Gary Hamilton-Irvine
Multimedia journalist
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Gary is a multimedia journalist with the Hawke's Bay Today.
Check out Gary’s latest content
Central Hawke’s Bay theatre, hotel and a string of retail buildings deemed earthquake-prone
One building owner says it could mean significant changes along Waipukurau’s main street.
Porsche parade to descend on Napier led by ex-Formula 1 star
The parade will feature about 130 Porsches and be led by Mark Webber.
Leaking $2m of ratepayer money every year, should the National Aquarium in Napier be saved?
Public feedback is being sought on a new $28m facility, but an ex-councillor has concerns.
Māori-owned businesses surpass 1000 in Hawke’s Bay
"Māori-owned businesses often prioritise kaitiakitanga."
Developer's plan to merge Hastings and Flaxmere with 2000 homes revealed
David Colville says the ambitious plan is needed. An opponent says it is 'preposterous'.
Pan Pac's rising electricity bill continuing to cause headaches
Pan Pac claims its main competitors in Canada have seen far lower price hikes.
Prominent liquor family buys Hawke's Bay Brewing Co brewery and neighbouring restaurant
The group says there is potential to take beloved 'Peach Bombs' and beers 'international'.
Green-belt soils among NZ’s best but becoming ‘near impossible to farm’ – landowner
The Strawberry Patch business is closing – should a retirement village take its place?
‘Delighted’: Home found for Hawke’s Bay’s new $15m-plus hospice
The milestone comes two years after the last proposed site was abandoned due to flooding.
'Anything that can go wrong will': Two Irish pubs in liquidation owe more than $500k each
'We had delays, licencing issues, staffing issues, a cyclone, we had every type of thing.'
Break out the butter: Cafe starts contest to find best scone ever
'I would like, if we find something great, to put it on the menu.'
Charity’s plan to build its first retiree housing in Hawke’s Bay
The plans come amid a council sell-off of units and will provide more housing for retirees
‘Carnival atmosphere’: Napier’s bumper crowds smash expectations for Hurricanes, World Tri Cup
'We initially had a target of about 8000, and we well and truly went past that.'
Debt hits $4.2m: Liquidator reveals further debts owed by car and boat dealer
A potential sale of the business, to help pay off debts, did not eventuate.
Builder appointed to complete half-finished Napier apartments amid death of developer
Gemco has been tasked with completing the troubled project.
‘Ghost town’ after 5pm: Call for Napier, Hastings shops and attractions to stay open later
'We are a tourist destination, but we don’t act like it because we are not open.'
Rihanna? Guns N’ Roses? Katy Perry? Eminem? Concert venue's public poll to help it find next big act
'It will help us target our efforts in terms of bringing artists to Hawke’s Bay.'
Watch: One of NZ’s oldest passenger planes stars at Art Deco Festival
One of NZ's first passenger planes is flying above Napier - and it could be yours.
Is the emergency alert system better now than during Cyclone Gabrielle?
A flood victim believes more work is still needed to improve emergency alerts.
Motorhome and caravan army rolls into Napier for Art Deco Festival
Visitors to Napier's biggest annual event say the 'whole weekend is just so much fun'.
Napier bans non-self-contained vehicles from freedom camping
Two new freedom camping sites are set to be introduced in Napier amid a shake-up.
'Timing was perfect': More than $10m from special cyclone Lotto draw now allocated
The largest grant given out in Hawke's Bay was $130,000 to shift an ablution block.
The council thinks a piece of Napier Hill has been abandoned by the property owner, so it wants to sell it off
It's covered in shrubs, with no rates paid for years - now council's made a rare move.
Speed limit hike on SH5 ‘reckless’, raises crash concerns
An independent study found the 80km/h limit prevented 34 crashes in a year.
Unity and aspiration: Thousands join Hawke’s Bay Waitangi celebrations
A Hīkoi of Unity was held near Clive, celebrating local Treaty signings.
Police seek public help after robbery at Havelock North dairy
Police have released details about a vehicle related to the alleged robbery.
From 6400 cars a day to 150: The future of existing routes when $820m highway opens
The impending $820m highway opening has raised questions about two alternate routes.
‘Never known a season to be as early’: Picking season under way in NZ’s apple capital
An unusually early harvest is being welcomed by growers.
More than 280,000 bus cards to be phased out, no way to transfer credit
Roughly $140,000 is being stored on the cards in Hawke's Bay alone.
‘Not ideal’: Plan to address coastal flooding in Hawke’s Bay delayed over $34m cost
The climate change and coastal erosion impact strategy has been years in the making.
One of Hawke’s Bay’s oldest homes up for sale, after refresh
One of Napier's oldest homes is up for sale for the second time in three years.
One Bay council pays over $20m a year in debt interest
Debt is climbing for all but one council in Hawke’s Bay. Here is how much each has.
Cell towers in Hawke’s Bay need $20m upgrades to protect against natural disasters
A new cyclone study calls for an upgrade to cell towers. The industry isn't convinced.
‘Very honoured’: Ōtāne volunteer firefighter of 50 years receives King’s Service Medal
John Oliver has served with the Ōtāne Volunteer Fire Brigade for more than 50 years.
‘In my DNA’: Life of voluntary work sees Mary Anne Eyles awarded NY Honour
'I’m always looking for ways to be involved and to work with good people and help others.'
Hawke’s Bay cricket coach receives New Year Honour
The coach and mentor guided a Hawke's Bay high school to three national cricket titles.
Calls grow for popular bridge between Napier and Hastings to be rebuilt
Locals want more certainty about the swept-away bridge's future.
Hawke’s Bay wild weather: Tree knocks out power, vehicle hits rockslide, SH2 blockage
There are 'trees down in many places' on the main road between Hawke's Bay and Gisborne.
Opinion: Christmas, Jesus and his cousin John - why it still matters
OPINION: The Xmas story also recalls another birth, John. This is why it matters to me.
‘Goals just for fun’: Chris Wood’s old coach on his junior years and best EPL season
Norm Rose, who is now based in Napier, is not surprised by Wood's stellar EPL form.
‘A night’s trading lost': Fresh details on Hawke’s Bay mass power outage after lightning strike
More details have been released about the cause of the mass power outage.
Napier’s new disc golf course tipped to be busiest in Hawke’s Bay
The nine-basket course has been opened following a $25,000 investment from the council.
Concern over $18M Foodeast centre in Hastings opening without a test kitchen
A test kitchen was scratched from the design over cost.
'Dad lived in his boots': Daughter's tribute to forestry worker killed doing the job he loved
Tia Rissetto, a man with the 'biggest heart', leaves behind 12 grandchildren.
Forestry worker dies after vehicle roll at Central Hawke’s Bay homestead
Police said inquiries were ongoing into the incident and WorkSafe is investigating.
Hawke's Bay's economic future relies heavily on six industries (and tourism isn't one): Report
Tourism has been left off a top-six list of industries to drive Hawke's Bay's economy.
Hunt continues for offenders involved in Napier hit and run
No arrests have been made over the incident which saw a victim hit by a car then assaulted
'Common sense prevailed': Mānawatu-Tararua Highway won’t be tolled
A proposed $4.30 toll each way on the 11.5km highway was near-unanimously opposed.
'Better place': Restaurant operators whose lease was not renewed open new venue 200m down road
'Maybe this has happened for a reason.'
Napier’s new flood maps could lead to more homes built on piles, says architect
Architect expert says Napier's flood maps will likely make homes on piles popular.
Armed police block streets in Hastings during search
Police armed as a precaution and an increased police presence.
'So loud': Napier deluge floods shop's Christmas display, roadworks signs float down street
Deluge flooded the Christmas display in at least one store and poured down hilly streets.
Driver charged over Napier crash which hospitalised cyclist
A cyclist remains in hospital almost five months after the crash.
Berry determined: Plan to regrow tonnes of strawberries in flood-hit Esk Valley
Donald lost 60,000 strawberry plants in Gabrielle. He has received help to grow again.
Cuts to staff hours at Havelock North retirement village 'detrimental': worker
Cuts to staff hours at Mary Doyle retirement village are taking a toll, a worker says.
Choppers help battle two scrub fires in northern Hawke's Bay, at least one suspicious
Choppers have helped firefighters battle two scrub fires near Wairoa. One is suspicious.
Hawke’s Bay’s first Bitcoin ATM ‘performing well’, more on the way
Bitcoin has surged since the US election. Hawke's Bay now has its own Bitcoin ATM.
'A mess’: Popular Hastings restaurant loses 'lots of cash' in smash-and-grab
Family business with high walls around it had 'all our Friday night’s takings' stolen.
‘Thought it would never happen’: Govt pays out $15m to Hawke’s Bay health workers
A union delegate claims it took an eight-year 'fight' to get the $15 million payout.
Firefighters called to Hastings CBD as smoke spotted out top of building
Fire crews were quickly on the scene and it appeared to be under control within minutes.
Pōrangahau village out of limbo but questions remain over stopbank plan
Flood protection measures have been announced for Pōrangahau – but questions remain.
Hawke’s Bay suicide figures rise: ‘We clearly need to be doing more’
A mental health expert says every single person has a role to play to help prevent suicide
'Very short notice': Napier ale house kicked out over lease dispute
'I tried to work with them to say why don’t we extend it.'
‘Words will never be enough’: Hawke’s Bay survivors respond to abuse in care apology
Hawke's Bay survivors say the public apology is “empty and meaningless” without redress.
'Really sad': Couple's last-ditch attempt to save beloved pool with $38k of their own money fails
A Hastings couple offered almost $40k to save the pool. The council said thanks, but no.
Bamboo or bust? Man's plan for $17m giant panda park in New Zealand
'There are a lot of barriers, but none that are impenetrable.'
Havelock North: 35-home project next to garden store gets approval
Approval has been given for a 35-home project next to a Havelock North garden store.
More than 500 new homes planned for Hastings suburb
Two businessmen, a commentator and a horticulturist team up for a bold plan in Flaxmere.
One of Hawke’s Bay’s oldest rugby clubs moving after 50 years
The Napier club is building a brand-new clubroom and changing rooms – at a new location.
'World leader': Rocket Lab to celebrate 50th rocket launch from Mahia
'It’s a neat atmosphere with all the people sitting in the sand dunes waiting for launch.'
'You're hurting your own': Visitor says proposed freedom camping rules could curb tourism
Freedom camper slams proposed changes for Napier.
'Like the Sahara': Dust storm at new Napier subdivision not cyclone silt, council says
About 92,000 cubic metres of silt from Cyclone Gabrielle has been transported to the site.
Wairoa communications blackout caused by ‘deliberate damage’
Households, schools, services and businesses across Wairoa were impacted.
Lamp post falls on van during serious two-vehicle Napier crash
The crash happened amid morning traffic on a busy Napier road.
Napier freedom camping: Ban on non-self-contained vehicles?
Two sites deemed less suitable due to safety concerns and low scores.
Hawke's Bay's $1-billion-a-year industry: First study in a decade reveals growing impact
All it takes is a bit of sun to make a lot of industries in Hawke's Bay happy.
Groundwork begins for four-lane Hawke’s Bay Expressway, construction start date moved forward
Groundwork is under way and Govt says the construction start date has been moved forward.
Plans for 1000-plus homes on reclaimed Napier farmland cause concern
The proposal includes over 1000 new homes on reclaimed farmland near Hawke's Bay Airport.
'Causing me sleepless nights': What happens to the thousands who flee a tsunami to Napier Hill?
'Given the utterly critical strategic place of Napier Hill this has to be high priority.'
Alleged forced withdrawal from ATM at Napier CBD bank: Armed police called out
Armed police were visible in Napier CBD following reports of a forced ATM withdrawal.