Forestry story tops online tally for 2023

Stories about forestry have dominated the headlines in Tairāwhiti this year, but the one that captured the most views online was about the forest owners association challenge to the Wairoa District Council decision to impose rates on larger-forest owners five times higher than those on neighbouring farms. File picture

Legal wrangles and the achievements of former residents proved to be the most popular news on the Gisborne Herald website this year.

Notably, the Herald’s website was down for several days after Cyclone Gabrielle.

The September 7 story about New Zealand Forestry Owners‘ response to court findings in Wairoa was our top story of the year and was viewed 20,792 times.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/nz-forestry-owners-association-says-court-finding-a-dreadful-precedent

The Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) wants the incoming government to change the Local Government Act to protect minority ratepayers in rural areas, after a recent Court of Appeal judgement.

The court dismissed a judicial review against Wairoa District Council, which had imposed rates on larger-forest owners five times above those on neighbouring farms.

The appointment of former Eastern District Police Commander Tania Kura as a statutory Deputy Commissioner of Police  was second most viewed, with 16,535 views.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/former-eastern-district-police-commander-appointed-to-new-top-job

Third was our story featuring the loss of two forestry contracting businesses, and industry fears for the future. That was viewed 11,110 times.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/demise-of-two-forestry-contractor-businesses-sparks-fears-for-forestry-contracting-industry

The next most popular was the story about former Olympic medallist Alan Thompson’s appeal for reinstatement to Canoe Racing New Zealand, after he was banned following allegations of inappropriate behaviour. It was viewed 6842 times.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/thompson-takes-his-appeal-to-high-court

Also popular was  the December 28 story on the closure of Turanga Gardens, viewed 6105 times.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/overkill-gisborne-man-upset-at-closure-of-garden

The story about court proceedings involving the owners of the Masonic Lodge building was next, with 5753 views.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/blatant-tax-evasion

The news about possible realignment of SH2 was viewed 5427 times.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/green-light-for-state-highway-2-realignment-project

The story of a girl badly injured by a buried log on Waikanae Beach was viewed 5229 times.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/breaks-to-both-sides-of-pelvis-after-being-stuck-buried-by-log

The closure of the Evans Bacon Company rounded off the top 10 with 5009 views.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/century-of-trading-coming-to-an-end-for-gisbornes-evans-bacon-company