Gisborne’s Makorori Beach has emerged as a significant illegal dumping hotspot, with local authorities removing three tonnes of household waste from the area in the past two months. According to Gisborne District Council waste solutions manager Luke Knight, the beach’s isolated nature makes it a target for repeat offenders, prompting increased monitoring and enforcement efforts. … Read more
Gisborne District Council is grappling with a region-wide surge in vehicle-related damage to public parks, including frequent incidents at Churchill Park near Kiwa Pools. According to Local Democracy Reporting, the council reports that overnight “hooning” has caused widespread destruction, though financial constraints currently prevent the installation of physical barriers at all affected sites. Ongoing Vandalism … Read more
Health New Zealand has proposed a restructure of hospitals across the Central North Island that the Public Service Association (PSA) says will result in a net loss of 17 positions. The plan involves disestablishing 96 active roles and 30 vacant ones, while creating 108 new positions across Waikato, Tairāwhiti, Taranaki, and the Bay of Plenty. … Read more
A 14-year-old girl suffered serious burns after braving flames to rescue her six-year-old brother from a vehicle following a fatal road crash on Sunday night. The incident, which occurred on SH35, left the young girl and her brother with injuries requiring transport to Gisborne Hospital via road ambulance. Emergency Response and Injuries The six-year-old boy … Read more
Rising fuel costs linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran are creating significant hardship for businesses in the East Coast/Tairāwhiti region of New Zealand, with some owners questioning the Government’s approach to providing relief. Businesses Experience Left Behind Finance Minister Nicola Willis recently announced tax credit relief for 140,000 families with children, a move that … Read more
The Enduring Appeal of Homemade: Wattie’s ‘Secret’ Recipe and the Rise of Kitchen Nostalgia A Gisborne woman, Beverley Bodle-Carswell, recently shared a tomato sauce recipe she claims was gifted to her mother by Sir James Wattie himself in the 1940s. This act, spurred by news of Heinz Wattie’s factory closures and potential job losses, has … Read more
Gisborne Logging Company’s Collapse: A Warning Sign for the Industry? The recent liquidation of a Gisborne-based logging company, owing a substantial $1.69 million to creditors, highlights growing vulnerabilities within the forestry sector. Liquidator Lee Humphreys attributed the failure to a combination of factors: inadequate tax accounting and income losses stemming from adverse weather conditions, specifically … Read more
A dispute over public safety and community wellbeing is at the heart of a license renewal challenge for Red Door Liquor Store in Gisborne, New Zealand. Kaiti School principal Billie-Jean Potaka Ayton voiced strong objections at a District Licensing Committee hearing on Monday, describing the area around the store as having become a gathering place … Read more
A cyclist’s fall into disused railway tracks along a popular Gisborne cycleway has prompted action to improve safety on the path. Patrick Tinnelly, 71, suffered a broken right shoulder, a broken pelvis and severe bruising after his bike wheel became caught in the tracks on December 30. Cycleway Hazard Identified The incident occurred on the … Read more
A widespread series of rain warnings and watches are in effect for portions of the North Island beginning Friday, as humid conditions are forecast to move across the country. Heavy Rain Warnings Issued MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki and for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Tolaga … Read more