Gary Hamilton-Irvine
Multimedia journalist
The New Zealand Herald has more than 200 journalists across the country, bringing you the stories that matter on our website and app, in print and across our social media platforms.
Gary is a multimedia journalist with the Hawke's Bay Today.
Check out Gary’s latest content
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.
Watch: Napier’s little-known kiwi creche and the 60 fluffy chicks that play there
One kiwi keeper says 'we pinch ourselves sometimes' being involved with the Napier creche.
The $7m cost of an ancient pā site diverting a Cyclone-related road fix
Prior to starting a $7m slip repair, another solution was found but it intruded on a pā.
Large cyclone-damaged farm in Hawke's Bay to be converted to forestry
The Italian buyer of a cyclone-hit Rissington farm wants to convert it to forestry.
Bremworth carpet maker to reinstate part of cyclone-hit Napier plant
'We are at the moment hand-picking parts of the factory to reinstate.'
'An added expense': 12 more buildings deemed earthquake-prone around Napier
“It’s just one of those things we have to do and we will do it as time and cash permits."
'Good property in a good location': Dutch firm buys 60ha orchard; two more orchards hit market
Another overseas company has bought an apple orchard in Hawke's Bay amid industry changes.
Crown manager to be paid $1100 per day to work on Wairoa flood fix
Two Hawke’s Bay councils will have to pay Govt appointee Lawrence Yule's wages.
Inside Ravensdown Napier’s $50m upgrade - and a farewell to its red and white stacks
The Awatoto site's been in a three-month shutdown since June for a massive upgrade.
Last of the free summer wine: Why law change to allow wineries to charge for tastings is a 'good thing'
The law change means free tastings could become a thing of the past at many cellar doors.
Hawke’s Bay apple industry: Newcomer buys 70ha of orchards amid industry shake-up
A German-owned newcomer has bought the apple orchards in Twyford.
'Killing our community': SH2 Napier to Wairoa road repairs far too slow, mayor says
A mayor is fed up with the repair work 'taking far too long' on the major highway.
Apple doesn't fall far from the tree for Young Grower of the Year
'I grew up in horticulture on my family’s orchards.'
Hawke’s Bay cyclone recovery: The slip that will cost $7m to fix
Project highlights enormous cost of fixing region’s road network.
Silt impact: Cyclone-related damage to seabed could harm fish population
One survey focused on the impact of cyclone-related silt on the marine environment.
Apple and grape picking season wraps up in Hawke’s Bay - how growers fared
Apple and grape growing is a huge sector in Hawke's Bay still recovering post-cyclone.
'Big deal for rural NZ': More than year after flood, country’s largest wool cleaning plant re-opens near Napier
Seventy sparkies helped get the factory re-opened at the height of the rebuild.
Cyclone review: Hawke's Bay Civil Defence staff told those concerned about flooding they were 'over-reacting'
The cyclone's speed 'quite simply overwhelmed the officials involved in the response'.
'Warning shot': Hawke’s Bay stopbanks have 'major inherent weaknesses', report finds
A farmer was so concerned about stopbank failure, he paid $13k for an engineer's opinion.
Watch: Boat on fire at Napier marina
A burning boat sent fire into the skies over Ahuriri, Napier.
30,000 cyclone-smashed apple bins fixed for growers, saving them $3m
Hawke’s Bay grows 70 per cent of NZ's apples and this year’s picking season has begun.
Cyclone-smashed community's bridge re-opens to light traffic after damage
Temporary bridge partially re-opens.
Regional council forgives $250k in fees for those trying to revive Ruataniwha Dam
The contentious decision to cancel the debt hasn't gone down well with everyone.
450-home project will expand Flaxmere, orchard and vineyard make way
A large Māori-led housing project planned for Flaxmere has been given approval.
'Hero phase': Mental health fallout from cyclone to be felt for years
'What is most important is to keep that strong sense of community.'
A car floated upside down into the side of Chris Barber's home. He never found out whose it was
'The car sort of sums it up, how the cyclone just pushed everything around.'
Napier man’s rise from farm life to putting together rockets in the US
Tim Charlton's off to the US to be part of a bold project to launch a new 40m-tall rocket.
'Better returns for growers': New fruitgrowers' boss announced
New face with new ideas for fruit-growing industry.
'Accounting anomaly': Forests in Hawke's Bay to pay less in rates than some homes?
Plans to shake-up Hawke’s Bay Regional Council rates is attracting criticism.
‘Extreme effort to keep it going’: 100 new stables boost 2024 Horse of the Year
Horse of the Year has been cancelled three years in a row - this year will be special.
New coastal flood maps affect thousands of properties
'This is not triggering a conversation about managed retreat.'
The region that needs up to 8000 new workers: 'Will dominate what we do for years'
Accommodation villages being mulled for an influx of workers to cyclone-hit Hawke's Bay.
'Chocka': Napier’s cyclone rebuild key to clearing wool glut
Summer shearing will see wool 'pouring in the doors'.
Napier MP Katie Nimon likes the idea of transforming damaged rail line into new road
The railway north of Napier has been closed indefinitely since Cyclone Gabrielle.
What to expect from the fruit bowl of NZ after Gabrielle
Impact of cyclone on stone fruit and summer berries will be felt for years to come.
Watch: Large tree still standing - in middle of road - after sliding 50m down bank
There's a new waterfall in the street, and a large tree standing upright on the road.
Is Hawke’s Bay horticulture giant Bostock selling empire?
The growing giant in Hawke's Bay has announced 'some or all of its business' is for sale.
Pictures: Hawke’s Bay A&P Show organiser rapt with turnout for 160th anniversary
An estimated 30,000 people turned out for the show in Hastings this year.
‘Gave it everything’: Kieran McAnulty on losing Wairarapa seat
McAnulty will return to Parliament as a list MP for Labour.
‘Big surprise’: Kiwifruit grower heartened to see crops growing again after cyclone
'If there is a spark of life, there is hope, and we will carry on.'
'All smiles': Pan Pac’s Napier plant reaches milestone in $280m cyclone recovery
Chip mill restarted, 120ha forest purchased.
Puketapu Bridge to be rebuilt - but won’t be open until 2025
The tight-knit community's access via Vicarage Rd has been cut off since the cyclone hit.
What a run! History-making girls' rugby team beat boys to win final in Napier
Their 65-0 win over the boys made national waves. Now Mana Kotiro have won their final.
Taradale to get 12,000 more native plants as flooded nurseries recover
The project will see another round of natives planted alongside the Tūtaekurī River.
Hawke's Bay farmer rapt to move out of Category 3; others still fighting ahead of deadline
'I said to them, well I shouldn't be in Category 3.'
‘It’s not a negotiation’: Flood land decisions in Hawke’s Bay explained
'For every person who writes in wanting to be a 1 someone writes in who wants to be a 3.'
First electric truck unveiled for use around Napier Port
The EV truck will be the first of its kind to regularly visit Napier Port.
‘It’s not easy’: Bremworth Napier’s uncertain future as 130 staff offered voluntary redundancy
The estimated cost to rebuild the site is in the 'tens of millions of dollars'.
'Just want to support them': Almost 100km of fencing donated to Hawke’s Bay farmers
A free event with plenty of giveaways is being staged in Hastings to help farmers.
Hawke’s Bay rain: SH50 closed, SH5 re-opens between Taupō and Eskdale
Multiple road closures for Central Hawke's Bay.
Farmer whose home has never flooded told the risk is so high he might have to leave
Floodwaters never touched Barry Hoy's house during Gabrielle. That might not save it.
$1b bill for Govt and councils to buy out cyclone-hit homes
Zoning maps will reveal what Hawke’s Bay communities could be deemed unliveable.
'Confiscated': Hawke’s Bay flood victims fear they'll be forced off their land
'All it does is throw up more questions - it feels like we're having land confiscated.'
$1m boost for compost firm as PM visits Hawke’s Bay
A swarm of politicians visited the region to talk about cyclone recovery.
Hawke’s Bay named the 12th Great Wine Capital of the World
It's hoped the accolade will translate into an uptick in wine tourism to the region.
$10m for clean-up of woody debris good start but more needed: council
The forestry industry could still be made to help cover costs of the clean-up.
The slash report: Call for halt to production forestry in erosion zones
A report says there are just 5-10 years to "turn this environmental disaster around".
Many truckloads of silt to move in Hawke's Bay's $266m clean-up
Moving and disposing of silt is the biggest job in the region.
Ravensdown announces ‘number of changes’ and hints at redundancies
Fertiliser purchases have dropped.
Advocates share mental health message post Cyclone Gabrielle
Cyclone-hit communities face the loss of loved ones as mental health struggles mount.
New study could find out where all the washed up pine came from
Questions remain about the origin of much of the wooden debris.
Calls intensify for wider Hawke’s Bay slash inquiry after sacking and resignation
"We still need to understand what caused the damage; how to avoid this happening again."
‘Lifted morale’: Pop-up pub brings cheer to flood-hit Puketapu
A radio show's portable pub helps put smiles on faces in a cyclone-affected community
No power, no bridge, and a pool for a bath: Community’s innovation in a crisis
A rural Hawke's Bay community is finding ways to get by amid plenty of challenges.
PM returns to Hawke's Bay, hears most crops uninsured
The Prime Minister is back in the Bay and heard first-hand from growers.
Hawke’s Bay’s Esk River rises 1.5 metres but expected to recede, evacuation order still stands
Conservative move to evac the region's most at-risk valley.
Hundreds of displaced RSE workers rehomed after floods in Hawke’s Bay
RSE workers are getting back into accommodation.
‘Human rights abuses’: Hawke’s Bay leaders react to damning RSE report
The report has highlighted serious gaps in the system in need of improvement.
Sixty years of forestry: The Hawke’s Bay veteran logging off at the top of the tree
For six decades he's been in the bush. His highest accolade has finally arrived.
Waimarama: No pāua to the people for two more years
Other communities are considering their own pāua gathering bans
Berry bonanza: Mega glasshouse the size of three football fields prepares to open
The huge development was carried out by a Japanese-owned company.