Latest from Gisborne Herald

Keeping people safe on busy roads

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi encourages people to plan ahead for their summer road trips. The agency says it can be easily done with the popular online holiday journeys traffic prediction tool which shows predicted traffic flows over the...

GDC shuts for festive season

The Gisborne District Council offices close at 4pm today and reopen 9am, Monday January 8. Urgent inquiries will be dealt with on the 24-hour line 0800 653 800. Non-urgent requests can be reported via the GDC Fix app or online request form. Kerbside...

Rāhui after man dies while rafting

A rāhui has been placed over part of the Mōhaka River in Hawke’s Bay after a man drowned there while rafting over the weekend. A post from iwi Ngāti Hineuru said on Tuesday a blessing had taken place “at the location where our whanaung...

Tairāwhiti trails ‘not just about cyclists in lycra’

A new website designed to get Tairāwhiti locals out and moving went live today. Tapuwae Tairāwhiti Trails Trust (TTT) — formerly known as Gisborne Cycle & Walkway Trust — has put together information on multiple trails across the district...

No fire restrictions . . . yet till early new year

The region looks set to remain in an Open Fire Season until early next year at this stage as the fire risk remains moderate, said Fire and Emergency NZ’s Tairāwhiti community risk manager (CRM) Trudi Hicklin. This will be the first time for some...

Community get-together in Ūawa ‘fantastic event’

The Beef + Lamb NZ-organised community get-together in Ūawa last week was another “fantastic event”, well attended and supported by the Ūawa farmers and rural community impacted by Gabrielle. It was held at Mangaheia Station at Tolaga Bay. The...

Soaring UV levels: Melting road tar a warning to 'slip, slop and slap'

If the tar seal on roads starts melting, then it is definitely time to use sunscreen on human bodies. Research in recent years has shown just how seriously ultraviolet radiation can damage the tarseal component of road surfacing. UV changes the...

UK and US lifeguards among paid line-up

The week-day paid surf lifeguards have started patrols on Gisborne and Tolaga Bay beaches. They will be on duty until near the end of January. A 17-strong team of lifeguards were inducted into their roles on Monday and Tuesday, and patrols started...

There to help, under the orange gazebo

A bright orange gazebo will be a fixture at the boat ramp on the Inner Harbour over summer. Māori wardens will be there from Thursday to Monday each week between 10am and 6pm, promoting safe boating. Harbourmaster Peter Buell will be putting in an...

Thumbs down to 11 percent rates rises

by Roger Handford A huge rates increase? On top of the toughest times for many people? Mayor Stoltz — your council is robbing the poor to pay for rich dreams. I don’t know why the district’s residents put up with it. And thanks for the message...

Time to demand better . . .

I cannot believe that this consistently inept council are going to hit us with another rates rise. I understand that rates are a must but try as I might, I can’t see where they are being spent where they are needed. Gisborne looks like a town...

Warm weather, rivers of melting tar

Can someone from NZTA or the roading industry explain why it is that as soon as there is more than one day of warm — not hot, but warm — weather our roads turn into rivers of melting tar? State Highway 2 at Morere is a prime example where the...

Clear signage very important

Re: Signs should be te reo first, December 9. Normally I do not get upset reading opinion letters, but this time I feel a writer has lost her marbles. Why make te reo Maori words dominant on street signs? Tourists need to know very easily where they...

Weather experts hold workshop here to better understand region’s needs in severe events

Three of the MetService’s top meteorologists have been in the city to better understand the region’s needs in adverse weather events. The meteorological scientists ran a two-day workshop with the Tairāwhiti Emergency Management Office team...

Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue chopper flying at all hours

The benefits of a 24/7 service were clear last week when six out of the eight missions flown by the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter were outside of normal business hours. It was an early start to the seven days starting on Monday...

'Nonsense!': Judge calls out gang senior's claims to court

A judge has dismissed as nonsense an “ageing” Mongrel Mob leader’s claim of having had a Zoom meeting with rivals to discuss Gisborne’s problem of increasing intergang violence involving firearms. Desi Lee Jury aka Hamill, 47, made the claim...

Dog found emaciated, with infected wounds

A woman who left her dog to die in a shed after he suffered serious wounds following a suspected dog attack, has been prosecuted for her neglect by SPCA. The animal had to be euthanised. The woman pleaded guilty in Wairoa District Court to a charge...

Fundraising efforts faced a 'triple whammy' this year: Wainui Lions Club treasurer

Too much water — thanks, Cyclone Gabrielle — and then the detection of myrtle rust forced the Gisborne Wainui Lions Club to pull out of selling Christmas trees this year. The pine trees on the club’s plantation on reserve land off Aberdeen...