Outdoor water use is being restricted immediately in Napier.
Outdoor water use is being restricted immediately in Napier.
Residents of Napier and Hastings are being asked to immediately conserve water, with Level 2 water restrictions put in place late on Friday for Napier and set to be in place for Hastings next week.
At Level 2, hoses and sprinklers can only be used between 6am and 8am, and 7pm and 9pm every second day – at odd numbered homes on odd dates, and even numbered homes on even dates. The restrictions apply to all homes that source water from a public Napier City Council supply.
Hastings will shift to level 2 restrictions on Wednesday 20 December, with Waimārama moving to level 3. More information will be shared via Hasting District Council channels next week.
While Napier City Council director infrastructure services Russell Bond said they were confident the city had enough water, considerations needed to be put in place in case of drought or a fire emergency.
“We are confident that Napier has enough water. What we need to be mindful of, is whether there will be enough water to go around later, in case of drought or an emergency. Firefighters in particular need to be assured that they will have enough to run their pumps.”
You’d better not pout or cry because Santa is returning to Hastings on Friday, and he’s inviting children and adults into his impressive workshop as a special treat before Christmas.
Hastings District Council and creative arts studio Vesica Aotearoa have partnered to bring the man in red’s base of operations back to Albert Square for a free community event, featuring a six minute animated light display.
The 5-metre high facade shows a two-story factory that magically transforms into Santa’s Workshop once the projected animation begins.
Local talents such as artist and architect Nick Wilkey, animator Isaac Walton, and composer Tom Pierard have joined forces under the guidance of Ant van Dorsten of Vesica, project manager and creative director, to spearhead the project.
Also on offer will be an interactive experience with options to paint and decorate wooden Christmas trees.
The event will run from December 15-25, with the animation playing from sundown to late.
Christmas tree painting will take place from 11am-1pm on Friday 15 and 18-21 of December and the evening of December 21.
Police arrest man after suspicious Mahia fire
A man is facing charges including wilfully damaging property by explosive and endangering life after a suspicious fire in Mahia in late November.
Police along with Fire and Emergency NZ conducted a scene examination and further enquiries resulting in charges being laid against a 23-year-old man who was arrested on Thursday this week.
He is due to appear in the Gisborne District Court Monday, January 8.
He is facing two charges of wilfully damaging property by explosive/ endangering life, and wilfully setting fire to property/ endangering life.
Closures and new layout at Awatoto for roundabout work
A temporary change to southbound access from State Highway 51 into Awatoto Rd, as well as new closure times, are being actioned while a new roundabout is built.
The change means people heading towards Hastings who wish to turn right into Awatoto Rd, will now travel slightly further south and make a right turn into Waitangi Rd.
North and southbound lanes have been temporarily realigned to enable traffic to flow unimpeded.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi project manager Jacob Laird said the decision to temporarily restrict right-turn access into Awatoto Road and redirect people to Waitangi Road instead, made the intersection safer while construction is underway.
A signposted detour will also be in place during two nights of upcoming closures on SH51.
A stretch of the southbound lane of the state highway between Awatoto Rd and Farndon Rd, just north of Clive, will be closed between 7pm and 5am Friday December 15 and Sunday December 17.The road will be open on Saturday night.
Sir James Wattie scholar for 2023 announced
Descendants of Sir James Wattie, Eastern Institute of Technology’s School of Business and Ryman Healthcare have awarded the Sir James Wattie Scholarship for this year to EIT student of business Ethan Wynne.
Wynne won the $15,000 scholarship set up in honour of the legendary Hawke’s Bay entrepreneur.
Ryman Healthcare’s NZ CEO Cheyne Chalmers, the 2023 Sir James Wattie Scholarship winner Ethan Wynne and Her Worship, the Mayor of Hastings District Sandra Hazlehurst.
EIT’s Head of School - Business John West explained how they had come to choose their scholar, saying Wynne’s application had ‘ticked all the scholarship’s boxes’.
”It was his authentic, down-to-earth, deserving attitude exhibited during the short-listing interview which helped confirm he was the deserved recipient.”
Ryman Healthcare’s support was ‘transformative’ for award recipients and their whanau, West said.
”The financial injection not only provides peace of mind, but opens up doors of opportunity which may not have been within the realm of possibility previously.”
Ryman’s New Zealand CEO, Cheyne Chalmers said Wynne was a remarkable young man with a bright future.
”Ethan is a very deserving winner and we hope this scholarship will inspire him and other business students to succeed as future entrepreneurs with their own special visions, just like Sir James Wattie did before them,” she said.
Cannabis plants seized after fisheries sting
Fisheries New Zealand Fishery Officers investigating alleged online sales of pāua and kina carried out search warrants in Takapau on Thursday morning, resulting in the discovery of two cannabis plants.
Fisheries New Zealand regional fisheries compliance manager, Tyrone Robinson said police assisted Fishery Officers at the Takapau address where the plants were seized.
“As this is an active investigation, we cannot comment further,” he said.
A police spokesperson said the occupants were spoken to by police and prosecution for the possession of the plants was being considered.
Police investigate break-in at Taradale shop
Police were called to a commercial address “being broken into” on Gloucester St in Taradale on Tuesday around 4.10am.
Police did not locate anyone at the time of the incident, but enquiries are ongoing.
Hamish McKay to speak at East Coast Farming Expo in Wairoa
Hamish McKay is probably best known as one of the nation’s top sports journalists but he’s a real country lad at heart.
Broadcaster Hamish McKay is the keynote speaker at next year's East Coast Farming Expo Property Brokers Muster in Wairoa.
He is the keynote speaker at the East Coast Farming Expo Property Brokers Evening Muster and event organiser Sue Wilson said he will bring plenty of rural humour and straight talking to the popular two-day February event.
The 2024 East Coast Farming Expo is a two-day mid-week gathering (February 21-22) for sheep and beef producers focusing on farming smarter. The annual event is this year being held at the Wairoa Race Course and includes exhibits, outdoor demonstrations and seminars.
It’s a chance for farmers to talk one-on-one with industry innovators and leaders and has become a key go-to for the region’s farmers, as well as attracting some from further afield.
“Farming has never stood still. Every day there are learnings to be shared,” said McKay. “The Expo is a meeting of the minds . . . a chance to listen, discuss, challenge and get the very latest on all levels.”
The Property Brokers Evening Muster is on Wednesday, February 21, at 6pm. Tickets are $20 and include canapes with a cash bar.
The Expo is a gathering of speakers, presenters, exhibitors, advisors, innovators and more is a key event for East Coast sheep and beef farmers. For more information and tickets visit http://www.eastcoastexpo.co.nz/
Winning second division Lotto and Powerball ticket sold in Bay View
One Lotto player is $35,096 richer thanks to a winning ticket sold in Bay View, Napier.
Bay View Four Square sold the ticket, which was one of 15 tickets around the country to win the Lotto Second Division and the only ticket to win the Powerball Second Division in Saturday night’s Lotto draw.
Anyone who bought their ticket from the above store should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.
Agriculture industry recognises horticultural scientist from Hawkes Bay
Hawkes Bay horticultural scientist David Manktelow has won a prestigious Syngenta Growth Award in Sydney, Australia.
David Manktelow is the owner of Applied Research and Technologies Ltd.
Manktelow was a joint winner in the community and people category that recognises growers and advisers who make a leading contribution to their community, workers and fellow growers in the agriculture sector.
Manktelow is the owner of Applied Research and Technologies Ltd who said he is passionate about improving industry uptake of truly sustainable production practices.
“I think this is the most consequential decade that any of us will live through, in terms of change with production and the energy that is needed to drive production. I do see a really important future for high quality horticultural production, and production of grains and legumes.
“There are challenges and they are bigger than what we can afford to address ourselves, so we need to work together.”
