A well-deserved summer break has begun for most people, with excitement building in households around the region as families gather and children eagerly await the gifts and whānau fun of Christmas Day. After a year of terrible weather in this...
Clive Bibby As the tumultuous year of 2023 draws to a close and while we turn our minds to a well-earned break with family and friends, safe from the constant battering that has made life almost impossible to bear, we have an opportunity to reflect...
Further to my earlier comments re the huge proposed rates increases, I note that much of this seems to have been decided — or should I say, predetermined — out of the public eye. Mayor Stoltz refers to “priorities . . . were determined by...
A big thank you to all the home owners who have lit up their homes for Christmas cheer for our citizens. It must have taken hours and days of your precious time to give so much pleasure to families at this time of year. The creativity and beauty...
While there is a lot of factual content in Patrick Cooper’s letter of December 21 (Unconditional surrender from Hamas, nothing less), it falls a little short of being objective or analytical. At the moment, from an analytical view only, it appears...
Gwynne Dyer The Burmese army is a leading candidate for Nastiest Army in the World. Even more than Pakistan’s army, it is the tail that wags the dog: rather than the army serving the country, it’s the other way around. Its record for massacring...
Add a touch of holiday magic to your Christmas tree this year by crafting a personalised ribbon ornament. This delightful DIY project not only promises creative fun but also allows you to showcase your unique style as you deck the halls. Crafting...
Mike Yardley explores Blenheim’s craft drink scene, featuring Boom Town Brewing, Elemental Distillers, Moa Brewery, Dodson Street Beer Garden, and the Scenic Hotel Marlborough. Despite Blenheim’s blockbuster reputation in the grape stakes...
Celebrate the holiday rush with an effortlessly delicious last-minute Christmas recipe: the Caprese Salad. In just five minutes, you can assemble this fresh and vibrant dish that requires no cooking. Caprese Salad is a simple, classic Italian salad...
Elevate any space with a lush burst of greenery—introducing the Boston Fern, a delightful touch of loveliness to enhance your surroundings. Boston Ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) are popular indoors with their long lacy fronds. They prefer slightly...
Woody material that remains in the forest after harvesting is finding a new home, as a result of a partnership between a Gisborne forestry company and a former logger-turned-detective. Aratu Forests Ltd and Kim Johnston have teamed up to repurpose...
A group of Wairoa stakeholders are sifting through options to provide flood protection for the district’s Land Category 2A residents. As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, Wairoa has 627 homes categorised as 2A, which indicates more information is...
More than 14,000 people will fly into Gisborne over summer, Air New Zealand estimates. Today is the airline’s busiest day of the year, with nearly 50,000 people taking off to destinations across Aotearoa and overseas. Air NZ is also reporting...
Tom Zwinnen grew up in Belgium, home to some of the world’s best footballers, but he had to come to Gisborne for his talent as a junior football coach to be recognised. This month Zwinnen, 47, was named the McDonald’s Community Football Coach of...
The reopening of Mōrere Hot Springs has taken a big step forward, with major remedial infrastructure works now under way at the site. A failing septic system forced the closure of the hot pools last summer, and effects from Cyclone Gabrielle...
This newspaper gives its full backing to the call by councillor Tony Robinson for Gisborne District Council to conduct as many discussions as possible in forums that are open to the public — while noting that this should not even be up for debate...
Meredith Akuhata-Brown If anyone had told me that in 2023 the incoming National Government would prioritise the return of government department names back to English I wouldn’t have believed it — especially when in our region the priority is...
We are visiting your lovely region and were privileged to be taken on a tour of the Kiwa Pools complex by Mr Campbell Macgregor. As we entered the building and he explained the meaning of the green stone in the entrance hall, and the interpretation...
More than 100 Gisborne claims for land damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle are still to be resolved through the Earthquake Commission. Toka Tū Ake EQC chief executive Tina Mitchell said 292 reported Gisborne claims had been generated by Cyclone...
The young Auckland solo sailor Seth van Mechelen and his yacht Luna look set to continue their journey south from Gisborne early in the new year. Gisborne Coastguard towed the disabled yacht and 21-year-old Seth into Eastland Port after the big...
The Shepherdess Muster, a first-of-its-kind festival coming to Motu in February, will be giving away six ticket scholarships to people living in Tairāwhiti or the Ōpōtiki or Wairoa districts. “We’re so stoked to have the opportunity to offer...
Multi-award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Maisey Rika performed to an admiring crowd at the HB Williams Memorial Library yesterday. Good friend, fellow musician and director of East Coast Music Tyna Keenan had asked Maisey just the week...
The next cruise ship to call into Tūranganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty this cruise season has been here only once before several years ago, and only briefly on that day to drop off two unwell passengers. Crystal Symphony will go to anchor in The Bay at around...
MetService has confirmed the weather over Christmas will be a mixed bag. Tomorrow a trough in the Tasman Sea is expected to spread some rain or showers onto the north and west of both the North and South Islands, with rain or showers to many parts...
Warning signs are being placed on the city’s three bridges to tell people not to jump from them in case they get hurt. The signs will be on the Railway Bridge, the William Pettie Bridge (Rutene Road) and the Gladstone Road Bridge. Gisborne...
A Tairāwhiti environmental research group is calling out as “hacks” both sides of a scientific argument about pine trees. This week, scientists working for AgResearch, a Crown Research Institute, and fertiliser company Ravensdown have argued...
Tolaga Bay Wharf will be opened to its halfway point by the end of February next year, the District Council says. The wharf has been closed since January, due to impacts from Cyclone Hale. At the time it was assessed for user safety and...
Christmas came early for an adult and a child sucked out in a savage rip opposite the Whales Grave at Wainui on Wednesday afternoon, thanks to the brave actions of a young off-duty surf lifeguard from the Midway Club. The drama unfolded at around...
A Gisborne fisherman has avoided being jailed for evading taxes of more than $216,000, and does not have to pay any of the money back. Rewiti Ruka Waikari, 56, was sentenced in Gisborne District Court this week by Judge Warren Cathcart who agreed to...
Poverty Bay Bowling Club members held their annual Rex Rigney Christmas Tournament this month. The event was run as a progressive triples tournament, with players in different teams for each of their three games. Two skips had two wins and a draw...
Tim Jefferd and Hiren Bhatti proved the value of teamwork on Saturday. Jefferd’s anticipation at mid-wicket and Hiren Bhatti’s nerve at the bowler’s end ensured a one-run win for Chicking High School Old Boys Presidents against defending...
Patutahi SUNDAY — Guy Farmer Trophy mixed pairs South African stableford: J Blair/H Humble 70. Men’s stableford: G Tattersfield 40, C Parker 39, J Blair 38. Women’s stableford: D Johnston 38, S Robertson 37. SATURDAY — Enterprise Motor Group...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis spent the lead-up to her mini-Budget yesterday lowering expectations, and on that count she delivered. There was a lot of politics — right from the headline on the first of six pages of press releases (compared with...
Dana Kirkpatrick MP for East Coast As we head into the Christmas holidays it is timely to reflect a little on the first few weeks of the 54th Parliament and the coalition Government’s 100-day plan. I was extremely pleased to share with you the...