Police believe the drive-by shootings in Gisborne at the weekend were a gang related incident though the people injured had no gang connections Tai Rāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk told Morning Report the offenders had gang connections On Saturday night police received reports of shots being fired at a house from a vehicle on Taruheru Crescent in Mangapapa "As police were responding to that incident an additional call came in reporting that shots had been fired at a vehicle on Valley Road and that vehicle that was shot at contained two occupants." The information police had was that the vehicle with the shooter in it was the same one from the earlier incident Police located the suspect vehicle on Lytton Road and attempted to stop it ending when the car was stopped near the intersection of Awapuni Road and Lytton Road and 36 - were arrested and have each been charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm Further charges are expected as the investigation continues A member of the public saw it and called police "The people who were shot at and injured in the...vehicle are not gang members and were innocent members of the public going about their evening," Kirk said He would not say if the people in the house that was shot at were connected to gangs Kirk said it was incredibly concerning there have been drive-by shootings in Gisborne "I don't know why it was that these people decided to fire shots at innocent members of the public who were in a car...but the gang conflict itself is between gang members it is not a gangs versus the public situation that we're in whenever gangs engage in violent confrontations with one another whether that be an exchange of shots at each other or undertaking large scale brawls in public places it always puts members of the public at risk at some way or another." Kirk said he was concerned about an escalation in violence Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Midday Report the community could be assured that drive-by shootings in the region wouldn't be tolerated "The police reassured me in conversations I've had with them over the weekend that they are on top of this," she said Stoltz said it was a small group that was "misbehaving and breaking the law," and she said it was not acceptable for that behaviour to interfere with others lives Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga said the community was annoyed by what had happened "The community by and large are really keen to see this behaviour get nipped in the bud." He said it would be also be great to see family members "get in behind" and hold their whanau to account "It's not behaviour reflective of the community you live in." Police have arrested four males following gunfire in Gisborne that left two people injured New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News Two people were injured after the vehicle they were in was shot at on Valley Rd Four people alleged to be gang associates are in custody after shootings in Gisborne left two members of the public in hospital with gunshot-related injuries Two of the accused appeared in the Gisborne District Court while the other two appeared in the Youth Court Bail was opposed by police and declined for all four The charges follow two linked incidents on Saturday night Police allege shots were fired from a car at a house on Taruheru Crescent in Elgin about 11.45pm the same vehicle passed another car on Valley Rd in Mangapapa and a shot was allegedly fired at the driver’s door “The two young guys in their early 20s in that car were just minding their own business – two innocent members of the public who were not associated with the gangs in any way “They drove themselves to Gisborne Hospital for treatment One of the men was seriously injured by glass fragments Police later located the suspect vehicle on Lytton Rd The car allegedly failed to stop and fled through the Elgin area before being pulled over near the intersection of Awapuni Rd and Lytton Rd including recklessly discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm A shotgun was allegedly thrown from the vehicle during the chase and later recovered on a footpath in Elgin Detective Sergeant Steve Smith praised the information received from the public LOB Traktion and Ngatapa to start the season Gisborne Thistle striker Jimmy Somerton was in devastating form again on Saturday slotting six goals in a 7-1 thrashing of Western Rangers in an Eastern Premiership game at Hastings Jimmy Somerton scored six goals – making it 16 in the past three games and 17 in five – as Electrinet Thistle thrashed Western Rangers 7-1 in Hastings on Saturday Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United beat Napier Marist 6-0 at Harry Barker Reserve brothers Josh and Corey Adams scoring two goals each The other Gisborne team in the competition lost left back Kyran Lasenby with a fractured elbow in the fourth minute and had goalkeeper Aiden Armstrong coping with the discomfort of a dislocated finger (albeit put back in place) midway through the first half They lost 8-1 to Maycenvale United in Hastings but only on goal difference from Havelock North Wanderers Gisborne United and Napier City Rovers Reserves who went into Saturday as the sole leaders but lost 2-0 to Port Hill United both having scored 15 and conceded eight for a goal difference of +7 Havelock North have a goal difference of +9 and Thistle +17 (25 for Western Rangers scored first against Thistle when the ball took a massive hop as goalkeeper Mark Baple went down to gather it Skipper and central midfielder Cory Thompson headed in a corner after 15 minutes and Somerton added goals after 18 Thistle “destroyed” Rangers from the time of the equaliser till halftime “It looked as if we flicked a switch and for half an hour became Barcelona Veteran Shannon Dowsing played a full game at right back Nick Land played 70 minutes in midfield before making way for Davie Ure Centre back Martin Kees was back in the side Travis White joined Thompson and Land in central midfield while Alex Shanks and Wirepa-Hei patrolled the flanks Cramer said Thistle took their feet off the pedal in the second half and Rangers kept trying to make inroads Gisborne United looked like title contenders in their match against Napier Marist Their defence had complementary helpings of speed and strength in fullbacks Sam Royston and Kieran Venema and centre backs Kieran Higham and Ryan Anderson while Andy McIntosh continued to impress in goal Higham made several interceptions to nip attacks in the bud while Royston was used to telling effect further forward in the second half United’s key strengths on Saturday were through the middle Aaron Graham swept across the front of the defence and was the starting point for numerous attacks while Corey Adams injected himself into the attack at will Dan Torrie filled the big-man role usually reserved for Dane Thompson and his heading and Malcolm Marfell put in his usual box-to-box effort Striker Campbell Hall and midfielder Thompson were unavailable but their replacements fitted in seamlessly Stu Cranswick showed that crossfit training can get you through 90 minutes of football after two years out of action The first half was more competitive than the final score indicates A tussle between Marfell and right back Terrence Charamba ended in a 30th-minute penalty Royston crossed from the right byline for Cranswick to head home A Corey Adams volley two minutes into the second half decided the outcome United had the edge in all-round strength but Marist kept competing vigorously Corey Adams broke through from midfield to slip the ball past Marist keeper Dan Evans for 4-0 a Josh Adams penalty made it 5-0 and Marfell turned and shot from 18m to make it 6-0 five minutes from time Evans denied Josh Adams a hat-trick with a diving save to his right to palm away a 40m drive that looked goal-bound Marist suffered from players being injured or unavailable but produced some outstanding performances Midfielders Jackson Durrington and Riku Koyama were a class act Centre backs Luke Foster and Mitch Dick put up a brave fight against repeated onslaughts as did fullbacks Charamba and United player-coach Josh Adams said it was probably his team’s first “full” performance of the season “We took control all over the park and played some good football working it around the field and spraying it when we needed to.” Marist coach Don Butler said it was a good game for 60 minutes Boys’ High coach Garrett Blair said the loss to Maycenvale was heavier than it needed to be The boys were learning that mistakes in the defensive third often meant goals conceded Lasenby’s injury from an awkward fall in a challenge was an early setback Centre back Kauri Holmes had his hands full with Liam Shackleton and occasionally Dakota Lucas but had the physical presence to hold his own against them Jacob Adams showed another dimension to his game dropping into midfield and finding space to launch attacks from deep He scored to give Boys’ High a sniff of hope at 3-1 “We are six weeks from our first qualifying match for the premier national secondary schools tournament and Jacob has given us something to think about,” Blair said Gisborne's Pardoe and Smith make age group finals as next-gen showcase their potential Rising Stars Shine at the Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne Junior Pro Theo Morse (Raglan) and Ariana Walker (Mnt) have claimed top honours in the Under 18 Boys and Girls Division at the 2025 Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne Junior Pro capping off two days of exceptional competition and showcasing some of New Zealand’s best junior surfing talent held over the weekend at Kaiaua Bay on the East Cape saw outstanding performances across all divisions with surfers from around the country turning up the heat in clean contestable 2–4ft conditions turning to choppy sideshore in the afternoon the event delivered memorable performances in every heat Sunday morning got underway in textbook conditions with glassy shoulder-high waves rolling into Kaiaua Bay The Under 14 Boys were first to hit the water setting the tone for a high-performance day dispatching his competition with sharp turns and confident wave selection Jaxon Pardoe impressed with a powerful single wave scoring an 8.5 earning him the $100 cash prize for the biggest manoeuvre of the division Ffeon Clifford (Mount Maunganui) and London Cockerill (Taranaki) also powered through the early rounds advancing to what would become a tightly contested final and Jaxon Pardoe rounded out the final in fourth The Under 14 Girls showed resilience and skill in the afternoon’s choppier conditions Hawke’s Bay’s Scarlett Gray delivered a poised and technical performance to take the win Nami Marsden surfed strongly to earn second place while local standout Madeline Smith claimed the $100 biggest manoeuvre prize and secured a well-deserved third-place finish Alba Clifford (Mount Maunganui) completed the final in fourth Kyra Wallis was the undeniable standout in the Under 16 Girls opening with a near-perfect 8.33 ride early in the day Linking critical turns and finishing with a powerful forehand snap in a heavy section she earned the division’s $100 biggest manoeuvre prize Wallis maintained her form throughout the event powering through to win the final over Indi-Lee Ruddell (2nd) cementing her status as a serious talent to watch The Under 16 Boys division was one of the most competitive of the weekend After a high-scoring semifinal in which Remy Sale posted a 16.00 heat total—including a powerful layback and a big closeout combo scoring a 9.00 to earn the $100 cash prize for biggest manoeuvre—the stage was set for a thrilling final Sol Fritchley found rhythm midway through the heat with a stylish left-hander executing two explosive turns to score a 6.83 and set the pace Indica Corcoran answered back with a strong ride landing a critical 5-point ride that pushed him into the lead and secured him the title “It was pretty tricky out there—it actually picked up heaps and to be honest at one point I didn’t think I was gonna get out,” said an elated Sol Fritchley after the win “I just had to paddle hard and eventually got out The conditions made it hard to hear; I knew I needed a score but didn’t know how much so I just stayed calm and surfed—and I got the score The final standings saw Fritchley take the win As conditions became more challenging late in the day Ariana Walker (Mount Maunganui) and Lenka Cargill advanced through the semifinals with powerful eliminating local favourite Te Waioutu Fairlie Sage Fritchley (Mount Maunganui) and Grace Gundry (Northland) made the most of their opportunities to secure places in the final while India Kennings was unlucky not to advance after struggling in the chunky afternoon waves Ariana Walker pulled together a consistent heat executing clean turns and holding composure under pressure to take the win and Grace Gundry 4th completed a strong final that showcased the depth of female surfing talent in the country the Under 18 Boys took to the water with raw power and polished style The division delivered some of the most explosive surfing of the event Christian Fougere earned the $100 biggest manoeuvre prize for an early-morning critical closeout hack The final was packed with high-energy performances with Theo Morse (Raglan) taking the title through dynamic Tao Mouldey finished a close second wrapping up his junior surfing career in style Zade Pitkethly and Taimana Marupo filled out the podium in third and fourth The Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne Junior Pro continues to be a cornerstone for youth surfing in Aotearoa providing young athletes with vital competitive experience and the chance to shine on a national stage The event is proudly presented by Sequence Surf Shop and the Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT) Their combined investment in grassroots surfing not only makes these events possible but helps foster the next generation of New Zealand surfing champions For more information, live scores, and updates, visit www.liveheats.com/surfingnewzealand All upcoming national events and initiatives taking place around New Zealand All of our approved surf schools located around New Zealand Join a boardrider club and become part of the local surfing community Become an internationally accredited surf instructor Horouta Waka Ama paddlers Simmy Taitapanui (front) and Penny Scragg on their way to victory in the W2 senior master women's race at the long-distance nationals off Porirua last week Tairāwhiti waka ama paddlers showed they could stay the course in open water as well as dominate in sprint competition when they took part in the long-distance nationals off Porirua. Sprint champions Hine Brooking, in the J19 women, and Akayshia Williams, in the open women’s division, led home the field in their respective events. Self Storage Gisborne Horouta Waka Hoe Club member Brooking finished the 8km J19 course for rudderless waka in 48m 39.2s, 38.1s ahead of runner-up Abigail Liufalani of the Pineula club. Liufalani was also runner-up to Brooking in the 250m and 500m races at the national sprint champs at Lake Karāpiro in January. Horouta had a strong presence in the 8km J19 race, accounting for six of the 15 starters and four of the top six placings. Kaiarahi Brooking-Haapu, Cheidan Moetara and Marnie Toloa were third, fourth and sixth respectively. Moetara was the only starter in her class in the race for ruddered craft. Williams won the 16km open women’s race for rudderless waka in one hour 26m 55.2s, 3m 6.2s ahead of runner-up Te Rina Leubert of Taupō Waka Ama Club. In January, Williams completed the open women’s 250m/500m double at the sprint champs. Horouta chairman Walton Walker said he was particularly impressed with the number of J16 entries from the club. Many of these paddlers had not experienced long-distance racing or sea conditions before they started training for these championships. Long-distance racing gave them another option, alongside the sprint champs in January. Apart from the long-distance nationals, opportunities to race in open water came up throughout the year and it would be good to prepare young paddlers for them. Tairāwhiti two- and six-person teams also tasted success at Porirua. For Horouta, Simmy Taitapanui and Penny Scragg continued their good form with a win in the W2 senior master women’s race, while Keri Ngatoro and Gaibreill Wainohu, in the open women, Greg Ross and Kaye Ross in the senior master mixed, Riria Ata and Tutemakoha Kemp in the J16 women and Kyan Ayton and Kane Soto in the J19 men all won their W2 classes. In W6 competition, master mixed crew Wainui won their class. For Mareikura Waka Ama Club, W6 J16 mixed crew Puna Ariki won their class, as did Cornelius Du Preez and Jacobus Du Preez in the W2 J16 men and Jacobus Du Preez and Mereana Maxwell in the W2 J16 mixed. Both clubs had strong performances in the minor placings and some paddlers performed creditably as guest competitors for other clubs. Taiau Waka Ama paddlers also contested the W6 open men’s and open women’s events. Waka Ama New Zealand long-distance national championship results from Porirua, with Tairāwhiti connections (W6 crew members named for top-three finishes) were: W1 (ruddered), golden master men, 8km: Gordon Aston (Waka Ama o Whakatane) 59m 11.7s, 13th of 15 starters. W1 (rudderless), golden master women, 8km: Raipoia Brightwell (Mareikura Waka Ama Club) 56m 30s, fifth of nine; Debbie Horsfall (Horouta Waka Hoe Club) 58m 27.2s, sixth. W1 (rudderless), J19 women, 8km: Hine Brooking (Horouta) 48m 39.2s, first of 15; Kaiarahi Brooking-Haapu (Horouta) 49m 40.1s, third; Cheidan Moetara (Horouta) 50m 3.4s, fourth; Marnie Toloa (Horouta) 50m 30.1s, sixth; Taylynn Morete (Horouta) 51m 42.9s, ninth; Ella August (Horouta) 54m 3.7s, 13th. W1 (ruddered), master men, 16km: Aden Waikari (Horouta) 1h 30m 18.5s, fourth of nine. W1 (rudderless), master women, 16km: Vesna Radonich (Horouta) 1h 33m 50.5s, second of nine. W1 (rudderless), open women, 16km: Akayshia Williams (Horouta) 1h 26m 55.2s, first of eight; Sieda Tureia (Horouta) 1h 42m 17s, seventh. W1 (ruddered), senior master men, 16km: Dale Koia (Horouta) 1h 30m 6.9s, third of 10. W1 (rudderless), senior master women, 16km: Atareta Kemp (Horouta) 1h 42m 11.7s, second of five. W1 (rudderless), under-23 women, 16km: Melrose Morete (Horouta) did not finish. W2, J19 men, 8km: K & K (Kyan Ayton and Kane Soto, Horouta) 43m 27.5s, first of two. W2, open men, 16km: The Campbells (Bruce Campbell and Mairangi Campbell, Horouta) 1h 24m 0.3s, sixth of six. W1 (rudderless), golden master men, 8km: David Crewe (Horouta) 49m 19.3s, seventh of 11. W1 (ruddered), golden master women, 8km: Sonia Stewart (Horouta) 54m 4.1s, fifth of 12; Carolyn Hodgkinson (Mareikura) 56m 46.8s, ninth. W1 (ruddered), J19 women, 8km: Cheidan Moetara (Horouta) 53m 29.7s, first, only starter in class. W1 (rudderless), J19 men, 8km: Jack Gifford (Hei Matau Paddlers) 42m 38.6s, second of 13; Marlin Toloa (Manukau Outrigger Canoe Club) 43m 6s, fourth; Kane Soto (Horouta) 45m 19.2s, eighth. W2, golden master mixed, 8km: B & B (Barry Hyland and Bridgitte Pitkethley, Horouta) 46m 10.2s, second of six. W2, master mixed, 16km: John & Ves (John Marks and Vesna Radonich, Horouta) 1h 26m 28.6s, second of four; Kare (Rebecca Hoani and Jason Hulena, Horouta) 1h 26m 36.6s, third. W2, open women, 16km: Kerry & Keri (Keri Ngatoro and Gaibreill Wainohu, Horouta) 1h 28m 19.5s, first of three. W2, senior master mixed, 16km: Ross & Ross (Greg Ross and Kaye Ross, Horouta) 1h 22m 28.9s, first of five. W2, senior master women, 16km: Simpenny (Penny Scragg and Simmy Taitapanui, Horouta) 1h 29m 16.3s, first of five. W2, J19 women, 8km: Hine & Marnie (Hine Brooking and Marnie Toloa, Horouta) 46m 6.1s, second of three. W6, J16 men, 8km: Ngaru Moana (Horouta) 41m 52.9s, fifth of six. W6, J16 mixed, 8km: Puna Ariki (Mareikura: Cornelis Du Preez, Jacobus Du Preez, Charlotte Kingsford, Mereana Maxwell, Losiane Toupili, Maiangi Windybank) 42m 52.9s, first of seven; Kopututea (Horouta: Ana Ata, Eunacee Kopa, Ryu Maukau-Haapu, Aniwa Mikaio, Kaea Moetara, Victor Murray) 43m 34.1s, second. W6, J16 women, 8km: Puhi Kaiariki (Horouta: Riria Ata, Tutemakoha Kemp, Christibel Mackenzie, Bentley Morice-Munro, Nalani Tuhoe, Pyper Wainohu) 43m 52.3s, second of 11; Pipitaiari (Horouta: Saydie-Jay Biddle, Rhylee Keepa, Charlee Mackey, Ibanez Te Pairi, Makuini Wyllie, Tiaki Wyllie-Ritchie) 46m 0.6s, third; Hinehakirirangi (Mareikura) 48m 11.4s, fifth; Uekaha (Horouta) 58m 55.7s, 11th. W6, short course open mixed, 8km: Marei All Day (Mareikura) 46m 59.5s, fourth of seven. W1 (ruddered), J16 men, 8km: Kaea Moetara (Horouta) 56m 6.1s, fifth of seven. W1 (ruddered), J16 women, 8km: Mereana Maxwell (Mareikura) 1h 7m 13.8s, fifth of six. W2, J16 men, 8km: Mareikura (Cornelis Du Preez and Jacobus Du Preez, Mareikura) 46m 55.2s, first of three; Shacky Brae (Brae Birch-Tuapawa and Jackson Robin-Smith, Horouta) 48m 37.8s, third. W6, golden master mixed, 16km: Ikahoea (Horouta: Mihi Aston, David Crewe, Ken Henry, Whetumarama Mita, Sonia Stewart, Whitu Turipa) 1h 23m 56.5s, second of six. W6, master mixed, 24km: Wainui (Horouta: Rebecca Hoani, Jason Hulena, Katerina Ngarimu, Steve Ransby, Liz Tupuhi, Aden Waikari) 1h 57m 58.8s, first of nine. W6, open mixed, 24km: Malolo Magic (Horouta: Atareta Kemp, John Marks, John Moetara, Vesna Radonich, Jason Tuapawa, Sieda Tureia) 1h 58m 53.8s, second of eight. W1 (rudderless), J16 men, 8km: Rory Gifford (Horouta) 52m 40.1s, 14th of 29; Paeko Kemp (Horouta) 1h 55s, 24th. W2, J16 mixed, 8km: Taruheru (Jacobus Du Preez and Mereana Maxwell, Mareikura) 50m 36.6s, first of three; The MKs (Ngawhakahonore Matakatea and Jackson Robin-Smith, Horouta) 54m 6.3s, second; Waimata (Cornelis Du Preez and Riann Tawhai, Mareikura) 54m 23.7s, third. W2, J16 women, 8km: Te Ata Tu (Riria Ata and Tutemakoha Kemp, Horouta) 51m 0.6s, first of four; Cm & Bm (Christibel Mackenzie and Bentley Morice-Munro, Horouta) 56m 42.6s, second. W6, golden master women, 16km: Hine-o-Te-Moana (Mareikura: Raipoia Brightwell, Carolyn Hodgkinson, Beverley Murray, Bridgitte Pitkethley, Christina Stockman, Denise Tapp) 1h 35m 19.3s, third of 11; Hinewaiariki (Horouta) 1h 41m, sixth; Hinewaiora (Horouta) 1h 52m 1.1s, 10th. W6, J19 women, 16km: Manawahine (Horouta: Ella August, Hine Brooking, Cheidan Moetara, Melrose Morete, Taylynn Morete, Aislinn Tahiwi, Marnie Toloa) 1h 31m 48.7s, second of five. W6, open women, 24km: Kaiarahi Toa (Horouta) 2h 15m 24s, sixth of 13; Rerepuhitai (Taiau Waka Ama) 2h 33m 52s, 12th. W6, senior master women, 24km: Nga Kopara Toa (Horouta: Kerry Johnston, Atareta Kemp, Kaye Ross, Penny Scragg, Simmy Taitapanui, Naomi Whitewood) 2h 13m 59s, third of 12; Wahine Whalers (Horouta) 2h 29m 6.2s, seventh. W6, J19 men, 16km: Tamakiterangi (Horouta: Kyan Ayton, Liam Nepe, Patarana Ranga, Kane Soto, Kaedyn Thrupp, Frazor Wainohu) 1h 15m 35.8s, third of eight; Hukataiora (Horouta) 1h 35m 2.9s, eighth. W6, master men, 24km: Woolley Kumara (Horouta: Glenn Anderson, Paora Anderson, David Apelu, Bruce Campbell, Miha Crawford, Michael Kemp, Jake O’Connor) 1h 47m 44.6s, second of 10. W6, open men, 24km: Taiau (Taiau) 1h 59m 11.9s, 10th of 17. Gisborne's Pardoe and Smith make age group finals as next-gen showcase their potential. Protesters carrying placards reading “We are the whenua” and “Public works, Private grief” marched through Gisborne on Monday, calling for the return of land taken from Ngāti Oneone nearly a century ago. The hīkoi began at the Gisborne District Council administration building and visited Trust Tairāwhiti and Eastland Port before ending at the group’s occupation site, Te Pa Eketū Shed, on Hirini St. There, a pou was erected and a fire lit – actions the group say will continue until their concerns are addressed. “We will keep that fire burning until all of this is resolved,” Ngāti Oneone chairwoman Charlotte Gibson told the crowd. “It’s going to be a long haul, but we’re up for it.” She told Local Democracy Reporting the group intended to remain at the site “as long as it takes”. This year marks 95 years since the hapū was displaced from its ancestral land under the Public Works Act. Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae, originally established on Hirini St in 1852, was removed to make way for the development of the Gisborne Harbour. Gibson said a tipping point came when the hapū realised the Eastland Port shed on Hirini St was no longer being used for port-related operations. “It sort of broke the back...we lost that whenua for you to store boats,” she said. Gibson said that returning the land was not about legalities, rather fairness, partnership and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. “We want all the lands back that you are not using for your core business,” she said. “If you look at the whole of Hirini St, which was our marae, they’ve all been sold on.” Gibson said if further port developments were to proceed and the land was sold again, the hapū could lose any chance of reclaiming it. “We would lose the opportunity in my lifetime.” Previous attempts to get the land back were made by her grandfather and father, Gibson said. The aim now was to avoid passing the burden on to future generations. “We don’t want it to fall on the next generation.” They want the land returned without it being the problem of the hapū to work out how that return happened. “It always falls on us to ‘make the case’,” she said. Ngāti Oneone is calling on the council, Trust Tairāwhiti and Eastland Port to return land not essential to their core operations. Trust Tairāwhiti is the region’s economic development and tourism agency and the sole shareholder of Eastland Port. In separate statements, the council and Trust Tairāwhiti acknowledged the historical grievance and the right to a peaceful protest. The council said it began exploring how land could potentially be returned following formal requests from Ngāti Oneone in 2024. “This includes looking into the relevant legal processes, policy settings and the interests of other Treaty partners,” council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann said. “The council recognises its part in past decisions that contributed to the loss of land and the lasting impacts of those actions.” Trust Tairāwhiti chair David Battin said the trust valued its relationship with Ngāti Oneone and had sought independent legal and cultural advice to understand the complexities of the request. “Ultimately, we advised that the trust could not approve those requests and that the Crown is best placed to address their historical grievance,” he said. Battin said that because the trust was not a Crown entity, it did not have the authority or mechanisms to address historic Treaty breaches. “Our commitment to Te Tiriti is about working in partnership with mana whenua to support hapū and marae development now and into the future. “We are focused on solutions and remain open to constructive engagement with Ngāti Oneone.” Wins to YMP, GMC, LOB Traktion and Ngatapa to start the season Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk said police were called to Taruheru Cres in Mangapapa at around 11.45pm to reports of several shots fired towards a house from a car. "The occupants of the same car then fired one or two shots at an occupied vehicle in Valley Rd, Mangapapa." Two people in the occupied vehicle were injured – one seriously. Police spotted the car on Lytton Rd and signalled the driver to stop, but they failed to do so and were pursued through Elgin until the vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Awapuni Rd. The four occupants of the car – males aged 15, 16, 26 and 28 – were charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A firearm and other items thrown from the car as they attempted to evade police were seized. Further charges were likely as the investigation continued, Kirk said, adding that his message to all involved is that this kind of offending "has to stop". "We could very easily have been dealing with one or more fatalities." The group will appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow.  Four people have been arrested after two people were injured – one seriously – when shots were allegedly fired at a vehicle in Gisborne overnight. Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Police said they were investigating the incident which occurred outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa at around 3pm on Monday Crime and Justice Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Emergency services were called to the property on Mahia Rd just before 10am to a report of a man "seriously injured" Vandals in 4WDs mow down The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death SPCA inspectors found evidence suggesting Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one but one has spent years breaking the law while the other just pays a steep price for sharing his name Sullivan's four-try onslaught highlights Chiefs' vulnerabilities 36 mins ago Watch question time live as Parliament resumes after recess 46 mins ago Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student 58 mins ago Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa 1:33pm Vandals in 4WDs mow down, destroy 38 pōhutukawa trees in Napier 1:14pm DOC apologises after non-toxic pellets spark warning at Nelson sandflats 21 mins ago 1Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon Four people have been arrested after two people were injured – one seriously – when shots were allegedly fired at a vehicle in Gisborne overnight Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk said police were called to Taruheru Cres in Mangapapa at around 11.45pm to reports of several shots fired towards a house from a car "The occupants of the same car then fired one or two shots at an occupied vehicle in Valley Rd Two people in the occupied vehicle were injured – one seriously Police spotted the car on Lytton Rd and signalled the driver to stop but they failed to do so and were pursued through Elgin until the vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Awapuni Rd The four occupants of the car – males aged 15 26 and 28 – were charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm A firearm and other items thrown from the car as they attempted to evade police were seized Further charges were likely as the investigation continued adding that his message to all involved is that this kind of offending "has to stop" The group will appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow Vandals in four-wheel drives have mown down 38 pōhutukawa trees on Napier’s Marine Parade She said the council was concerned at the behaviour and said an early estimate to replace the damage came to $20,000 "These trees were planted for our community by the Rotary Club as a gift over the past five years," Wise said "There are lots of community groups who work alongside us to make sure Napier has places and spaces that are beautiful and welcoming and Rotary is a key partner in projects like this one "It is heartbreaking to see community resources time and energy treated in this way," she said "The damage was done by people in 4WD vehicles after removing the vehicle barriers and driving over the trees Our parks' team is looking closely at the cost to replace them and at how to ensure the trees are kept safe." recently erected along Marine Parade to keep vehicles off the beach but there was no evidence to suggest the vandalism was related to that to be installed from the National Aquarium of NZ to the Pump Track were to prevent vehicles from tearing up the grass and destroying trees fishermen profiled in a Hawke’s Bay Today article last week said it was a case of blocking their access to prevent "idiots" "It’s not going to stop the idiots doing the damage," one noted Napier City Council has reported the incident to police Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air A Southland man whose dog was found starved to death has been sentenced to community work was found dead in his kennel by Invercargill City Council Animal Control officers in June 2023 SPCA inspectors executed a search warrant and found evidence which suggested Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" with a rusty chain He was prosecuted for failing to seek veterinary care for the severely malnourished dog The ground Mike was restricted to was described as "worn down" "His body was in extremely poor condition and pelvis were clearly visible," SPCA said A post-mortem confirmed the dog had the lowest possible body condition score which suggested Mike had been starved over several weeks His stomach and intestines were "almost entirely empty" The offender admitted he had not checked on the dog for "about a week" The man claimed he had not contacted a vet or the SPCA because he could not afford to do so He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service at the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to the treatment of Mike He was also ordered to pay reparations of $233.88 for veterinary costs and $500 towards legal costs He was disqualified from owning dogs for a period of five years SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Mike's death was the result of neglect that could have been avoided This case is a clear reminder that if an animal is unwell It’s a basic responsibility of pet ownership,” he said He said prolonged tethering was "unacceptable and heartbreaking", which was why the SPCA advocated for new regulations that would be released later this year "The prolonged tethering of dogs is an issue that our inspectors deal with daily While it is difficult to gather accurate numbers it is safe to say this issue impacts the lives of thousands of dogs in New Zealand." Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said in April that the new regulations would give animal welfare inspectors the tools to intervene quickly when dogs are suffering harm from being tied up for long periods Hoggard said he had "been hearing a lot from members of the public" who want to see action taken" on the issue of dog chaining "Most dog owners in New Zealand treat their animals well and these regulations will have little to no impact upon them," he said "I’m confident these regulations will result in better outcomes for those dogs "We have a few steps to follow to get these proposals ready to become law but it is my expectation that these will be finalised by the end of the year That will be followed by a short period with a focus on education so that all dog owners understand their obligations and to allow those who need to make changes time to adapt." The changes agreed on through Cabinet included: A law change was first proposed and consulted on two years ago Nearly 30,000 people signed a petition to Parliament on the issue in 2021 Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate The Chiefs are putting their faith in first-five Damian McKenzie recovering from a hand injury in time to play the Crusaders in what is a pivotal game in Christchurch on Saturday But just as important to the Super Rugby Pacific leaders will be improving a defence which leaked 26 unanswered points in the second half of their 35-17 defeat to the Hurricanes It was an uncharacteristic defensive lapse by a usually highly consistent side who retained their place at the top of the table thanks to their superior points differential compared with the Crusaders the Chiefs face Moana Pasifika in Hamilton and the Highlanders in Dunedin in the run in to the playoffs – games very much in the winnable category although the former have surprised a few this season The Crusaders’ run-in features the Waratahs in Sydney the Highlanders in Christchurch and a potentially difficult trip to Canberra to play the third-placed Brumbies Every team has looked vulnerable at times this season The Crusaders’ two losses came against the Chiefs in Hamilton and a shock defeat to Moana Pasifika — both heavy although they did escape a Hurricanes’ comeback in Wellington in round nine They also needed two James O’Connor penalties in the final 10 minutes to beat the Blues a week later But the Chiefs’ downfall at the weekend was as unexpected as it was spectacular after they led 17-9 at the break Replacement wing Bailyn Sullivan made history when scoring all four of the Hurricanes’ tries after the break as the home side too easily unlocked the Chiefs’ defence via a long pass a break through Cortez Ratima and Shaun Stevenson close to the line an excellent wide cross-kick by Ruben Love and a shorter grubber kick by Riley Higgins Getting McKenzie back on the field after he missed the last two weekends for the Chiefs will be important for their game management but a Crusaders attack that ran in six tries against the Highlanders last time out will threaten them in different ways the Crusaders may be without All Black Will Jordan Jordan has played in all 10 Crusaders matches this season and head coach Rob Penney has been guarded about Jordan's rest plan of his All Blacks No.10 McKenzie: “Everything's tracking in the direction that he should be available but we won't count our chickens before they hatch.” the defending champion Blues must win in Suva against the Drua to force their way back into the playoffs mix after being overtaken for the sixth and final spot by Moana Pasifika Moana Pasifika beat the Highlanders 34-29 in Dunedin – their first win over the southerners in another Ardie Savea-inspired performance The Department of Conservation has apologised to Nelson City Council and members of the public after non-toxic pellets left behind following a drone trial sparked concern among residents who believed them to be poisonous The incident unfolded following a drone-based experiment conducted last week at the Wakapuaka sandflats located northeast of Nelson DOC terrestrial biodiversity director Hilary Aikman said the trial was part of an ongoing study to test the effectiveness of aerial detection methods "They used non-toxic pellets for this research dyed blue to make them easier to see," she said a drone was used to photograph the area where the pellets lay leading to a member of the public walking their dog reporting them to Nelson City Council on Monday The council issued a warning shortly before 3pm yesterday that green or blue poisonous pellets which were "highly toxic" to animals and humans had been located in the area "There is no indication of how they got there and the matter has been reported to the police," said community services group manager Andrew White in a statement to 1News last night once DOC had clarified the origin and nature of the pellets the council said this morning that the issue had been resolved "The area is safe for recreational users and dog walkers." Aikman said DOC would like to apologise to Nelson City Council and members of the public "We acknowledge the non-toxic pellets should have been removed on the day of the trial and we made an error in judgement by leaving them there." The team would remove any pellets remaining in the area today The government is making it harder to make a claim for pay equity that will cut costs There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and resthome workers Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced the moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim on Tuesday saying changes back in 2020 had created problems "Claims have been able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation and there have been very broad claims where it is difficult to tell whether differences in pay are due to sex-based discrimination or other factors." Claims were concentrated in the public sector with costs to the Crown of all settlements so far totalling $1.78 billion a year "The changes I am proposing will significantly reduce costs to the Crown," she said "The changes will discontinue current pay equity claims." Van Velden told Midday Report she believes in pay equity but the current thresholds were "a bit too loose" Asked how she ensure women were not hurt by this the minister said "I'm a woman and I support women who work" "I also support removing gender based discriminations from our workforces but what I don't support are muddied laws and unclear laws," she said "So these changes are better for all women who are working where we can genuinely say hand on heart that what they are finding with their claims is genuine gender based discrimination." Van Velden told reporters at Parliament any current claims would be stopped and need to restart under the new threshold to show "genuine" gender discrimination and make sure the comparators were right She gave a figure of 33 current claims that would be stopped as the legislation was put through under urgency "You have librarians who've been comparing themselves to transport engineers We have admin and clerical staff at Health New Zealand comparing themselves to mechanical engineers." Social workers had compared themselves to air traffic controllers "We don't believe we have that setting right." Any comparison would now be between female employees and male employees at the same employer "But you cannot go fishing for discrimination across the New Zealand workforce." All current settled claims would continue but the government was drawing "a line in the sand" "We're not stopping claims." The nurse's union has this year had at least 10 pay equity claims in play The PSA union has said pay equity claims and settlements had resulted in significant improvements in pay and working conditions for many workers The union said the changes would make it "impossible for people in female-dominated professions to be paid fairly" "Women across the country will pay the price for this," PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said "The government's changes today are a dark day for New Zealand women as the government says it will repeal the pay equity law and extinguish 33 existing claims in a constitutional overreach "The PSA is exploring all possible avenues to oppose these unconstitutional amendments and stop this attack on women We will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all." "This is a blatant and shameful attack on women," New Zealand Nurses organisation chief executive Paul Goulter said "Women in workforces predominantly performed by female employees have been underpaid and undervalued for generations That is what pay equity claims seek to rectify," he said "This move by the government will widen the pay gap between men and women." The union had at least 10 pay current pay claims across Aged Care These cover many nurses and support workers The E tū union also called the changes an attack on women and a green light to pay them less for work of equal value The government was pulling the rug out from under a 13-year-long fight in aged care "These changes are not about evidence — they are about saving money by keeping women underpaid," national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said in a statement A number of unions have called a snap rally at Parliament at 1pm today in light of the announcement the Council of Trade Unions and representatives of other unions say they will be "protesting the government's attack on women and the destruction of progress on pay equity..." rnz.co.nz Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Tairāwhiti Museum exceeded its 2023-2024 target of 45,000 visitors with 47,480 visitors Concerns have been raised over the debt and financial performance of Tairāwhiti Museum Gisborne Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga says its value to the community must not be overlooked He spoke at a recent Finance and Performance Committee meeting where the museum’s audited 2023-2024 annual report was presented the museum exceeded its visitor target of 45,000 attracting 47,480 people and achieving an 87% approval rating in the council’s residents’ survey Mayor Rehette Stoltz acknowledged the museum’s financial pressures saying it grappled with rising costs “like everybody else” She described the museum as “a little gem” councillor Colin Telfer raised concern about a $158,995 deficit for the year He noted that wage costs had increased by $130,000 – nearly equal to the annual shortfall – and said the museum was “basically” relying on its cash reserves Councillor Larry Foster called the museum a significant regional asset but questioned its declining retail revenue of $12,000 “There must be opportunities to enhance your retail [revenue] with that many customers coming through your door,” he said Foster also queried the low rental for the onsite cafe – $7200 a year or $138.50 a week – describing it as a “pretty cheap rental” and effectively a subsidy he acknowledged the cafe added to the museum experience “I know a cafe really enhances the whole environment of the museum calling it one of the country’s top regional museums He said it would be nice not to be losing so much money but he acknowledged that the organisation was not intended to be a profit-making one Councillor Colin Alder expressed concern over the rising wage bill and the purchase of a $30,000 vehicle He said the museum should consult the council before making operational spending decisions While Alder praised the quality of the cafe he questioned whether its contract should go out to tender Councillor Ani Pahuru-Huriwai defended the vehicle purchase She praised the museum for its inclusive engagement with artists and mana whenua across the region Councillor Aubrey Ria said the council could offer suggestions but should be cautious about directing the museum’s spending “Council has no expertise in the functions of a museum,” she said Councillor Debbie Gregory said the new cafe contract had “made a huge difference” and described it as “a great cafe” council chief executive Nedine Thatcher-Swann said the museum’s new lease had not yet been signed That would be needed before any progress could be made on repairing the museum’s roof which council cultural activities manager Pene Walsh said leaked “on occasion” the museum hosted 885 students from 73 schools and early childhood centres through Ministry of Education-funded programmes valued at $164,380 Exhibitions in 2023–2024 featured works by 102 local and national artists These included four group shows and 11 solo exhibitions all by artists with strong ties to the region Nine temporary exhibitions had a strong Toi Māori focus reflecting the museum’s commitment to Māori art and culture Major temporary exhibitions included He Kākahu Rerehua and Millard Studio The museum reported total revenue of $1,287,921 with $292,581 from donations and fundraising and $985,538 from services including $915,478 for volunteer and employee costs and $397,201 in service-related costs The museum reported total accumulated funds of $3,286,985 One vacancy remains on the museum’s board of trustees for a Gisborne District Council representative The hīkoi walked from Gisborne District Council offices Gisborne locals and health workers marched to Heipipi Park where speakers highlighted what they say is a regional health crisis The owners of Zest Cafe estimate they lost $8000 worth of goods in the burglary shortly before Christmas A seal lazily floating down Waimata River reminded Char Tawera of the (much larger) elephant seal Homer who famously visited Gisborne more than two decades ago The Townley's Building and former West Lake Hotel in Gisborne has marked a major milestone in its renovation journey with seismic strengthening now completed The seismic strengthening of the former West Lake Hotel has been completed marking a major milestone in restoring one of Gisborne’s historic landmarks With its roots deeply woven into the city’s architectural and cultural story the West Lake Hotel (Townley’s Building) has long stood as a testament to Gisborne’s rich heritage Christchurch-based property development company BME Group bought the property in July last year with plans to give the building a major makeover The company aims to lead the charge to breathe new life into the city centre It also wants the public’s help deciding what that transformation looks like In a creative move to engage the community BME Capital is launching a “Colour Palette Competition” inviting locals to submit their best external paint colour combinations for the iconic building The chosen winner will not only see their colour palette brought to life on the historic facade – they’ll also win a $1000 cash prize “This building has always been a part of Gisborne’s story,” says BME group director Slade Hocking “We believe it should reflect the heart and creativity of the community too That’s why we’re handing over the design reins – at least when it comes to the colour.” The revitalisation doesn’t stop with a new coat of paint BME Group will begin renovations on the upper floors of the building to develop a versatile collection of office spaces designed to become a vibrant central hub for local businesses and professionals Those interested in tenancy or investment opportunities are encouraged to contact BME Group directly BME Group’s mission is to revitalise Gisborne’s city centre – one building at a time To enter the competition, simply visit www.bmecapital.co.nz and click on the “West Lake Revival” tab Meg Stewart and Dame Ingrid Collins with the new memorial headstone of Agnes and Francis Scott A moving ceremony was held at Taruheru Cemetery on Sunday at the unveiling of a memorial headstone for suffragist Agnes Scott and her husband Francis Scott has been described as an “earnest social worker” and was the first woman member of the Cook Hospital board in 1925 which had been organised by the Agnes Scott Memorial Committee Gisborne Hospital chaplain Reverend Patsy Ngata-Hills led the proceedings while Jan Crawford spoke of the importance of honouring a woman who had made such a meaningful contribution to Gisborne Group director operations at Gisborne Hospital John Swiatczak focused on the health emphasis to Scott’s compassionate work and her role as the first woman elected to the hospital board in Gisborne Historian Jean Johnston said it was wonderful to commemorate someone who had been a formidable force in Gisborne but had been forgotten in the history of Tairāwhiti and lay in an unmarked grave in Taruheru cemetery Johnston featured Scott in her book Ambitious Gisborne Women – The organisations they established and their impact on Tairawhiti 1875-1929 and had discovered her unmarked grave while carrying out research It was the book that had prompted the idea to create the memorial headstone and the fundraising committee was formed to make it happen The gathering began at Stonehaven on Nelson Rd where people were given a service sheet and then followed piper Robert Hunter from the Gisborne Highland Pipe Band to the graveside Dame Ingrid Collins and hospital kaumatua Owen Lloyd removed the tartan fabric that covered the headstone The ceremony finished with the singing of Te Whakaaria Mai A Scottish-themed afternoon tea was provided by the Gisborne Women’s Institute before the unveiling ceremony Scott was the first woman elected to the Cook Hospital Board 100 years ago The former nurse was also part of the Gisborne Women’s Political Association secretary of the Cook County Woman’s Guild and a trustee of the town’s first children’s creche which was later named the Heni Materoa Children’s Home Her name and address can be found on the 1892 Gisborne Suffrage petition A strategic political worker in support of the liberal cause she joined forces with and supported Margaret Home Sievwright when she addressed more than 200 women prior to Gisborne women voting for the first time in the parliamentary elections on November 28 Her catchphrase to any visiting politician was “just push us forward” Four people have been arrested in Gisborne after gunshots were fired at a house and a car late last night Police were called to Taruheru Crescent in Mangapapa at around 11.45pm after reports of several shots being fired at a house from a car Tairāwhiti Area Commander Danny Kirk said the occupants of the same car then fired one or two shots at another car in Valley Rd in Mangapapa Police located the car in Lytton Rd and signalled for the driver to stop but he fled Kirk said police pursued the car through the Elgin area before pulling it over near the intersection of Awapuni Rd and Lytton Rd There were four people in the car – males aged 15 They have been charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm Police had also seized a firearm and other items thrown from the car during the police chase “My message to all involved in this kind of offending is that this has to stop,” Kirk said “Two people were injured as a result of the shots fired at the house – one seriously – and we could very easily have been dealing with one or more fatalities.“ “I want to acknowledge my frontline officers who made a conscious decision to put themselves in harm’s way to apprehend those involved in this senseless violence.” The four people who were arrested will appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow *This story has been updated after police corrected an earlier statement that the injured people were in a house 'The team have nailed it – it’s a strategy that everyone can understand.' Gisborne District Council has put out a plea for information about the locations of the moth plant in the district evergreen climbing vine with milky sap that bleeds from all damaged parts,” the council said “Moth plants grow up to 10m high very quickly and will completely smother and overtop shrubs “It’s commonly spotted by its flowers from December to May and establishes in almost any frost-free habitat Contact the council if you have information about where it’s growing YMP forward Niko Lauti goes over for a try in a Poverty Bay Premier club rugby game at Barry Park YMP defeated Tapuae 28-12 – Tapuae's first taste of defeat since entering the competition last year and going through the season unbeaten In Gisborne, Gisborne Boys’ High School First XV beat Manukura School 60-5.(James McKay 3 Symes con) Manukura School 5 (Lahmond O’Connell try) Te Pae Hākari Poverty Bay men’s senior club competition East Coast Farm Vets YMP 28 (Shayde Skudder Taine Aupouri tries; Kelvin Smith 4 con) Kahu Scaffolding Tapuae 12 (Keanu Taumata Ethine Reeves tries; Paoraian Manuel-Harman con) Larsawn Ngātapa 3 (Tim Haldane penalty) Enterprise Cars OBM 15 (Inosa Qativi junior Kevin Hollis Glass Tūranga Pirates 8 (Soane Fifita try; Avia Ropati pen) Earthwork Solutions High School Old Boys 62 (Te-Reimana Gray 3 Taste One Most Valuable Player awards: Anthony Karauria (YMP) Charteris Choppers Wairoa Athletic 22 (Sid Drinkrow Turuki Tahuri tries; George Twigley con) Tamatea R & M YMP Bumbles 7 (Rapana Ngaau try; L.J Nūhaka V8s def Earthwork Solutions HSOB by default Players of the day: Daniel Knubley (Wairoa Athletic) Sharn Down tries; Paku Hiko con) YMP 5 (Ata Mangu try) Players of the day: Sheldyn Campbell (Tapuae) Police believe a shooting in Gisborne on Saturday night was gang-related but the two people injured were innocent members of the public Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz spoke to Charlotte Cook See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes Four people have been arrested after firearms in Gisborne late Saturday night that left two people injured Police said shots were first reported around 11.45pm on Taruheru Crescent in Mangapapa where gunfire was allegedly directed at a house from a passing vehicle someone in the same vehicle is believed to have fired one or two rounds at an occupied car on Valley Road Officers also recovered a firearm and other items that were reportedly thrown from the car during the chase "My message to all involved in this kind of offending is that this has to stop," Inspector Danny Kirk said "Two people were injured as a result of the shots fired.. and we could very easily have been dealing with one or more fatalities." Kirk commended the bravery of frontline officers "who made a conscious decision to put themselves in harm's way to apprehend those involved in this senseless violence" The four accused were due to appear in Gisborne District Court on Monday An earlier version of this article incorrectly cited a police statement which said the two people injured were in a house on Taruheru Crescent Police later said the injuries occurred in connection with the shots fired at a vehicle on Valley Road Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday other health professionals and combined trade union members will hīkoi from Gisborne's CBD to Heipipi/Endeavour Park to hear about staffing and funding issues in the workforce Concerns about funding and staffing levels have led to health professionals taking their case to the Gisborne public on Thursday A hīkoi titled Fight Back for Health and a public meeting are being held in the CBD Health workers will march from the Derby St-Gladstone Rd intersection at 11.30am to Heipipi/Endeavour Park where several speakers will speak about what they see as a health crisis Nurses will provide health checks at the park from 10.30am NZ Combined Trade Unions is holding a nationwide Day of Action on Thursday and will also take part in the Gisborne meeting at Heipipi/Endeavour Park Among its speakers will be Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tairāwhiti delegate Christine Warrander told the Gisborne Herald that nurses continued to be frustrated “The hospital is short-staffed and patients are not getting the care they deserve Warrander said the health sector speakers at the hīkoi would highlight to the public “how bad things are actually getting” Patients were not able to get to outpatient appointments and were suffering as a result Locum services were expensive to provide and weather dependent Locum specialists could not fly into Gisborne if the weather was bad Staffing levels in Ward 5 at Gisborne Hospital were good but recently recruited overseas nurses were starting to look at better pay and conditions available in Australia Warrander described staffing levels in the Emergency Department (ED) as “pretty bad on some days” and getting worse because no GP after-hours service was available in Gisborne Some ED patients were presenting later than they should They’re staying at home later and coming in sicker and requiring a lot more care.” There also continued to be people presenting at ED when they should be going to a GP Doctors were stretched through no fault of their own a couple [of doctors] are trying to run the entire hospital.” More workload was being put on stressed nurses to pick up the slack “Some nurses don’t have the experience to do that but sometimes you’ve just got to do what you can Warrander said the hospital had to speed up its recruitment process “Often we see someone who is perfect for a job A nurse spoken to by the Gisborne Herald under the condition of anonymity said there had been no follow-up or visit after senior doctors had written to the Government about their 44% vacancy rate at Gisborne Hospital Another nurse told the Herald – also anonymously – that doctors were exhausted and nurses were frustrated and tired Group director of operation for Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti John Swiatczak said he acknowledged the concerns raised by clinical staff and those joining Thursday’s hīkoi “It speaks to the importance of our health services in Gisborne and how engaged and supportive our communities are,” Swiatczak said Health NZ was committed to the Tairāwhiti recruitment plan “to ensure we increase the permanent workforce” “The national and international recruitment drive is achieving positive results with a number of international doctors working here and more to come “Our priority is always to support our Gisborne Hospital teams and to ensure our communities receive the level of healthcare they require.” senior doctors who are members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) will also go on strike for an unprecedented 24 hours over pay and staffing levels they are holding a public meeting at the House of Breakthrough on Thursday night from 7-8.30pm Gisborne senior doctor Alex Raines told the Gisborne Herald doctors had not taken the decision to strike lightly “We love living in Tairāwhiti and we want to provide excellent care for our community.” Swiatczak said he wanted to assure people that plans were in place to ensure the continued delivery of hospital services despite the senior doctors’ strike “Our hospital and emergency department will remain open during the strike action and other clinical staff will still be available to provide health services for those who need them.” Students from Ngata Memorial College performed a waiata after principal Peter Heron was sworn in as a justice of the peace (JP) at the Gisborne courthouse Heron and Gisborne District Council environmental health officer Rosita Singh were sworn in at the same ceremony by resident Judge Haamiora Raumati Ruatōria has not had an active JP since April 2024 when Paul Sollitt passed away after a brief illness It was fantastic to get another JP (Heron) on the East Coast Gisborne Justices’ of the Peace Association president Mark van Wijk said The association is trying to increase the number of JPs serving Wairoa and the East Coast Van Wijk said interviews were being held for new JPs to serve Rangitukia-Tikitiki and Wairoa JPs served on a voluntary basis and were dedicated to providing a valued community service The Gisborne Justices of the Peace Association/Te Kahui Pou Whakatau Ture o Aotearoa ki Tairāwhiti has 80 members and offers JP services covering an area from Kotemaori (153km south of Gisborne) to Pōtaka (145km north) and including Matawai The public can find a JP in their area at https://justiceofthepeace.org.nz Williams Library each Thursday between 9am and 11am and at TaiTech in the Kaiti Hub from 10am to 12 noon each Wednesday Appointments to see a JP can be made at Evans Funeral Service Ngāti Oneone chairwoman Charlotte Gibson says they will “fight for the right” to have their land returned and is calling for people to attend a hīkoi and occupation next week A Gisborne hapū has declared it “will fight for the right” to have its lands returned Ngāti Oneone is to hold a hīkoi and occupation next week This year marked 95 years of Ngāti Oneone being displaced from its mana whenua lands Ngāti Oneone hapū chairwoman Charlotte Gibson said The occupation will be at Te Pā Eketū Shed on Hirini St the hīkoi will start at the Gisborne District Council administration building in Fitzherbert St head towards Trust Tairāwhiti and finish at Eastland Port offices The hapū’s Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae (1852) and pā were originally established on Hirini Street but were removed to develop the Gisborne harbour area under the Public Works Act Trust Tairāwhiti and Eastland Port (a commercial arm of Trust Tairāwhiti) to return land that is not in use Trust Tairāwhiti is Tairāwhiti’s regional economic development agency and regional tourism organisation under a funding partnership with the council Ngāti Oneone is holding a hui on Sunday at 2pm at the Te Pa Eketū Shed to discuss the hīkoi and occupation Eastland Port and Trust Tairāwhiti have been approached for comment The team at Gisborne Engineering have plenty to celebrate after their general manager Dmitrey Carruthers was named a finalist in the "Leadership" category of new national manufacturing awards Gisborne Engineering general manager Dmitrey Carruthers has been named as a finalist in the Excellence in Manufacturing “Leadership” category in the inaugural Minister for Manufacturing Awards 2025 created in partnership with Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa and the Government aims to celebrate the people and businesses driving excellence and long-term success in the manufacturing sector “With support from the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing Chris Penk the awards are part of a wider push to elevate the profile of New Zealand manufacturing and position the sector for global growth,” an awards spokesman said The Excellence in Manufacturing “Leadership” Award recognises individuals who are making a transformative impact on the industry through innovation environmental leadership and strategic vision “For Dmitrey to be named a finalist is an incredible milestone— particularly for a regional business like us,” Gisborne Engineering commercial manager Renee Carruthers said “In a field often dominated by larger urban players this recognition highlights the depth of talent and leadership coming from smaller centres like Gisborne.” Gisborne Engineering has undergone a significant transformation he stepped into a leadership role most would take decades to reach — and completely redefined what’s possible for New Zealand’s small and medium-sized enterprises and someone so young,” Renee said “With a deep understanding of his industry and a clear vision for the future Dmitrey set out with three bold goals: modernise operations and build a people-first culture that empowers every team member to thrive “But what truly sets Dmitrey apart is his belief that business success and human success go hand in hand,” she said “Dmitrey introduced a 12-month financial wellbeing programme to help employees reduce debt and achieve personal milestones like first-home ownership “A 12-week workplace literacy and communication course upskilled team members in life-changing ways Structured development plans and regular reviews created clear pathways for every employee to grow — personally and professionally.” “The culture he’s built is tangible - one of mateship “You’ll find team members stepping into new leadership roles young tradespeople gaining life-changing confidence and a collective sense that something truly special is being built — together.” Finalists from across the country will be formally recognised at the SouthMACH 2025 Exhibition in Christchurch where the winners will be announced at a special VIP cocktail event presented by Chris Penk on Wednesday May 28 SouthMACH is New Zealand’s premier technology and manufacturing event providing a national platform to celebrate excellence An awards spokesman said the awards represent a significant step forward for New Zealand manufacturing it’s a real honour to be part of it,” Dmitrey Carruthers said Groms Rise to the Occasion at Kaiaua Bay for the 2025 Gisborne Junior Pro What started as a weather-challenged morning turned into a thrilling opening day at the 2025 Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne Junior Pro With a fierce winter storm system wreaking havoc further south and the Gisborne coastline serving up unsafe surf conditions at the city beaches the team made the call to move the event north to Kaiaua Bay on the East Cape The one-hour trek proved more than worthwhile as competitors were greeted with clean 3–4 foot waves and an atmosphere brimming with grassroots energy and elite-level talent The event began with a powerful karakia led by respected local surfer Kereama Blackman setting a culturally grounded tone that resonated with the tight-knit surf community in attendance As the morning drizzle gave way to sunshine the waves began pulsing across the lower tide hollow sections that proved both challenging and rewarding for the country’s best junior surfers The Under 18 Boys division set the tone for the day Raglan’s Theo Morse used smart wave selection and sharp execution to take out the win over Jett Dalton In the second heat of the day Piha’s Christian Fougere exploded with a powerful backhand snap that earned a 7.33 from the judges — one of the highest single-wave scores of the day — putting him not only at the top of the heat but also in early contention for the $100 Biggest Manoeuvre Award The move set a benchmark for the kind of radical surfing that the event is known to inspire Joe Goodjohn(Mount) kept things rolling in Heat 3 controlling his exchanges with well-timed turns and a calm who delivered one of the day’s most stylish performances Using a flowing combination of forehand manoeuvres bringing his total heat score to 14.30 and further heating up the battle for the standout manoeuvre prize The Under 18 Girls division saw equally fierce competition and a few nail-biting finishes Heat 1 featured a strong start from Whangamata’s India Kennings Her confident start proved too tough for her opponents to match She was joined in progression by Buller Boardriders’ Lenka Cargill enough to earn second place ahead of Raglan’s Ayla Gee and Bella Ozich Heat 2 saw Mount Maunganui’s Ariana Walker and local surfer Te Waiotu Fairlie of Uawa showcase their local knowledge to secure passage to the quarterfinals Fairlie expressed her pride in representing her home break but happy overall to have surfable waves at my home break So stoked to host a national event in our small town.” The third heat of the Under 18 Girls saw one of the most dominant performances of the day who has been making waves in recent competitions scored a standout 7.33 ride and secured a first-place finish despite a minimal backup score currently attending the Raglan Surf Academy used her experience to edge out local surfer Bonnie Lynch and progress in second place the level of progression and raw talent was immediately evident Heat 1 saw Charlie Hartstone and Ahipara’s Taj Phillips dominate the shifty beach break conditions using their strong rail game to advance confidently to the next round The action intensified in Heat 2 as Remy Sale lit up the lineup with a technical and powerful combination of turns earning a commanding 7.83 — one of the top scores of the day and a sign of his readiness for Sunday’s high-stakes heats The momentum continued into the later Under 16 heats Each displayed both courage and style in their approach to the chunky Joining them in the quarterfinals were Luca Ramsay and Occy Tapara — each of whom had to fight hard through tightly contested heats to earn their spot The excitement surrounding the $100 Biggest Manoeuvre Award — a crowd and competitor favorite — also reached fever pitch by day’s end The award is set aside for one surfer from each division who goes beyond the basics to deliver a single As Sequence Surf Shop owner Blair Stewart puts it We want to see who’s really willing to push their surfing to the next level.” Christian Fougere’s massive backhand snap remains a frontrunner in the Under 18 division Haru Marsden’s powerful forehand hack earned him a 6.0 and put him firmly in the conversation Feon Clifford also turned heads with his clean technique and strong heat total of 13.9 who has been putting in the hours training at home executed a smooth and confident forehand hack to earn a 6.33 I’ve been surfing heaps around home lately stoked to be surfing Kaiaua as I know it well and surf here all the time I didn’t get the waves I wanted today so will hopefully build on my scores tomorrow.” Haven’t had a comp for a while so good to get back into it doing mock heats with my mates and chasing waves so I’ve been feeling good for this comp My strategy worked well today so am going to stick with it tomorrow and hopefully make it to the final.” Heat 1 will feature Ariana Walker and Lenka Cargill taking on Te Waiotu Fairlie and Grace Gundry battle it out for a place in the finals With clean conditions forecast again for Sunday the stage is set for some of the most exciting junior women’s surfing of the year With a clear forecast for Sunday and a stacked schedule of semifinals and finals across all divisions the 2025 Gisborne Junior Pro is shaping up to be an epic end to the 2025 New Zealand junior surf calendar The shift to Kaiaua — though forced by Mother Nature — has delivered some of the best junior surfing conditions seen all season The event continues tomorrow at Kaiaua with finals action from mid-morning culminating in the crowning of division champions and the announcement of the Biggest Manoeuvre Award winners The Gisborne Junior Pro is proudly presented by Sequence Surf Shop with additional support from Creatures of Leisure Their combined commitment to grassroots surfing and youth development ensures that events like this remain a vital stepping stone for New Zealand’s next generation of surfing stars For more information, live scores, and updates, visit www.liveheats.com/surfingnewzealand A "milestone" is how Gisborne District Council has described new standard forestry consent conditions when it comes to sustainable land use in the region Gisborne District Council has introduced new standard forestry consent conditions described as a milestone for sustainable land use in Tairāwhiti The new standards were developed after more than a year of collaboration and consultation with industry stakeholders which respond directly to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use represent a significant step forward in advancing sustainable land management in the region,” council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann said in a statement “The conditions strike a careful balance between enabling the forestry sector and protecting the environment “They are an important step toward providing certainty to the forestry sector and meeting our environmental obligations.” Swann said it marked a key moment in the council’s commitment to a more sustainable future for Tairāwhiti The conditions represented the council’s interim position and would guide decision-making on forestry resource consent applications on a case-to-case basis “They form part of a wider programme of work with the council continuing to develop a more integrated and holistic approach through its forestry plan change “The council will also remain responsive to emerging scientific data and insights ensuring our approach continues to evolve in line with the latest environmental research and best practice.” Swann acknowledged their partnership with the forestry sector in shaping the new conditions “Both the council and the forestry industry have dedicated significant time and effort to develop these new consent conditions,” she said “This collaboration has resulted in meaningful progress toward finding common ground and setting a clear path forward.” the council was confident the new consent conditions provided a solid foundation for ongoing collaboration “Our goal is to continue improving and working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for both the environment and the local economy.” Tensions are escalating between rival gangs in Gisborne and police say it poses a "very real threat" to the lives of those involved Police have launched a "significant" operation and issued a 'Gang Conflict Warrant' under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act It gives police special powers to search vehicles and occupants of vehicles of suspected gang members Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk said it follows reports of eight incidents "Police and gang leaders have been working to ease tensions but an escalation in the conflict between rival gang members has forced us to draw on additional powers "Officers from across the district are supporting the operation which will involve a heavy police presence in Gisborne and further afield," he said Kirk said police are continuing to work with gang leadership while sending a clear message to all gang members that they are in the spotlight "Additional police will be patrolling communities across Tairāwhiti stopping vehicles with links to gang members and progressing enquiries into the recent events of concern," he said Under new gang legislation police can seize any gang insignia and have increased powers to disrupt gang activity Tairawhiti Police are asking the community to help them by reporting illegal or suspicious activity "I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail," a Mongrel Mob chapter founder says Officers were called to Ranfurly Street at around 6.30am after reports of a gunshot ammo and over 20 cannabis plants were also seized The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight Police say it is the second recent violent incident involving gang members in Gisborne/Wairoa Two-thirds of the Gisborne public who submitted to a community consultation oppose relaxing the local alcohol policy rules in the town centre Two-thirds of the public who responded to a Gisborne District Council community consultation have opposed relaxing the local alcohol policy (LAP) rules in the city centre marae and sensitive sites from alcohol harm However, some businesses and individuals are backing a rule change to help revitalise the city as they fear it is becoming a “ghost town” Sensitive site rules stop new liquor licences being issued – aside from cafes and special licences – within 150m of sites such as marae spiritual facilities and recreational areas Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust chairwoman Connie Maynard said the proposal to remove the provisions within the CBD was “disappointing” as marae were protected under the policy Rongowhakaata had the mana whenua iwi rights over the land consulted on and opposed the amendments she told the alcohol policy hearings on Tuesday morning the issues with alcohol began with the landing of Captain James Cook (his second voyage here) in 1773 “For whatever reason, we latched on to alcohol and grew to have a dependency on it. It continues to disproportionately and negatively impact Māori.” The council proposed to either amend and remove the Sensitive Sites Provisions from the CBD or maintain the status quo the council received 207 submissions – 137 were in support of keeping the provisions 69 wanted them removed and one submitter was unsure according to the council hearing submissions panel report Kura Kaupapa Māori O Hawaiki Hou moved to premises at the end of Gisborne’s main road in 2019 Te Amohare Hauiti-Parapara, submitting on behalf of the kura, said opposing the application was “emotionally taxing”. she said she represented the kura’s whānau who strongly supported retaining the current rules which were a positive step in the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi “Particularly the principle of active protection of a taonga and our future tribal base Under the option to relax the rules, the District Licensing Committee (DLC) would also have the discretion to grant exemptions to the sensitive sites rule for applications outside the city Hauiti-Parapara said the proposed change would directly impact their kura and put other kura outside the city at risk “Removing the existing protections risks exposing our tamariki to the promotion of alcohol in an environment that should be focused on nurturing their wellbeing,” she said who was in favour of keeping the restrictions said few licence applications had been rejected under the Sensitive Sites rule whose licence for Anjuna Beer Garden was appealed by the kura He was one of two submissions presenting at the hearing in support of removing the rule McCann said there were 34 vacant buildings on the main street. it’s a crisis situation for building owners and business owners alike.” He noted that during early engagement, 82% disagreed with the provisions while 18% agreed. This engagement process received 62 submissions and 1067 votes through the council’s “Participate” platform and Facebook page McCann said he believed the council had not targeted to get the full spread of people during this round of public consultation that’s why you’ve got a little bit of a difference this time.” Off-licences such as bottle stores had a greater risk of creating alcohol harm than on-licences – such as bars – because it was in a controlled environment who has been the alcohol prevention officer in the region for 14 years disagreed with off-licences being the main issue “Over 70% of the incidents that we deal with are alcohol harm-related that’s from people returning home from on-licences,” he said Resident John Wells presented his submission in support of removing the sensitive site rules Wells said he had nothing against sensitive sites in the CBD but they should operate under the same conditions and terms as any other business that is where businesses are supposed to be,” he said the option to keep restrictions was supported by Tri-Agencies the National Public Health Service and the Chief Licensing Inspectorate also gave written submissions in favour of keeping the current provisions Several businesses and individuals submitted in support of removing the rule Reasons provided included revitalising the CBD supporting businesses and providing more controlled environments for individuals Council sustainable futures director Joanna Noble said if the hearings committee made a recommendation the adoption of the amendments would take place at a meeting on May 8 Gisborne Centre Stage Theatre Group Sister Act The Musical to Gisborne starts at Lawson Field Theatre Heath Franklin’s Chopper – The Last Hard Bastard on Earth Multi-instrumentalist Amanda Millyclown presents new original music • The 500 Card Club: Poverty Bay Bowling Club • Fun Dancing Gisborne – Modern Sequence and Social Ballroom: St Andrew’s Church Hall • Gisborne Orchestra rehearsals. Gisborne Intermediate School, 7.30pm-9pm. New players welcome. Jill 021756364 or email gisborneorchestra@gmail.com • Sun City Spinners: Poverty Bay Bowling Club, 111 Ormond Rd, 9am-11.30am, fees apply. Dale (06)8675083 or email eastland@creativefibre.org.nz • He Kākano: Popular singalong baby session for Under-2s • Gisborne Line Dancing: Senior Citizens Hall • Hāpu Māmā Aqua Class: Focuses on keeping mums-to-be comfortably active while puku and pēpi are supported by the water junior age groups – Kiwi Shots (Years 3-6) • Mainly Music: A fun music group for preschoolers • Te Pihinga/Little Sprouts: Fun singalong and story time for 2-to-5-year-olds • Gisborne Caledonian Society Practice: Social • Badminton: Thursday morning casual group Inquiries to eastland.association@gmail.com • Gisborne Parkrun: Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club, 280E Grey St, 7.45am-10am. Register at parkrun.co.nz/gisborne/ • Tairāwhiti Coffin Club: BCR Joinery, 522 Gladstone Rd, 9am-10am. Details at tairawhiticc@gmail.com A variety of fresh and prepared goods from local farmers and growers For more information ph (06)8625741 or (06)8625856 • Feminine Embodiment Class: Nourishing dance medicine • Silent Flute Taijiquan: Movement lab for life Free one-hour Tai Chi Chuan (Mandarin) Taijiquan (Cantonese) class open to everyone • Dharma Practice and Meditation: Lama Damchoe leads dharma practice and meditation Palpung Kagyu Samten Choling Tibetan Buddhist Centre • East Coast Museum of Technology: 67 Main Rd, Makaraka, 10am-4pm, $10 adults, $5 seniors, $2 school children, under-5s free. See Facebook or go to ecmot.org.nz/ • Lions Express Train rides: Starts near Gisborne Wainui Lions Junior Cycle Park • Mahjong Club (Mon and Thurs): Gisborne Town and Country Women’s Club Thurs and Sat): Corner Parkinson and Innes streets • Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum (Tues and Sun): Gisborne Airport • Lego Club for ages 5-17: H.B. Williams Memorial Library, 3.30pm-5pm, free. See www.gpl.govt.nz for full details • Gisborne Country Music Club (1st and 3rd Sundays): Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 1pm-4pm, $5 visitors, $3 members, $1 children. Flo (06)8677637, 0274946979 or email flo.pahuru@outlook.co.nz • Gisborne Woodworking Club (2nd and 4th Saturdays and last Thursday): Green shed opposite Enterprise Aquatic Centre carpark, Nelson Rd, 10am to about 12pm. Bill 0274507719 or email gizzywheelers@gmail.com • Gizzy Monthly Market (1st Saturday): Locally produced crafts • Gas Guzzlers’ Breakfast (1st Sunday): Behind the courthouse on Reads Quay • Irish Music Session (1st Sunday): The Rivers restaurant • Gisborne Floral Art Club: (1st Monday) Waverley St hall 9.30am-11.30am; (3rd Wednesday) Kahutia Bowling Club • Poverty Bay Blues Night (1st Tuesday): Dome Cinema • Ulysses Motorcycle Club (1st Tuesday): Bushmere Arms public bar • Gisborne Friendship Group – formerly Gisborne Combined Club (1st Wednesday): For active retirees looking for friendship Register with Noelene (06)8684473 or Dianne (06)8674294 • U3A Gisborne (1st Thursday): Social interaction and learning for mature-aged folk • Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group (1st Friday): CCS • Prostate Support Group (2nd Tuesday): Cancer Society Rooms • The Country Garden Club (2nd Tuesday): Waerenga-a-Hika Hall • Gisborne Proactive Club (3rd Wednesday): Retired people’s interest group • Gisborne Camera Club (3rd Thursday): Senior Citizens Hall, 30 Grey St, 7.30pm. Details at gisbornecameraclub@gmail.com • Gisborne Sceptic Group (3rd Sunday): 11am • Te Hapara Garden and Floral Art Club (4th Tuesday): Redstone Room • First City Toastmasters: Become a confident speaker and leader (1st and 3rd Tuesday) To include your event, email details to whatson@gisborneherald.co.nz at least a week before the event There was plenty of keen competition on the bridge tables this week April 28 – Sean Shivnan Pharmacy Championship Pairs 3 Howell Movement: Katrine Matthews/Hans van der Kuijl 59.05; John Hudson/Vicki Taylor 58.57; Eileen Lee/Ann McCombe 57.50; Bette Parker/Beverley Evans 55.24; Vicki Nickerson/Frank Roach 53.33; Helen Kerisome/Joy Marden 50.95 North/South: Carolyn McMurray/Elizabeth Jackson 69.01; Robyn Cheyne/Eileen Lee 60.68; Beverley Evans/Bette Parker 56.25; Katrine Matthews/Glenys Evans 53.91 East/West: Ann McCombe/Vicki Taylor 68.18; Caroline Taylor/Anne Roberts 56.25; Avril Gibb/Brent Turnbull 55.40; Caroline Kirkpatrick/Liston Meintjes 53.41 May 1 – Ryman Kiri Te Kanawa Village Junior Championship Pairs 3 Howell Movement: Leigh Gibson/Jenna Paterson 64.29; Kuba Jerabek/Tracy Clayton 58.33=; Tina Gai/Dinyar Gai 58.33=; Pamela Clay/Mark Fleming 55.56; Sharon Kelman/Linda White 54.63 Howell Movement: Anne Roberts/Bette Parker 67.19; Elizabeth Jackson/Glenys Evans 59.90; Brent Turnbull/Vincelle Marvin 55.36; Janine Robinson/Joy Marden 52.60; Margaret Amor/Annabelle Sutton 48.81 Te Wharau School is the best school in Gisborne according to listeners of The Hits radio station Te Wharau School is celebrating after being named the best school in Gisborne The accolade comes after a week-long competition at The Hits radio station in which listeners nominated and voted for their school of preference Being named Gisborne’s best school “was a humbling experience and has built some real pride in being part of Te Wharau” highlighted just how connected and passionate the Te Wharau community is “It was a proud moment and really affirms what we already know and love about our kura – to see that our community loves our school as much as we do is very special.” At the heart of the win was a school culture grounded in people and relationships inclusive and proud school that always puts our tamariki and whānau first Relationships are at the core of everything we do – we know our kids While there was no physical prize for the competition “This win is not just for the school – it’s for the entire Te Wharau community who lift each other up every day,” Harris said “We’re proud to represent our community with aroha “This award isn’t about being the flashiest or biggest school – it’s about heart “Te Wharau is a special place and we are really proud that our community feels this Gisborne Boys' High First XV prop Tomasi Mataele has support from Tane Te Aho-Heemi in game against Feilding High at the Rectory field Gisborne are back in home action on Saturday against Manukura The oldest stories ever told are written in the stars - and Gisborne Boys’ High School First XV will be hoping the stars align for a win against Manukura School on Saturday Victory at Rectory No 1 over Manukura of Palmerston North would be the first of the season for the Mark Jefferson-coached Jefferson’s crew have been training with purpose “We’ve needed to be better at the breakdown so this week we put massive emphasis on the components that are involved in that,” he said although in last Saturday’s 26-20 loss to Feilding High their pack more than held their own at setpiece and Big Josh Aukuso will replace Leaasi Tupou at tighthead prop on Saturday while Fraser Wainohu is in at No 8 for Orlando Manuel Halfback James Hamblyn is out for Coen-Theros Brown with the same outside back division as that which played against Feilding Manukura is a small school with only 82 boys on its roll though it has fielded as many as four teams since its inception in 2014 New head coach Potene Paiwai lists lock Hekenui Tatana-Tapp blindside flanker Primus Waitere and No 8 Otaki Adams as being three of the side’s movers and shakers up front centre Manueli Boteiviwa and fullback Kaylem Harding are just as dangerous The MetService forecast is for early morning rain and fresh southwesterlies Both sides will need to play good rugby - intelligent kicking for field position and possession being keys to the plan ball retention and minimising errors with a potentiall greasy Rain is rarely a deterrent to hardy Gisborne fans and the prospect of another gutsy performance in potentially wet conditions and a win at home should draw a good crowd to the Rectory The match kicks off at 11am and the referee is Ben Holt Wainui residents are frustrated that the Gisborne District Council have removed the temporary stairs at Tuahine Crescent Beach access without consultation after being promised a permanent stair replacement Residents are challenging the district council on its lack of consultation after it removed stairs and created a barricade to a Wainui Beach accessway Wainui locals described the move as “upsetting” and an “insult” during a tense meeting last week One resident took it upon himself to remove the barricade which he said was “unlawful” and had been put up in “a sneaky way” “We just want our steps back,” another local said Gisborne District Council agreed to replace the stairs last November it reviewed the decision when cost estimates rocketed past $100,000 Council officials said scaffolding stairs at the Tuahine Cres beach accessway had been an unconsented and apologised for its communication process But residents said they were left confused as to why the “perfectly good stairs” were removed One said the stairs didn’t move in “the biggest swell I’ve seen in 5-10 years” The accessway and temporary stairs were closed and removed in late March Locals found out through a letter in the mailbox Access to the beach is available 300m away at Lloyd George Rd “They [stairs] were not engineered for long-term use in a high-risk coastal environment Recent swells were impacting the structure,” council director of liveable communities Michèle Frey told Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) “We acknowledge that engagement with residents about the decision to remove the temporary steps needed to be clearer The scaffolding steps cost $3900 to install During a consultation meeting at Tuahine Cres on Friday Frey joined communications and engagement manager Jade Lister-Baty principal scientist Dr Murry Cave and team leader liveable spaces assets Natalie Waihi to talk with residents residents said they wanted immediate resolutions and were willing to crowdfund Frey said the council was committed to looking at long-term solutions but most likely would not be able to solve the issue until the next long-term plan in 2027 Cave said sand had declined in the area of Wainui and Ōkitu during the last five years while erosion had accelerated since a cyclone in 2017 and storms the following year “That was the end of the quiet period that we had weather-wise after Cyclone Bola.” Temporary stairs sometimes had a drop of up to 1.8m because of sand movement and the council would be liable if anyone were to fall One resident said the loss of the stairs affected not just Wainui locals People used the multiple car parking spots by the stairs and now people would need to walk down the road She felt safer walking her kids down the temporary stairs than along the road “I don’t think any of that has been taken into consideration.” Waihi said the recovery budget for the rebuild was roughly $40,000 but cost estimates for the rebuild had blown beyond $100,000 The temporary scaffolding stairs were put in to replace wooden stairs after an engineering report revealed the wooden ones were unsafe Resident Claire Robinson said the council removed the steps while they were “absolutely stable” and they had interrupted her ritual of morning and evening walks She requested the council supply the minutes of the meeting and who was involved in making the decision to remove the scaffolding stairs which went down to the beach by “two-thirds” which obviously has upset us all,” she said Resident and lawyer Neil Weatherhead mentioned crowdfunding “You would only need 50,000 people contributing $5 to have $250,000 .. given Kiwis’ commitment to the great outdoors and recreation activities they would think ‘bugger the Gisborne District Council’.” When a resident asked if the council would consider giving them another temporary staircase Frey said the council would still need resource consent for that But Weatherhead said they wouldn’t need resource consent “You guys need to take a more robust and people-friendly approach.” saying the blocking of the accessway was “unlawful” and “done in a sneaky way” and he took it upon himself to “dismantle” the barricade The council had written to him twice in November 2024 stating a permanent replacement of the steps was scheduled for early 2025 Frey told LDR the barrier was not unlawful but they recognised the community’s complaints regarding obstructing the view “We’re working to compile the information requested by Mr Weatherhead to provide a response to his letter.” NZ Combined Trade Unions national organiser Margaret Takoko said she was impressed by the turnout as the hīkoi proceeded down Gladstone Rd from the Derby St-Gladstone Rd intersection to Heipipi/Endeavour Park She estimated the turnout was about 200 people which resulted in the cancellation of similar events in some other cities broke long enough for the Gisborne hīkoi to be held Some motorists may have been annoyed by their journey being interrupted but many others tooted their horns to indicate their support for the walkers banners and chants in favour of more health spending and worker rights Members of the public were also involved in the hīkoi “I like the level of support and we’ve gained a whole lot of people as we’ve walked down the street,” Takoko said “They support the kaupapa of having appropriate health funding.” “We need more doctors; we need more nurses.” one of the Gisborne Hospital senior doctors involved in a 24-hour nationwide strike also held on Thursday was among the speakers at Heipipi/Endeavour Park Raines said the hospital had the highest senior doctor vacancy rate in the country – 44% “I’m pretty useless at the hospital unless surrounded by all the nurses I work with the physios and all the other people I work with,” he said Gisborne-based Labour list MP Jo Luxton thanked the audience for turning up “to fight for something you truly believe in” your fear and your deep sense of abandonment” There were systemic cracks in the health system extreme staffing shortages and recruitment and retention failures It’s time to support and resource our hospital properly to employ and retain staff right here in Tairāwhiti [with] permanent staffing fair allowances and the funding Gisborne Hospital needs to care for its people “This Government needs to commit to real solutions and meaningful investment a healthcare assistant in the aged care sector told those at the meeting it had been 129 years since the first pay equity claim was filed “We’ve been waiting 129 years to be appreciated and respected We’re missing out on $150 a week or $13,000 in the last thousand days we’re frustrated and that’s why we’re here.” a co-owner of Three Rivers medical centre and a former Gisborne Hospital house officer acknowledged the mahi of health professionals in the hospital Speaking from the perspective of the primary health sector Thursday was also a nationwide day of action for the country’s union movement Those involved in Gisborne combined with the Fight for Health hīkoi A rendered image of the new-look isite provided by architects Warren and Mahoney Gisborne’s isite will undergo a significant makeover in the coming weeks to align its look and feel with the Visitor Information Network around New Zealand funded jointly by Trust Tairāwhiti and the Ministry of Business will modernise the isite to enhance the experience and offerings for locals and visitors alike Because of the potential relocation of the isite identified as a key project in the trust’s city centre revitalisation work the upgrades will focus on modular joinery and fixtures that can be easily relocated “We’re excited to see this long-awaited project come to life and elevate our isite experience for visitors,” Trust Tairāwhiti regional destination manager Holly Hatzilamprou said “The isite is often the first port of call for visitors to the region so it’s important that our local isite branding is cohesive and consistent with the wider network “Over 90,000 people pass through the isite doors annually – many of whom are locals – who will get to benefit from the upgraded facility.” Part of the upgrades will involve extending the floor space available for rental opportunities and shared working New advertising packages will be available for local business promotion “The main goal is to create a more welcoming and functional space for our visitors ensuring Tairāwhiti remains a desirable travel destination,” Hatzilamprou said “This will benefit the economy through increased spending and support the sustainability of the national isite network.” the mini-putt facility will be closed to allow contractor access The refurbishments will likely be completed by the end of May The speed of Jacob Adams could be key for HSOB Gisborne Boys' High School as they look for the first points of their Eastern Premiership football campaign Gisborne United should win their home match against Napier Marist in Eastern Premiership football at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday And that is the hope that Marist will bring to their match at 2.45pm after nearly three hours on the road They overcame a feisty HSOB Gisborne Boys’ High School team at the Rectory a few weeks ago before crashing 7-1 at home to Electrinet Gisborne Thistle But take away Jimmy Somerton’s five goals and it would have been 2-1 Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United don’t have Somerton in their line-up but Josh Adams Corey Adams and Dane Thompson can usually rustle up a few goals And with Aaron Graham and Kieran Venema guarding the gates in defensive midfield and Kieran Higham and Ryan Anderson behind them not much gets as far as goalkeeper Andy McIntosh Marist scored first against league leaders Napier City Rovers Reserves and caused a few headaches before succumbing 2-1 They also showed plenty of heart in their game against Boys’ High and shouldn’t be taken lightly but their three losses have all been by only one goal and will hope Thistle bring a team depleted by injuries and unavailability That is often the case with travelling teams in this league We’ll see if coach Tam Crarer’s football wanderers can return with a result a team whose lowly position on the table masks a forward line and midfield with serious talent Their defenders also possess a useful turn of pace It would be a feather in the cap of Boys’ High speedster Jacob Adams if he could outstrip them in Saturday’s game at 3pm at Mitre 10 Park Lively striker Dakota Lucas is the dangerman for Maycenvale His mobility and skill make him a handful for any marker but Boys’ High coach Garrett Blair is confident his defenders are up to the task Skipper Shai Avni is being rested to allow him to recover from a hip injury so Charlie Harvey gets a starting debut at right-back after several promising appearances as a substitute Blair believes the way Maycenvale play will allow Euan Cramer to create from deep positions freeing up Matt Hills and Xavier Priestley-Mennie to move forward into attack A win would give Boys’ High their first points of the season Thistle are sitting second on the table on nine points but with an inferior goal differential to Thistle and Havelock North Wanderers Napier City Rovers Reserves top the standings on 12 with the Independence Unit Cup they won on Sunday came to Gisborne last weekend and it was a blast Music from sideline speakers accompanied the onfield action and the support from spectators rivalled anything heard at Eastern Premiership games this season Skill levels ranged from Eastern League second division to Eastern Premiership Four teams contested the Independence Unit Cup played a round robin at Childers Road Reserve on Sunday The day’s competition culminated in a final between the Waikato and Gisborne Zimbabwean teams Gisborne won a penalty shootout 3-1 after their goalkeeper thanks to goals from left-winger Joseph Sithole (2) and right-winger Allan Kamote Kamaki Gisborne’s first-half goal came from Kudzai Ziwakaya Second-half strikes from Waseem Mohammed and Gibson Simon took the game to penalties The Zimbabwean community in Gisborne is about 20 families strong About 15 of those families take part in local football cricket and football share top billing for sporting popularity but the Gisborne Zimbabweans are heavily weighted in favour of football at the moment Organisers of the Gisborne tournament included Innocent Nyasha and former Gisborne Thistle player Max Mika who played for the Auckland team and scored four goals during the tournament is player-coach of Papakura City’s third team He was playing for the Auckland team at the last Zimbabwean tournament held in Auckland at Labour Weekend last year and won by the hosts The next Zimbabwean football tournament is scheduled for Labour Weekend at a venue yet to be confirmed Gisborne District Council is a year behind schedule for stage two of its wastewater treatment plant upgrade due to two tertiary filters Gisborne’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade has been delayed because two tertiary filters are not meeting expected performance A council spokesperson said the upgrades were a year behind schedule but they were leading the charge with the designs The $77 million improvements are in the second stage of the two-stage upgrade Stage 1 involved ground improvement and building a pump station ultra-violet disinfection and solids removal The site had passed its first year of operation in discharging liquid waste the tertiary filters were not consistently meeting compliance Gisborne District Council director of community lifelines Tim Barry said the tertiary filters “polish” (a stage of filtration) the recycled water to help ensure compliance “Achieving design performance for the tertiary filters remains the last step in the process.” Council staff were working with the supplier of the tertiary filters to find a solution for issues as soon as possible The upgrades at the plant meant all domestic wastewater was recycled to a high level which benefited the receiving environment when the water was released “The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) currently uses the recycled water within the treatment processes Barry said the council was exploring options to use the recycled water for beneficial reasons “There is scope for this to significantly reduce water use but this would require the development of a business case all water leaving the WWTP is returned to the environment.” During a Waste Water Management Committee meeting this month council’s water manager Leo Kelso described it as “a journey” “We are a year from where we ultimately wanted to be so we are unable to learn from others effectively from a tertiary filter following,” he said Councillor Larry Foster said this is a whole new system – there has never been one like it before The council allocated $500k for Stage 2 further treatment in the 2024/2025 financial year budget Kelso said in December the filters were working at their upper limit of performance for less than half the flow they were designed to filter “The recommencement of the tertiary filter operation will be crucial to support the polishing of the effluent to consistently achieve compliance,” said the report “Beyond unforeseen significant rain events plant performance has been steady and consistent.” He said the council had continued an active engagement weekly with Veolia as the suppliers process the information to support their understanding of the issues there is potential for the filter pore size to [achieve] solids removal well above consent limits which is compromising their ongoing function where low flows were seen to trouble the filters,” said the report Correction: The headline of an earlier version of this story described the wastewater treatment plant filters as faulty Gisborne District Council says the filters are not faulty; they are currently not achieving the expected design performance for their situation The headline and first sentence of the story have been amended to reflect this Doctors warning of crisis at Gisborne Hospital say it is demoralising to reach out for help A group of more than 30 Tairawhiti doctors wrote to the government last month saying some hospital services were on the brink of collapse and about 40 percent of senior positions were vacant Health Minister Simeon Brown wrote back to the doctors this week saying senior medical staff had been hired accepted offers or were in the stages of recruitment a senior doctor speaking on behalf of 30 doctors at Gisborne Hospital told Checkpoint the minister's letter was not reassuring and was similar to a response they received last year that evidently we are not working with the kind of staffing we're talking about and that evidently things are moving in the right direction.. "If things were actually moving in the right direction would we have reached out in the way that we did and tried to bring attention to this crisis?" Raines said it was a mystery why the government's position was completely different to those with jobs on the frontline when the letter that we most recently wrote was reported publicly there's been eight new doctors hired since August of last year' "We were a meeting of the senior doctors at the time 'Are you hiding doctors that we don't know about?'" There seemed to be confusion between short term doctors who were filling in gaps for a week to a few months at a time versus long term permanent doctors they needed to staff their services which is one of the departments we warned is unfortunately on the on the brink of collapse we have had an influx of short-term locums working again a few days at a time That will keep our service open for the next couple of months Raines said the hospital was constantly recruiting as medium-term staff that worked there for 6-12 months needed to be replaced after they leave "We have been in this scenario perpetually Being told things were moving in the right direction and the hospital must maintain momentum didn't match what was happening on the ground "The reality is the folks who are leading this and should be addressing this aren't here They don't see what we're dealing with on a day-to-day basis." He said hiring doctors took time and most of the doctors recruited were from overseas "It's very difficult to recruit Kiwi doctors to remote hospitals like Gisborne "It takes a very long time to go through just the recruiting process of applying and interviewing that part moves very slowly within our organisation." Registration through the Medical Council also takes time "Then there's just the logistics of moving sometimes an entire family to the other side of the world He said they told doctors it took at least six months to get to New Zealand and have signed job offers and are planning to come many of them are not coming for even beyond 12 months Raines often spent much of his week on recruiting and rostering "We are really limited as far as administrative staff to actually provide the support and carry out the recruiting services that need to be done He said their local hospital director had been working to get more administrative resources almost always those conversations start with 'in the absence of more money or resources' The reality is that we are working from a scenario in which we have been told there is no additional budget for anything and that the budget cuts have actually impacted us significantly even though they were sold as not affecting the frontline." His department in general medicine may have to close for several days per week "We do have some additional folks coming in as short-term locums to help fill the gaps in the coming months," Raines said "We have been waiting on some arrivals of medium-term doctors who are here for three months or six months or 12 months and expect some arrivals in the coming months we have full staff to cover our acute services but that is just covering our acute services." Raines and the 30 doctors that signed the letter still believed Gisborne Hospital was in a staffing crisis many of the other services that our department provides are really quite limited right now because we're really just down to a core few doctors." Health NZ chief medical officer Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard agreed Gisborne Hospital struggled to recruit permanent staff members while we are working hard to recruit more," she told Checkpoint the intent and the need in the country is get more doctors from overseas because we don't want to take doctors from one hospital to another - that just moves the problem around the country What can be frustrating is the time it takes to get new doctors in really serious and we're taking it seriously." Services scattered Whangārei are combining under one roof called Manaia House three families in very different set of circumstances consider how the country's lockdowns shaped their lives A man has pleaded guilty to murdering a woman at her Mt Pleasant home in Christchurch A boil water notice has been in place in the Grey District since Wednesday after bacteria linked to human and animal waste was found The Health Ministry has reported a total of 1090 confirmed cases of dengue fever from 1 January to 23 March this year EASTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | Te Aho a Māui | New Zealand 0800 22 55 348   info@eit.ac.nz | international@eit.ac.nz Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the sun each day Gisborne’s climate is not dissimilar to that of Hawke’s Bay which makes it perfect for exploring the numerous beautiful beaches on offer calm and laidback lifestyle for those looking for peace and rejuvenation There are miles and miles of untouched coastline with some pristine beaches and great surfing spots Other attractions include bushwalking trails Gisborne offers a great selection of fine-dining restaurants as well WEBSITE TERMS OF USE Sustainable land use helps landowners, farmers and those in the forestry industry manage and reduce their impact on the environment. These efforts aim to protect our region's land, waterways and communities, ensuring a healthier and more resilient future. This approach is part of our response to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use (MILU). The work we’re doing brings together planning processes cross-sector collaboration and community engagement to support a transition toward more sustainable land use in our region It’s important to understand these efforts and consider how you can adopt sustainable land use practices on your own land Our region’s unique landscape and weather make it vulnerable to soil erosion Tairāwhiti contains 25% of the North Island’s most severely eroding land Historic land clearance has worsened this issue over time increasingly severe weather events have highlighted the serious risks posed by sediment and woody debris movement leading to widespread environmental damage We're reviewing the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan progressing catchment planning and working with a Transition Advisory Group to develop guidelines and a business case for land transition Addressing the most pressing land use challenges through the review Reviewing our catchment plans to protect our waterways a cross-sector group to develop guidelines to transition vulnerable land to permanent vegetative cover We’ve mapped the highly erodible land in our region using expert data and analysis This map is a non-regulatory tool to help landowners identify erosion-prone areas and support transition to permanent vegetative cover Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding land use the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan review The ministerial inquiry was an independent investigation set up by the government in 2023 to look into land use practices in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa following the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle The report made 49 recommendations and identified a range of options to prevent further loss of soil It also proposed a range of options for building new industries planning processes and funding mechanisms to support a just transition as the petition had called for We're reviewing the rules around forestry harvesting including how slash is managed and how much land can be harvested at one time We're also looking at other policies related to forestry and farming activities to better protect our land and waterways We're working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to ensure our plan changes align with the direction of the NES-CF review Transition land refers to areas that are highly susceptible to erosion often close to waterways or located in eroding gullies These areas are a key focus for transitioning to permanent vegetation cover in order to prevent further environmental degradation The guidelines are designed to support and inform landowners The goal is to build support and scale up change through collaboration Transitioning large areas of land is a significant financial challenge TAG is currently developing a business case and delivery plan to secure long-term investment and government support recovery projects and catchment based initiatives An independent investigation launched after Cyclone Gabrielle to review land use in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa The national standards for what's allowed and not allowed Reducing future flood risk and enhancing resilience Significant investment has been given to drive flood resilience recommendations and improvements Working on a case study on transitioning commercial to indigenous forestry at Waingake We're here on Google Maps Only half of Tairāwhiti people believe they are adequately ready for storms according to research by three major insurance companies State and NZI outlines the impact of natural hazard events on New Zealanders we asked New Zealanders across all regions of the country how prepared they felt for natural hazard events,” said Amanda Whiting - the chief executive of AMI “This year we saw a reduction in the number of residents who felt confident they were prepared Nationwide 57% felt prepared as compared to 62% last year Southland (47%) and Gisborne (50%) feel the least prepared for the next natural hazard event Taranaki (66%) and Hawke’s Bay (65%) feel the most prepared,” Whiting said over half of New Zealanders have begun to feel prepared since 2023.” Whiting said the research showed more than half of New Zealanders had recently experienced anxiety and concern about storm and heavy rain “There were 43% concerned specifically about flooding “It is troubling that New Zealanders feel worried about going to bed when it’s raining high winds and weather watches are issued,” Whiting said The Wild Weather Tracker shows that New Zealanders had to endure 14 natural hazard events throughout spring and summer six of which were significant storms causing millions of dollars in damage “We supported our customers with a total of 3536 claims resulting from these events.” There were 37 Tairāwhiti claims in those six months “We urgently need the Government to take steps that will better manage our natural hazard risks and reduce their impact on vulnerable communities,” Whiting said “Through smarter decisions about where we build better protecting what we have built or moving people out of harm’s way we can help New Zealanders to feel confident that they will be okay when the next storm hits.” Raising the speed limit on a stretch of State Highway 35 back to 100km/h has been labelled "unsafe" and "ridiculous" by opponents of the move The speed limit was reduced to 80km/h in September 2020 and evidence gathered by Gisborne District Council revealed a big reduction in crashes since A Makorori woman said residents had been "terrified for our lives" when the limit was previously 100km/h; Gisborne Cycling Club described the speed change as an "unpleasant surprise"; and a Gisborne Boardriders Club member said "the higher the speed The speed limit for the section of SH35 from Makorori to Pouawa will be increased following public consultation 41 percent supported keeping the current speed limit the Minister of Transport confirmed this stretch of state highway was open to community consultation under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) ran the consultation from 30 January to 13 March Speeds could remain at current limits if there was significant public support 53 percent "strongly opposed" retaining the current limit Of the 41 percent who supported retaining speeds NZTA found 39 percent "strongly supported" it 1 percent "slightly supported" and 1 percent were "neutral" Many residents spoke to Local Democracy Reporting about the move calling the increase "not appropriate" and pointing to numerous warning signs cautioning about a high-crash zone said the club submitted a detailed proposal on behalf of its members and local cyclists Van Kregten said it appeared a lot of people supported the increase in the speed limit the club viewed the increase as "not appropriate" along Makorori and Tatapouri - both major beaches in the region Van Kregten said there were "lots of activities between the road and the sea .. with numerous warning signs saying "Slow Down" and "High Crash Area" Gisborne Cycling Club has group and individual riders who ride in that area "Increasing the speed limit will make us feel a lot more unsafe," van Kregten said Gisborne Boardriders Club surfing development manager Flo Bub said the increase could affect the surfing community "We have seen crashes along that stretch before especially in the early mornings when a lot of surfers are looking for waves and the sun is low coming over the hill carparks could get busy with vehicles going in and out at Makorori and other surf spots there are more people and limited parking .. "Heaps of families utilise and enjoy the beach Having it [the speed limit] at 80 is a lot better and less risky." He was not sure if anyone from the surfing community submitted to the consultation The busiest time of year was the summer months and sometimes people were not aware or did not take the time; consultation could be hit or miss "We can do better as a community and submit." who owns Tatapouri Bay Oceanside Accommodation with wife Ying said the current speed limit was good and safe for campers "NZTA has put in an entry lane for us and other users He said he had asked NZTA for a speed camera on the Tatapouri Hill and there had been many accidents and some fatalities "Many vehicles pull in and out for surfing "We do get many tourists on the stretch of road so maintaining the current 80km/h is what I recommend." Local Democracy Reporting received an email thread between a resident and Gisborne District Council asset planning manager Tina Middlemiss who had gathered data from NZTA's Crash Analysis System (CAS) There was a 64 percent reduction in crashes from the five years before to the five years after the speed limit was reduced from 100 to 80km/h on 8 September 2020 for the stretch of road that underwent consultation "So by increasing the speed limit from 80 back up to 100km/h it would reason that there would be almost triple the risk of crashes and harm occurring." Minister of Transport Chris Bishop's office was approached for comment on whether this data was factored into the decision to reverse the speed limit back to 100km/h NZTA director of regional relationships Linda Stewart said under the rule NZTA was required to undertake consultation to demonstrate "public acceptance" This was the only factor NZTA could take into account in its decision-making "NZTA was required to measure levels of public support and no greater weighting was able to be assigned to different types of road users," Stewart said "The rule is clear that 'all persons who use the road including freight' should be included in the consultation themes from both the local community and key stakeholders from consultation will be considered alongside safety and technical data including a cost-benefit disclosure statement "Safety remains a key priority for NZTA and is a factor in decision-making around road design Makorori resident Margaret Hansen said she did not know of anyone in her community who wanted the increase "We've all been terrified for our lives pulling out of there when it was 100km/h." Hansen said she and her community could not understand it Makorori and Tatapouri hills had both had fatalities "The number of fatalities was enough to prompt those huge signs which say 'Slow Down' or 'High Crash Area'," she said "They've been there for a number of years - before the speed limit was reduced [to 80km/h] So it seems ridiculous to increase the speed where the sign says 'Slow Down' .. Hansen said at the Makorori settlement's Y intersection residents had about a four-second window of visibility and had to look behind their shoulder at the oncoming traffic coming over Tatapouri hill "If there is a logging truck coming down at 100km/h and you've pulled out LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Successful reversals to 100kph include the journey to Whakatāne Six sections of state highway will not have their earlier higher speed limits reinstated due to public opposition Motorists in Canterbury will be about to pump the pedal a little harder from tomorrow with a higher speed limit beginning on Christchurch's Southern Motorway Lawyers for a group seeking to pause the roll out of speed limit increases say the changes are ignoring NZTA's own safety findings They say putting the speed limit back up to 50kmh will endanger children and elderly people Local Democracy Reporting RSS Hayden Keast has been leading by example as co-captain of the Poverty Bay team in the 2025 Tairāwhiti men's interclub pennants series An unlikely hero emerged as Gisborne Park’s No 2 team heeded the words of their absent captain in the latest rounds of the Tairāwhiti men’s interclub pennants last Saturday chasing moose and the dimpled ball on holiday in Canada predicted his Electrinet Park (2) boys would have an individual win apiece over rounds 3 and 4 hosted by Patutahi After a morning 8-0 matchplay whitewashing from Park (1) the No 2s rallied to roll Te Puia Hot Springs in what was arguably the upset of the series so far They were there to win and did that 5-3 over a Springs team eyeing a top-four semifinal berth Park No 4 Anthony Pahina stepped up when it counted most He stuck his second shot on the final hole - the par-4 fifth - to less than a metre from the hole against Thomas Donovan and slotted the birdie putt for a 1-up win Donovan went into that clash with a three-from-three success rate Park No 1 Matt Henwood beat Wade Wesche 4 and 3 and No 5 Sel Peneha halved with John Wyllie The Springs had gone into the round on the back of an 8-0 disposal of Patutahi (2) the Springs are on track for a top-four qualifying spot as the Patutahi rounds resulted in a clear division between the leading four and the rest Reigning champions Patutahi (1) reaped the benefits of a late venue change from Waikohu racking up 13 points to lift their table-topping tally to 27 Park (1) went one better with a 14-point haul after sharing the spoils 4-all with Waikohu then beating Tolaga Bay 6-2 meaning decent points hauls are needed over the remaining rounds before the teams advance to top-four/bottom four playoffs Alex Downey made the perfect pennants debut for Poverty Bay with a 2 and 1 afternoon win over Tolaga Bay’s BJ Sidney Tolaga Bay captain Taine Lincoln birdied two of the last three holes to snatch a round 3 half with Patutahi (1)’s Dwayne Russell and save his team from a donut Four players ended the day with four-from-four 100% win rates for the series so far: Eddie Brown Jnr (Patutahi 1); Hayden Keast (Poverty Bay); Jason Devery (Te Puia); and Glenn Solomann (Waikohu) who beat Patutahi senior club champion Hukanui Brown 2 and 1 on his home track Patutahi (1) 7 Tolaga Bay 1 (Patutahi names first): Hukanui Brown def Bruce Yates 4 and 3; Dwayne Russell halved with Taine Lincoln; Shayde Skudder def Tim Adamson 2 and 1; Eddie Brown Jnr def William Aupouri 6 and 5 Poverty Bay 4 Waikohu 4: Zach Rolls lost to Glenn Solomann 5 and 4; Pete Anderson lost to David Solomann 3 and 2; Hayden Keast def Terry Reeves 7 and 6; Reece Witters def Mike Christophers 2 and 1 Electrinet Park (1) 8 Park (2) 0: Dan Collier def Matt Henwood 2 and 1; Anaru Reedy def Sel Peneha 7 and 5; Peter Stewart def Anthony Pahina 5 and 4; Brad Reynolds def Bailey Matoe 3 and 1 Te Puia Hot Springs 8 Patutahi (2) 0: Wade Wesche def Jace Brown 1-up; Jason Devery def Neil Hansen 2 and 1; Thomas Donovan def Regan Hindmarsh 2 and 1; John Wyllie def Lyall Anania 4 and 3 Patutahi (1) 6 Waikohu 2: Hukanui Brown lost to Glenn Solomann 2 and 1; Dwayne Russell def David Solomann 2-up; Shayde Skudder def Terry Reeves 2-up; Eddie Brown Jnr def Richard Reeves 6 and 4 Poverty Bay 6 Tolaga Bay 2: Zach Rolls lost to Bruce Yates 5 and 4; Peter Anderson def Taine Lincoln 2 and 1; Hayden Keast def Tim Adamson 5 and 3; Alex Downey def BJ Sidney 2 and 1 Park (1) 6 Patutahi (2) 2: Dan Collier def Jace Brown 1-up; Anaru Reedy def Neil Hansen 2-up; Peter Stewart lost to Regan Hindmarsh 1-down; Brad Reynolds def Lyall Anania 1-up Te Puia Hot Springs 3 Park (2) 5: Wade Wesche lost to Matt Henwood 4 and 3; Jason Devery def Bailey Matoe 1-up; Thomas Donovan lost to Anthony Pahina 1-down; John Wyllie halved with Sel Peneha Deloris (played by Kim Mitchell) cheers on Eddie (Carlos Latu) as he administers justice to Curtis (Kevin Haggard) in a preview show of Gisborne Centre Stage Theatre Group's Sister Act the musical which opens on Friday at Lawson Field Theatre Joy is the word for Gisborne Centre Stage Theatre Group’s latest production From the youngest altar boy to the oldest nun the cast of the musical Sister Act take us to heaven and beyond with their energy where she revitalises the voices and lives of the nuns powerhouse voice and glowing presence are the heart of the show Her bold yet vulnerable characterisation raises the energy of the nuns and uplifts the audience in all her scenes especially when inspiring the choir in the songs Take Me to Heaven and Raise Your Voice Angela Stuart as Mother Superior is reserved and protective of her nuns Her graceful singing voice gives dignity to the role even as her not-so-subtle quips show us the sense of humour beneath her habit It’s harder to intentionally sing off-tune than on but under talented musical director Tahi Paenga the choir of nuns manage both as they discover their strengths and bond under Deloris’ infectious warmth The group as a whole works well because each performer has a clear idea of their personality Sonny Pahuru “gets down” in style as the nuns’ voices grow under Deloris’ tutelage comes into her own singing about The Life I Never Led Jaeda Mapu’s choreography for solo and group numbers is strong throughout From nuns breaking loose to gangster grooves the dance style fits well to the music and even incorporates special cast talents Carlos Latu brings sweet awkwardness and pure voice to Eddie His growth in confidence with each role over the past few years is a joy to behold He sings When I Find My Baby with a kindness that kills Walter Walsh and Ray Te Nahu - pair slick moves with comic timing when onstage and Lawrence Mulligan twitches with fear in several cameos Treva Rice slips into character with ease and subtle charm Fans of the 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg will love the stage version but keep in mind that the songs are different from the film Sister Act opens tonight and runs until May 10 Book ahead and get thee to the nunnery at Lawson Field Theatre Some of Aotearoa’s threatened wildlife is coming back from the brink Some Gisborne Hospital services are on the brink of collapse due to critical staff shortages with 30-40 percent of senior doctor positions unfilled 38 senior doctors from the emergency department paediatrics and other specialties wrote to then Health Minister Shane Reti warning "a mass exodus may occur" and the "viability" of the entire hospital was under threat they have written another desperate appeal to new Health Minister Simeon Brown and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to say the situation remained dire despite 14 meetings in that time to discuss the workforce crisis "In fact we have lost doctors to resignations but have no new SMO [senior medical officer] colleagues at our sides except for locums plugging some of the gaps," they wrote on 21 March nose and throat) and anaesthesia still have more than 2 in 3 posts vacant "Our internal vacancy rate is now 44 percent." Doctors were "horrified" by the collapse of maternity services in Whakatāne "and fear a worse fate awaits our community with only 3 permanent SMOs maintaining our obstetrics and gynaecology service in Tairāwhiti" "The drive from Whakatāne to Tauranga puts mothers and babies at risk - our referral centre is only available by flight - when weather permits and a flight team is available." Without an influx of more doctors within four weeks the medicine service would have to close multiple days a week "requiring transfer out of all medical admissions and depriving our surgical services of advice on our older Senior doctors were also having to shoulder an increased burden of admin work after "so-called back office colleagues" were not replaced told RNZ that patients had already been harmed as a result of the pressure on services "Our ophthalmologist talked about people who were losing vision because they couldn't get in to be seen What I always worry about is the ones we don't see - the ones who we don't know about because they didn't come in because their appointments were so delayed they gave up The trigger for the follow up letter was the "alarming" realisation that not only had they not made much progress but were "actually worse off than when we started this" we have services that are at risk of imminent collapse without the arrival of new doctors so it felt like time to raise the alarm again and see if we could get any significant intervention Te Whatu Ora group director for Tai Rāwhiti said the the region had "long-standing issues with recruiting and retaining specialist clinical staff" "We are doing everything possible to fill vacant Senior Medical Officer (SMO) roles All requests to recruit have been approved." the hospital had hired 8.2 FTE (full-time equivalent) senior doctors while another 11.1 had accepted offers but were yet to begin work "Two other offers are with candidates for acceptance and three more are at interview stage We are actively advertising a further 21.3 FTE SMO roles." senior doctors and management teams worked together on rosters and planned ahead to maintain patients care "Leadership and advice from our senior doctors has improved the efficacy of the recruitment campaign and we will continue to meet weekly with the Tairāwhiti SMOs to focus on the priorities of attraction "We are committed to ensuring that our clinical services are maintained with locums while we recruit to permanent roles." Health NZ was currently in discussion with the Association of Senior Medical Specialists - which represents senior doctors - over its proposal to attract and retain staff Other actions underway included providing administration support to senior doctors "to help them focus on care" fast-tracking registration applications from overseas doctors and setting up a medical recruitment unit The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists said the figures supplied to the union by Health NZ differed to those given to RNZ with just 1.2FTE permanent doctors hired since August and seven on fixed term a further 7.1 had accepted offers but not yet started and two fixed-term offers were with candidates another three interviews pending and 19.3 permanent and two fixed term roles being recruited Executive director Sarah Dalton said there was agreement from the employer that a 35 percent - "now more than 40 percent" - staffing vacancy rate among senior doctors was in fact a crisis "Our members have suggested that the Minister might want to come and host a welcome morning tea for the newly recruited staff so they can locate them because they are struggling to find out what that data means and who it refers to." The union wanted a special Tairāwhiti allowance to attract and retain staff "We have in fact being trying to negotiate nationally for rural allowances and 'hard to staff' allowances and for 'public only' allowances for doctors who choose to work only in the public system to try and address those issues around the country because Tairāwhiti may be the most extreme example Raines said it was not enough to "paper over the cracks" with a few locums and recruitment still seemed painfully slow with every decision requiring sign off "from up the line" "We need people outside Tairāwhiti to take this seriously "All I've been hearing so far is ways to redirect the blame back down to local management they've tried to put the responsibility on our local management here but have not given them any extra resources to address the problem "I have no doubt that local management care about our community and about the care we provide and getting the staff we need here but they've been handcuffed from the beginning as far as the resources available to them to actually do that." Minister of Health Simeon Brown acknowledged he had received the letter and had asked Health NZ to engage directly with clinical leadership "Timely and quality access to healthcare for the people of Tairāwhiti is a priority for our government That's why we're investing record funding into the health system and putting the focus back on frontline care for patients." met with clinical leaders last year and Health New Zealand had subsequently developed a recruitment plan An "active national and international recruitment plan" was now underway the number of Senior Medical Officers at Gisborne Hospital dropped significantly - from 58.9 FTE in 2022 to 51.8 FTE in 2023 "Health NZ is now focused on reversing that decline." Recruitment was "actively underway" for 10.8 FTE positions Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday An Ōpōtiki woman who had an emergency caesarean section at Whakatāne Hospital says she fears for others Nelson and the West Coast - have no specialist pain medicine physicians An acute shortage of radiography staff at Taranaki Base Hospital means patients are waiting months longer than they should be for critical scans to diagnose cancer and other serious conditions The agency said it was advertising for a specialist doctor for dying children but there were no ads online until after the shortage was revealed publicly A Health NZ review shows a sharp spike in patients who discharged themselves dying within 30 days of presenting at an ED If Makorori Beach is unsuitable for the Gisborne Junior Pro surfing contest it is highly likely it will be held at Tolaga Bay (pictured) The Gisborne Junior Pro is set to fire up the East Coast with its fourth consecutive year of grommet action It was originally scheduled for Makorori Beach’s Red Bus break but Surfing NZ said given the weather and large swell it was “highly likely” it would be based at Tolaga Bay The Sequence Surf-sponsored contest is the final event on the New Zealand Junior Surf Series calendar and the last opportunity for competitors to earn ranking points for the NZ Grom Series Rising talent from Ahipara to Dunedin will battle it out in the Under-14 It is usually set against the stunning backdrop of Makorori Beach renowned for its long peeling right-handers and powerful beach breaks Kennings said with safety at the forefront of Surfing New Zealand events participants should be ready to travel to a more sheltered option organisers still expect another successful contest with a unique flavour “What sets the Gisborne Junior Pro apart is its combination of grassroots community energy and professional level competition,” Kennings said “With local pride on the line and national rankings up for grabs competitors will be throwing everything they’ve got at the judging criteria “And with the return of the Biggest Manoeuvre Award the stakes are even higher for those who want to push the envelope.” The category will award $100 cash to one standout surfer from each division who goes big – whether that’s a massive air “It’s not just about playing it safe,” says Sequence Surf Shop owner and 2003 men’s open national champion Blair Stewart “We want to see who’s really willing to push their surfing to the next level.” The Gisborne Junior Pro will also support the next generation of local surfers through the release of a limited-edition event T-shirt Designed by a local artist and available for purchase throughout the event all proceeds from T-shirt sales will go towards funding the Gisborne scholastic surf team as they prepare for the national scholastics in Taranaki in October the Gisborne Junior Pro is also a celebration of surf culture Gisborne's Sydnee Andrews (left) with her silver medal from the Panamerican & Oceania Senior Judo champs held in Santiago Next to her are gold medallist Beatriz Souza of Brazil and bronze medallists Naomis Elizarde Suarez got the chance to do that at the Panamerican & Oceania Senior Judo champs in Santiago England-based Andrews continued her impressive run on the international circuit by securing a silver medal Competing in the female +78 kilograms division Andrews fought her way to the final with dominant performances She scored ippon victories over Canadian Marianna Karas and Cuba’s Naomis Elizarde Suarez to book a gold-medal fight with none other than Paris Olympic Games champion Beatriz Souza of Brazil Andrews went into the final ranked over 25 places below world No 2 Souza and put up a strong fight before losing by ippon It was Andrews’ third appearance at the continental championships and came just two weeks after she placed fifth at the Dubrovnik Senior European Cup in Croatia further underscoring her rising profile on the world stage Andrews said she was “feeling good coming into the weekend” and credited her team coach and fellow New Zealand team members for their support Andrews trains with the Camberley Judo Club in the United Kingdom but was home over the summer holidays during which she trained and helped with coaching at her Gisborne club Gisborne head coach Jason King was delighted with Andrews’ showing in Chile and said it augured well as she looked towards qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics The now-22-year-old made her Olympic Games debut at the 2024 Paris Games after winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham Her success and development have seen her become part of High Performance Sport New Zealand’s Tailored Athlete Pathway Support programme which provides selected athletes with financial backing and performance services tailored to their stage of development This support enables her to train and compete at the highest level year-round Andrews trains full time under head coach Luke Preston The centre is a hub for elite international judokas and provides an environment that supports her Olympic aspirations She will remain in London for most of the year returning to New Zealand at the end of the season Next on her schedule is the Benidorm European Open in Spain followed by a four-day training camp as she continues her push to remain in the top end of the world and Olympics ranking lists Kyle Pinn was fourth-equal in division 2 of the national Under-21 singles bowls tournament in Wellington Kahutia Bowling Club twins Kyle and Liam Pinn had encouraging results in their first experience of the three-day Kittyhawk National Under-21 Singles Tournament in Wellington Kyle Pinn finished fourth-equal in division 2 of the competition and Liam was third in division 3 The tournament drew 32 players from places as far afield as Gisborne Players were divided into four sections and played seven games to determine who qualified for post-section play 14-year-old Kyle and Liam – representing Bowls Gisborne-East Coast – won three out of their four games Taui White (Wairarapa) 21-17 and Mia Cavie (Wellington) 21-11 and lost to James Macmillan (Wellington) 21-13 then beat Archita Ramesh (Wellington) 21-17 Grayson Wakefield (Wellington) 21-14 and Jacob Potiki-Tagg (Dunedin) 21-10 Kyle was second in his section while Liam was sitting third as each of the twins had only a win and two losses Kyle qualified for division 2 and beat Wakefield 21-8 to reach the division quarter-final he lost to Kenny Marshall (Wellington) and ended up fourth-equal Only those placed fourth and fifth played in division 2 Liam beat Kura Price (Wellington) 14-9 in the first round Liam was a shot behind on the second-last end so Liam drew another bowl closer and took two shots to win the game 13-12 Liam again trailed by a shot after the second-last end it was a measure for the shot so Liam drew another bowl closer and took two shots to win 12-11 Liam then beat Noah Haran (Wellington) 13-6 and their statistics put them ahead of Liam