’s Bay man missing for over a month.
Earle Taka, more commonly known as Pat, was last seen in the Ōtāne area on April 4.
The most recent public update from police on April 30 said there have been possible sightings of him in Central Hawke’s Bay and Havelock North and information suggesting he may have travelled to Ruatoria.
A police spokeswoman confirmed Taka was still missing as of Thursday, May 16 and there were no further updates.
“Police and Pat’s family have concerns for his wellbeing and urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 105 and reference file number 240416/0517,” the April 30 statement said.
Youth arrested, 50-year-old man injured after ‘disorder’ in Napier
A youth was arrested after a “disorder” in the Napier suburb of Marewa.
A police statement said one other person was taken to hospital in a serious condition after the incident around 5.20pm on Tuesday.
FENZ revoked the restricted fire season for Tararua East and Hawke’s Bay Coast at midday on Tuesday, until further notice.
Acting District Manager Jason Hill said lower temperatures across Tararua East and Hawke’s Bay Coast had reduced the wildfire danger.
“However, we still expect people to take care when lighting outdoor fires. It is important to ensure they are well controlled and safe,” Hill said.
Hill advised people to get their chimneys swept and cleaned before the first fire of the season, keep flammable items away from the heater, have working smoke alarms and remember to turn electric blankets off before bed.
Man arrested near Napier after assault 400km away
A man has been charged with assault and a firearm-related offence after being arrested near Napier, some 400km from where the incident unfolded.
On Sunday afternoon, Hawke’s Bay police arrested a 23-year-old man who had allegedly earlier assaulted a woman and presented a firearm at a Counties Manukau address.
Hawke’s Bay police received information that the man, a patched member of Black Power, was travelling through the area.
The vehicle he was in was stopped by police in Eskdale.
The man was located in the back of the vehicle and arrested. Other occupants of the vehicle were compliant, police said.
A firearm was also located in the vehicle and seized.
The man was due in Hastings District Court on Monday charged with assault, convening a protection order and unlawfully possessing a firearm.
Big Hawke’s Bay beach clean-up
Hirepool and charity Sustainable Coastlines have teamed up with local councils, community groups and businesses to bring the Hirepool Big Clean event to the Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay coastline on Sunday from 9am.
Organisers are encouraging volunteers to register for the event at Napier’s Waitangi Park on Sustainable Coastlines’ website.
On the day, Hirepool and Sustainable Coastlines will work alongside Sustainable Hawke’s Bay, Hawke’s Bay Regional and District Councils, Napier Port, Save the Dotterels and Ātea-a-Rangi Educational Trust to support their efforts to protect the local environment.
The free event promises to be a fun, family-friendly day out that enables locals to look after the beaches they love.
Everything will be provided including health and safety documents, equipment and refreshments.
Water restrictions lifted - except in Bay View
Napier and Hastings are now relaxing water restrictions – in all areas of Hastings, and everywhere except for Bay View in Napier.
Bay View will stay under some water restrictions (Level 3 sprinkler ban) while the rest of Napier and Hastings move to Level 1.
Bay View is being moved to Level 3 due to an issue in the water supply pipe that is still be remedied.
A leak was found in the pipe running underneath Te Whanganui a Orotu, Ahuriri Estuary and is now being fixed, with the works expected to take weeks.
Residents are asked to continue to conserve water where possible due to the ongoing dry conditions and no significant rain forecast for the near future, a Napier City Council spokesperson said.
Black Sticks claim eight HB players for Nations Cups in Europe
Hawke’s Bay’s strong role in the Black Sticks’ New Zealand men’s and women’s hockey teams continues with eight players named for upcoming NIH Nations Cup tournaments in Europe.
Already established internationals Dominic Dixon, Sean Findlay, Sam Hiha and Jonty Elmes have been named in the team for the men’s tournament in Poland on May 31-June 9, part of the preparation for the Olympic Games in France two months later.
With the women concentrating on re-establishing a place in the upper order globally after failing to qualify for the Olympics, Hannah Cotter, Kaitlin Cotter, Emma Findlay and Olivia Shannon have retained their places for the women’s Nations Cup tournament in Spain on June 3-9.
Firefighters quickly suppressed a fire in a vat at Burger Wisconsin in Havelock North on Tuesday.
Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman Murray Dunbar said three fire trucks were called to a Havelock Rd eatery about 3.50pm and used a CO2 blanket and other methods to put it out.
The exact amount of damage was unclear, but Dunbar said it appeared to be minimal
Truck hits horse near Waipukurau
Emergency services and NZ Transport Agency crews were called to assist with the cleanup after a truck hit and killed a horse near Waipukurau.
The incident on State Highway 2 was reported just after 10.30pm.
An NZTA Waka Kotahi spokesman said the road was cleared just after midnight.
Fire investigators are looking into a house fire in the Napier suburb of Pirimai.
A Fire and Emergency spokesman said firefighters responded to the incident at one of the units at a two-unit property at 5.53pm on Sunday.
Napier senior station officer Bruce Botherway said two fire trucks from Napier, one from Hastings and the Fenz Hawke’s Bay recovery team attended the “minor” fire in Clarence Cox Cres that was extinguished in about 30 minutes.
Botherway said the occupants had not been home, but returned shortly after the fire was extinguished.
The unit was left with heat and smoke damage throughout.
Motorists using State Highway 50 between Takapau and Ongaonga are likely to notice crews installing roadside safety barriers and rumble strips over the next few weeks.
Crews will be onsite near Ashley Clinton just south of Tukituki River Bridge from Thursday, preparing for the installation of the barrier. Around 200 metres of barrier will be installed on the southbound lane of the highway.
In addition, later this month, crews will install rumble strips on the stretch of SH50 from Ongaonga to Takapau.
While these works take place, there will be stop/go traffic management in place, and lower temporary speed limits between 30 km/h and 70km/h from 6am to 6pm.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said drivers can expect delays of up to 10 minutes as a result of the work.
Senior project manager Chris Mahoney acknowledged the temporary delays will be frustrating.
