Finding funds for 4WD bus

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Tiniroto community, beset by road closures, has banded together to raise funds for a 4WD minibus.

Helping them on their way is a grant from Trade Me Property Community Grants.

Tiniroto faced severe repercussions from both Cyclone Gabrielle and  eight other major weather events that have unfolded in the past 18 months.

On October 3, another setback hit as relentless rainfall caused a section of Tiniroto Road between Rockhill Road and Parikanapa Road to subside, rendering it impassable.

Local residents, who had already been navigating detours throughout the year, now faced further rerouting. The detours substantially extended travel time for those journeying from Tiniroto and Hangaroa to Gisborne.

It could be five years before a new road is  completed.

Given Tiniroto’s isolation, the community relies heavily on a school bus for students commuting to school and participating in external educational activities. As the sole alternative road to Gisborne demands 4WD access, the community decided it would be best to invest in a 4WD bus.

They sought assistance from Bayleys Gisborne director Simon Bousfield, who, recognising the strong bond between Bayley’s and Tiniroto, was committed to finding a solution.

The timing aligned with the recently-launched Trade Me  Property Community Grants.

Bayleys submitted an application for the Tiniroto community bus campaign, securing funding as one of  18 initiatives funded nationwide by Trade Me.

“The support that our agents show Kiwi charities and causes has always been incredibly inspiring and this year, we wanted to help them have an even bigger impact in their communities, so we started the grants programme,” said Trade Me property sales director Gavin Lloyd.

“We were humbled and honoured to read all the incredible Trade Me Property Community Grant applications, witnessing the diverse ways real estate agents contribute to their local communities.”

On behalf of Tiniroto School, Kirsty Playle accepted the $5000 grant from Trade Me.

“The Tiniroto community and Tiniroto School are so grateful for this grant towards our community minibus.

“We are working hard to raise further funds to achieve our goal for the minibus.

“This is going to be a great asset for our community and allow our tamariki and community to continue to thrive.

“We have had a very challenging few years but as a community we are determined to bring the good out of the bad situations that have been thrown at us. We would like to say a big thank you to Trade Me Property and Bayleys Gisborne for supporting Tiniroto.”

Mr Bousfield said the company was “unwavering” in its commitment to local communities,  and he was “elated” to facilitate the connection between the Trade Me Community Grant scheme and the deserving cause of Tiniroto.

It underscored “Bayley’s dedication to making a positive impact on the communities it serves”, he said.