Murray Robertson is a general reporter at The Gisborne Herald.
Veteran Gisborne journalist and broadcaster Murray Robertson has spent 50 years in the media industry. He has spent most of that time reporting the news in Tairawhiti. The 72-year-old began his career as a cadet with the Gisborne Herald as an 18-year-old and became a broadcaster and radio reporter at the age of 24-25. He currently works as a senior reporter for the Herald, hosts the Larsawn Gisborne Sports Show on NewstalkZB on Saturday mornings, and delivers the Tairawhiti Regional News on Radio Ngati Porou at 7.30am five days a week.
Title treble to Peter Rees in fitting season finale
Drivers turn on a show in the weekend doubleheader at Awapuni Speedway.
Netballers 'rapt' despite two week delay on courts' transformation
Netballers are rapt with progress at Victoria Domain despite a two week delay.
'Emotional' last dog trials at Waipaoa Station
Memories flow as decades of competitions at iconic farm come to an end.
Gisborne speedway’s Clyde McGrory on 53 years of commitment
'I am absolutely passionate about motorsport'.
Pines on 860ha more of Coast farmland
Ingleby Farms plans 860ha of afforestation on its two East Coast farms this year.
‘Burning end to end’: Fire destroys home near Gisborne
A Pātūtahi home was destroyed in a house fire on Friday night - cause to be established.
‘Another iconic station has gone into trees’: Last Waipaoa Station block to convert to pine forest
What remains of iconic Waipaoa Station is to go into pinus radiata trees.
‘Pretty phenomenal’: Two gold and five bronze for Waikanae at IRB nationals
A 'cracking weekend' of nationals action for Waikanae's three crews
Golden glory in Waikanae sights at IRB nationals
All three Gisborne crews in the hunt for medals among record numbers of entries
Uawanui and Aratu native replanting project successful so far
Joint venture native tree project between Aratu Forests and Uawanui Nursery works well.
Golden harvest: Signs good for grain maize
Early days but grain maize harvest yields above average so far
Third Abbott St fire in three weeks
A barking dog woke two men at an Abbott St house as a fire started.
Grape expectations: Quality promising after challenging start to growing season
Pinot gris variety of particularly good quality, chardonnay outstanding.
Second fire at Abbott St house could be arson
An investigation is under way after a second fire in three days at the same home.
Pieces of eight: Midway fourth as young guns step up at nationals
'The kids showed true grit and determination in challenging conditions'
No one hurt in Gisborne house fire
The fire is thought to have began in the lounge of the Abbott St property.
City beaches come alive with surf action
'It was the biggest single day of surf lifesaving competition I think I’ve seen.'
Omanu have big lead in Allan Gardner race
Seas are moderate but the title race is heating up at the surf nationals.
Field days will aim at ‘Farming for Profit’
B+LNZ will run 'Farming for Profit' field days at Whāngārā and Nūhaka next week.
Gisborne 1, 2, 3... and 4
Asher Rees wins NI Superstock Championship; Simpson retains Ashley Scott Memorial crown.
Battle of Midway: Cast of thousands at national surf lifesaving champs
'We are gearing up for an incredible event': SLNZ event manager.
Howling success: Edginton top dog twice at Matawai trials
Tolaga Bay triallist Leo Edginton made the top three in all four events.
Successful boat rescue off Gisborne shore
The patrol at Waikanae spotted a flipped sailboat on the weekend.
Golden treble and a silver for Gisborne’s Williams at junior surf lifesaving nationals
Wainui's young gun Brooke Williams brings home three golds and a silver from Oceans 25.
To the rescue: ‘Super-grateful’ to Wainui lifeguards
Lifeguards rescued a woman who was swept out of her depth at Wainui on Sunday.
She’ll be back: Cruise ship Regatta here Saturday, back again Wednesday
Regatta visit penultimate one of 2024-25 Gisborne cruise season
Gold, silver and bronze for Gizzy kids at Oceans 25
Midway's Noah leads Gisborne charge with gold in board race.
And the Supreme Freshie goes to ... the Holdens
First Fresh top gong for Patutahi lemon and lime growers after challenging season.
Golden start from Wainui whiz kids Williams
Gisborne's Wainui and Midway clubs in the medals on opening day of junior nationals
Police investigating four-car crash near Gisborne
One car was overturned in the incident but there were no serious injuries.
Big bucks for bigeye ... Lauti whānau reel in $10k catch at Marlin and Tuna Hunt
'Boomer' of a tournament ... 'as good as any in New Zealand': Fishing club president
Ruakituri woman seriously injured after 25m vehicle plunge
A woman was seriously injured after her car fell down a bank inland from Wairoa.
‘Heartbreaking’: Winemaker’s 25th harvest cancelled after accident
The couple is selling their organic grapes to other producers.
The marlin are out there: $60,000 prize pool for fishing event
A marlin was landed in the waters off Gisborne last week.
Speedway battle: Giants fifth in a tough weekend
'As a club, we are still very proud of how they went.'
Stand and deliver: Aotearoa title on the line
More than 400 lawn bowlers roll into town for the Aotearoa Māori nationals.
Tent fire safety warning after woman seriously injured
A woman suffered burns to her hands, legs and feet in the fire.
Dumped car set alight in dunes
Firefighters put out a burning dumped car along Centennial Marine Dr on Tuesday night.
Paid surf lifeguards are on the job
The paid surf lifeguards have begun work protecting three city beaches Monday to Friday.
Tributes for Kiwi Campbell: Paddlers keep off water to honour waka ama 'queen'
Gisborne city rivers were near empty in a mark of respect to a fallen great.
Wins shared at final dog trial of season
The Tolaga Bay dog trial club ended the Poverty Bay Centre’s club season last weekend at Mangaheia Station and the event wins were shared around. Event one, the longhead, was taken out by Graeme Cook and Glen with a score of 94 points. The...
Farmers hoping for rain
A lack of rain across Tairāwhiti is starting to bite for pastoral farmers in some parts of the district and they are hoping for decent falls in the next month. Drier-than-wanted conditions continue to have an impact on the flush of feed required...
Busy summer for Gisborne's lifeguards
Tairāwhiti surf lifeguards were kept busy over summer with multiple rescue situations and assists, hundreds of preventative actions and many first aid situations. The summer season patrols concluded on March 24. “There were challenges around...
Wounded while helping in dog attack on the Coast
A man who intervened in a dog attack in Tokomaru Bay on Wednesday morning suffered moderate wounds to a hand and an arm. The incident happened at the Waimā end of Tokomaru Bay at around 8.30am. Another man, who was first on the scene after the...
Strong support for Waingake trial
Henry Gaddum, John Foss, Jono McIntyre and Jake Roche and their dogs top scored to take out events one to four at the Waingake Dog Trial club’s trial on Friday and Saturday. McIntyre and Roche scored particularly well, both of them on 98 points in...
Firefighter Challenge: Manutūkē volunteer Rob enters Lion’s Den
Manutūkē volunteer Rob Graham joined an elite group at the weekend when he won the over-60 years title at the North Island Firefighter Challenge in Palmerston North. Staged by United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand (UFBA), the event is...
Hundreds attend 'successful open day' at Gisborne Fire Station
Fire and Emergency New Zealand opened the doors of Gisborne Fire Station to the public on Saturday in what was hailed an “extremely successful” open day. Hundreds of people of all ages attended and enjoyed the experience in perfect weather...
Reports of scam calls from someone claiming to be a police officer
Police have put out a warning again about phone scammers posing as police officers seeking your financial details. New Zealand Police have had reports recently where Kiwis have been contacted on the phone by someone claiming to be an officer. “The...
Superstocks, ministock 100, $10k fireworks display to end season with a bang
The Gisborne speedway season ends with two big nights of superstock racing and if the fireworks on the track are not enough action for fans, a $10,000 Saturday fireworks show above it should be. It starts tonight with the McCafferty Metal Cartage...
Bring on the Aussies
Gisborne will be well represented at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast. The “Aussies” run from today to Sunday April 21, at Alexandra Headland, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Coolum. More than 7000 competitors...
Fire station opens up for public info day
Fire and Emergency NZ will hold an open day for the public at the Gisborne city fire station tomorrow from 10am-1pm and there will be a range of demonstrations. Hato Hone St John will also be present, with an ambulance on site for information. St...
Proud to be ‘doing it differently’
After two years on the beat in Tairāwhiti, Constable Jade Stafford loves the fact that every day tends to be different on the job and feels blessed with all the support she has had on her police journey. Jade, a renowned local hockey player, and...
Three from three for cup: Cook wins saloon trophy, McArthur the stockcar classic
Cook puts his name on saloon trophy, McArthur wins stockcar classic.
Wins shared around at Waipaoa dog trial
A one-two finish for Graeme Cook in the heads, a fine win to Hannah Hutchinson in the zigzag and another win in the straight hunt to the consistent Ben Te Kahika were highlights of the Waipaoa Dog Trial Club’s trial on Friday and Saturday. Cook...
House saved thanks to passer-by
Firefighters were called to a house in Childers Road near the Elgin shops yesterday morning after a passer-by heard smoke alarms going off inside and saw smoke coming from the house. Fire and Emergency NZ sent crews to the house at around 8am...
Last quarter win for Whangara
Premier Grade defending champions Whangara Old Girls had to come from behind in the final quarter to beat Girls’ High Senior A in their opening game of Round 1 of Gisborne senior netball at Victoria Domain on Saturday. Girls’ High picked up...
THIS SWIMMING LIFE
Rochelle Somerton has stepped aside after 22 years with the Comet Swimming Club, most recently as general manager.
Sparks from welding started fire
Sparks from some welding set off a fire that extensively damaged a shed on a property in Collins Street in Te Hapara on Thursday afternoon. Fire and Emergency NZ sent two appliances to the property at around 2pm that afternoon after neighbours saw...
Heading to Invercargill, for a good cause
Turihaua farmer and stud cattleman Hamish Williams embarks on a 12-day journey next week with a couple of mates as part of a fundraiser supporting Multiple Sclerosis. The Bangers to Bluff motor rally will involve 20 colourfully decorated cars and...
2024 Gisborne wine vintage ‘excellent’
The grapes have all been picked in this season’s wine vintage in Tairāwhiti. While yields have been down, the grape quality has been excellent, says Gisborne Winegrowers chairman Mark Thompson. The last of the grapes, reds merlot and...
Hard chargers in line for trophies
Coveted trophies go on the line at Gisborne Speedway Club’s track tomorrow night and the drivers will be going hard out to win them. The Roseland Tavern Stock Car Classic has always brought out the best in this class and there will be some hard...
Opening shots in premier netball
The Pak’n Save netball competition begins for 2024 at the Victoria Domain courts tomorrow in the senior, secondary and intermediate grades, while in the premier division eyes will be on the performances of YMP, Horouta and Whangara. Premier and...
Gisborne rescue chopper in search for man overboard
Gisborne’s Trust Tairāwhiti rescue helicopter joined the major search for a crew member off a commercial fishing boat who was reported missing overboard off the coast of Hawke’s Bay on Monday night. The emergency services were notified around...
Party tragedy: Further charges possible as 21st birthday homicide inquiry continues
Police have indicated they will consider further charges in relation to the birthday party stabbing deaths of Chrysler Stevens-Mark and Kane Te Paa as their homicide inquiry progresses. Two men, aged 25 and 29, have been charged with‘wounding with...
‘Uninvited’ pair charged, remanded in custody; online portal opened for social media footage of incident
Two men arrested in relation to the stabbing deaths of two men at a 21st birthday party on Saturday night have been jointly charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Gisborne cars racing at Meeanee and Rotorua
Meeanee Speedway in Hawke’s Bay hosts a huge weekend of racing on Friday and Saturday, and some Gisborne cars and drivers will be right amongst it. There will also be “G” cars in action at Rotorua on Saturday and Sunday nights. Meeanee’s...
Slain men with whānau; post-mortems completed
‘Steady progress’ being made in Tairāwhiti homicide inquiry; police to continue ‘reassurance patrols’.
‘Incredible weekend’ for Waikanae
Waikanae’s inflatable rescue boat crews finished a highly creditable third overall in the Surf Life Saving NZ national IRB championships at Waikouaiti Beach in Otago over the weekend. The four Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae crews came home with two gold...
Monitoring phase for Port Awanui fire
The major vegetation fire at Port Awanui near Tikitiki flared up again on Friday evening on part of the fire ground and fire crews were deployed back there on Saturday to put it out. Fire and Emergency NZ sent three crews to the scene, with...
Gisborne family affair at champs
It’s Excitement-plus for speedway fans in Gisborne with news that current New Zealand champion Asher Rees will race with a G on his car this weekend in the North Island superstock championships. Just under 100 cars started the qualifying rounds of...
‘Mates’ get together planned next month
The Mates of Mates For Mates team - MOM4M — is heading to Tairāwhiti on April 19, with an event planned in the shearing pavilion at the Showgrounds. A MOM4M spokesman said an event like it was seriously needed in a region like Tairāwhiti, that...
Forever home wanted for abandoned dog Roamin
Gisborne woman Amanda Hadfield took 18-month-old Roamin under her wing a while back after forestry workers found the dog abandoned in a local forest. Now she wants to find a new home for him, so Roamin can live a normal dog’s life. “It’s...
‘Motorsport on water’
The tiny Otago town of Waikouaiti (population 1260) will be abuzz when it hosts the New Zealand Inflatable Rescue Boat championships this weekend and crews from Gisborne’s Waikanae club will be right among the action. The BP-sponsored carnival has...
Helicopters key in collaborative fighting effort: area commander
Firefighters were back at the site of the major vegetation fire at Port Awanui near Tikitiki yesterday and it may be a day or two before they will be able to declare it definitely out. The blaze started in driftwood on the nearby beach on Monday...
Victoria Domain courts abuzz
Tūranga FM YMP 1 came out on top again in the Sutherland Auto-sponsored Kathleen Henderson netball tournament at the Victoria Domain courts on Saturday. “It was a great day at the courts to get our year underway,” centre manager Allisa Hall...
Ground crews mop up after beach fire
A historic olive tree planted by East Coast identity Hosea Manuel in the mid-1850s has survived the fire that burned around 10 hectares at Port Awanui near Tikitiki this week. However, several ancient pohutukawa were not so fortunate and were...
MacGregor fortunate to walk away from somersaulting crash
A spectacular rollover by TQ racer Dylan MacGregor left fans gasping at the Gisborne Speedway on Saturday night and he was fortunate to be able to walk away. It happened on the first lap in MacGregor’s first race of the night on board 17G as he...
Choppers battle large vegetation fire at Port Awanui
Sixth fire along the beach in two weeks; “disgruntled locals . . . have taken matters into their own hands”.
Midway roar into second place
Midway produced a stunning effort on the last two days of the national surf lifesaving championships at Mount Maunganui to finish runners-up to the host club at the weekend. The Mount amassed 133 points across the Alan Gardner Trophy club...