Latest from Gisborne

Rare long-tailed native bats found to be widespread in Tairāwhiti

Gisborne is home to native bats also known as pekapeka. “This is often a surprise to people,” Ecoworks NZ’s Steve Sawyer says. “Don’t worry — they aren’t bloodsucking vampire bats or anything that will hurt you or spread disease...

'Surfing for Farmers' initiative wins national award

The Surfing for Farmers initiative created by Gisborne’s Stephen Thomson won the FMG-sponsored Rural Champion Award when the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards were handed out in Christchurch recently. The now nationwide farmer mental health and...

Another death from Covid brings toll in Tairāwhiti to 39

Another Tairāwhiti resident has died of Covid-19, taking this district’s death tally to 39. Figures updated at 2pm on Monday show Tairāwhiti has 20 active cases and a total of 25,338 cases since Covid-19 broke out in early 2020. There are 4013...

Car fragments removed from Rimu St shooting victim's leg: alleged gunmen appear in court

A man wounded during one of the recent gang-related firearms incidents that have Gisborne police on high alert, has been discharged from hospital after bullet and car door fragments were surgically removed from his leg. Meanwhile, two men accused of...

No numbers yet on job losses at Gisborne Hospital

It is still not known how many back office jobs at Gisborne Hospital are on the chopping block as Te Whatu Ora Health NZ undergoes a massive restructure. Te Whatu Ora earlier this year said some 1600 positions across New Zealand could potentially be...

CAA investigation into light aircraft crash: fuel found in one tank but not the other

The Civil Aviation Authority has released its findings into a light aircraft crash in the Waimata Valley last year. An investigation was started after an Air Ruatoria Cessna P206E suffered an engine failure while cruising at 2500 feet (762 metres)...

Twice in a night Zambrero suspect doubly charged for Pretty Nails and Beauty

A man suspected of burgling Gisborne’s Zambrero Restaurant twice in one night is also accused of twice burgling a beauty business four days earlier. Aidan Wesches, 40, made a brief appearance during an arrest list in Gisborne District Court...

New portable flight simulator -‘Sim’ - a step up for rescue chopper crews

Sitting in the helicopter cockpit, an instructor beside them, the pilot pulls a hood down over their face and flies with just cockpit instruments to guide them. That’s the traditional technique pilots use to train for flying in conditions like...

Members the lifeblood of Rotary

Rotary district governor Bill Robinson returned to his birthplace last week with a message for the Gisborne members of the service organisation. “Membership is the lifeblood of Rotary,” he said. “If we don’t have membership we are out the...

Tireless worker for community

OBITUARY Tuta Ngarimu Tuta Ngarimu, a staunch advocate for the people of Tairāwhiti, died unexpectedly but his legacy will live on forever. Tutarangi Hohepa Ngarimu, 61, of Ngati Porou, passed away at midnight on Monday October 9 after suffering...

Flushing out our worst water polluter

There’s a pollutant rapidly accumulating in our waterways and seabed — one that’s arguably more serious than even forestry slash but features far less in media reports. It’s sediment. New Zealand is losing 192 million tonnes of soil each...

Air of expectation and apprehension

With the Labour Weekend behind us, there is an air of both expectation and apprehension about the coming week for many, with the excitement of a Rugby World Cup final tempered by concerns over the growing Middle East crisis. Looking at the Gaz...

Over left-leaning vitriol

Re: Cruel policies, more poverty — October 18 letter. I am all for the right for others to have differing political views to my own, but Mary-Ann de Kort has been banging away almost nightly in the letters to the editor with her left-leaning...

A mad dog

Motorists travelling on State Highway 35 need to be on the lookout for a mad dog on the loose just north of Uawa. The evidence is all over the road. Bruce Holm

Brace for stormy weather

Re: Atlantic hurricanes on the rise, October 21 story. Did readers notice this AP story on page 11 in Saturday’s Herald? With warmer oceans serving as fuel, Atlantic hurricanes are now more than twice as likely as before to rapidly intensify from...

A terrorist organisation

For years, little children living in Gaza born with heart defects have been admitted to Israeli hospitals where they’ve received corrective surgery from Israeli doctors. Their parents are often amazed that the people they’ve been taught to hate...