Tairāwhiti news in brief: Gisborne ‘home port’ of sunk navy ship Manawanui

HMNZS Manawanui, the navy hydrographic survey ship that sank off Samoa at the weekend, was welcomed to its home port of Gisborne nearly four years ago. Photo/ file Gisborne Herald

HMNZS Manawanui, the navy ship that sank off the coast of Samoa at the weekend, and its crew, had called Gisborne their ‘home port’ for nearly four years.

The hydrographic survey ship was carrying out survey work near a reef on the southern coast of Upolu in Samoa when it struck a reef.

The ship later caught fire and sank.

All 75 people on board, the crew and passengers, were evacuated safely.

The ship’s commander, Commander Yvonne Gray, has been credited with saving lives during the night-time evacuation in heavy seas and strong winds.

Manawanui and its crew were officially welcomed for the first time to Gisborne on November 27, 2020.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared Gisborne the ship's home port after it was purchased for the RNZN in 2018. Photo / file Gisborne Herald

They were welcomed by Mayor Rehette Stoltz, district councillors, GDC staff, tangata whenua and other members of the community.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern dedicated Gisborne as the home port for the ship when it was purchased in 2018.

Dirt bike rider seen with incendiary device outside Gisborne police station

Police are still appealing for the public to report sightings of a dirt bike rider seen with a lit incendiary device outside the Gisborne police station.

A police unit was leaving the station about 4.50am on Sunday when they observed a dirt bike sitting outside the station.

The rider was holding an incendiary device, which was alight, police said. When they saw the police unit, they dropped the device and fled on the bike.

There were no injuries or damage to property.

Police were unable to locate the bike or its rider.

As of Monday, police were still seeking information from anyone who had seen a larger white dirt bike, possibly with a yellow trim, near Gladstone Rd and Customhouse St in the early morning.

Police were also seeking anyone who might have information about the rider.

The incendiary item had been examined, and police inquiries were continuing.

Anyone with any information can contact police online or call 105, using the reference number P060195550.

Eastland Port handled close to 200,000 tonnes of log exports in September and there are 10 shipments expected in October. Logger Izangi Harmony was the last to call here last month. Photo / Murray Robertson

Loggers load 195k tonnes at Eastland Port in September

Eastland Port hosted eight log ships in September, which took just over 195,000 tonnes of logs from the region.

“We are hoping to get 10 log ships throughout this month so we will need good weather and strong cart-in volumes to make this happen,” an Eastland Port spokeswoman said.

The logger Izangi Harmony (pictured) was the last ship to call here, arriving September 28 andsailing on October 2.

This month marks the start of the busy cruise ship season with the National Geographic Orion being the first to arrive on October 27.

It will be the first of more than 20 cruise ships into Gisborne between now and March.

Roading contractors have been working on the drainage, and carrying out seal repairs, on the approaches to the Showgrounds Park since last week. Photo / Murray Robertson

Equestrian registrations up, dogs down in Spring Show

There will be more horses and slightly fewer sheepdogs involved in the Spring Show later this month than last year.

Apart from shearing, competition entries for the A&P Spring Show have closed.

“We’ve got 260 horses and ponies entered in the various classes,” equestrian secretary Claire Moss said.

“That’s 60 more than last year.

“We’ve got riders coming from Christchurch to Auckland and everywhere in between,” she said.

“We will have 10 horses in the Horse Grand Prix, which is a lot better than last year.”

There will be 201 dogs involved in the sheep dog trials at the back of the Showgrounds Park.

That was described as a “pretty reasonable” entry lineup, though it was down marginally from 210 last year.

Show preparations will begin to ramp up this week, leading up to Show Week next week.

Roading contractors Fulton Hogan have been carrying out sealing and drainage works on the approaches to the Showgrounds Park past Campion Rd.

Mahon Sideshows had already parked up more than a dozen of their gear trucks on site last week.

Poverty Bay A&P Association general manager Lana Davy said last week the ground preparations were well advanced.

“The showgrounds are in pristine condition.”

Coast bridge repairs delayed again

The first planned closure of State Highway 35 at Rotokautuku Bridge, set down for Monday, has been further delayed and will not take place now until October 23.

The bridge near Ruatoria will be closed for half an hour from midday till 12.30pm.

“Unfortunately programme delays, including a slightly longer than expected timeframe for sandblasting and fabricating the steel, have led to the change in timeframe,” an NZTA/ Waka Kotahi spokesman said.

During the closure, the highway will be closed in both directions between Bridge Rd and Thatcher Rd.

“While the bridge remains structurally sound, repairs to the bearings and cross bracing are needed to restore the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and to improve its strength.

“Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) crews, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), will be raising the bridge by a few millimetres to carry out this work,” he said.

“A further two, 30-minute bridge closures are required before Christmas with the dates and times to be communicated in the next few weeks.

“Despite the delay, crews still expect to finish the bridge improvements by late this year.”