Friday, May 14, 2021 Home-Delivered $1.90, Retail $2.20 Bessie’S on the Road
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TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 BESSIE’S ON THE ROAD PAGE 3 TEARFUL MIGRANTS PLEAD FOR FAMILIES PAGE 7 CONFLICT IN GAZA PAGE 15 ESCALATES CATCHING PESTS: Whaia Titirangi, the project aiming to restore native plantations to Kaiti Hill/Titirangi, has added heft, thanks to the sponsorship of 150 traps by Eastland Port. Preparing to set the traps are Whaia Titirangi kaitiaki Kawai Joe (back), and (middle from left), Samantha Akroyd, Riley Broughton, Juan Kopa, Nevarn Robin-Waimoana, Zyon Swannell and Waina Manuel. In front are Brooke Reedy (left), Te Whaitiri Tangohau-Kakau and Mihikura Te Pairi. STORY PAGE 4 Picture supplied ‘SIMPLY ABSURD’ Growers fight GDC bid to include gold kiwifruit licence in rates assessment by Alice Angeloni land valuation methods for gold kiwifruit Like other growers, who questioned The same six properties would sustain properties, and to propose rating on whether the council would start charging a 165 percent average increase when GOLD kiwifruit growers in Gisborne valuation that include the licence to grow. McDonald’s and Pak’nSave for the cost the horticulture remission was removed say a proposal to rate them on their It follows a meeting between the of the franchise, Mr Loffler asked if they completely, as proposed, he said. growing licence is “simply absurd and Valuer-General and valuers in August would start charging more profitable “The suggestion that vines or trees inequitable”. 2020, in which they agreed the licence businesses in town at higher rates. are permanent improvements is A move to include should be included in the value of “Please don’t think that kiwifruit inappropriate, with most horticulture the growing licence improvements, which requires “the growers are just rolling in cash. Every crops having a lifetime cycle of less than in the rateable value assessment of the value of all work done orchard is different.” 10 years.” of gold kiwifruit on or for the benefit of the land”. With the remission still in place, Mr “No other industry has the value of properties will result Horticulture New Zealand said growers Loffler would be looking at an extra plant, capital stock, machinery, fixtures, in rates doubling for in other regions were wary of the “domino $1064 in rates on about four hectares of fittings, licences of franchise fees included many growers. effect”. kiwifruit. in their improvement value.” It coincides with Whangara grower Michael Loffler The council’s long term plan — out Market forces, economics, preference in a proposal by the said young family growers like his had for consultation last month — said the kiwifruit variety, climate and disease all Gisborne District to endure “very large debt” to start gold horticulture industry could expect an played a part in driving continuous land Council to remove a kiwifruit orchards, on the potential of average rates increase of 15.2 percent in use change, he said. rates remission for capital improvements earning good income in the future. It 2021/22. A Thompson Horticulture kiwifruit to horticulture properties, which means could be five years before they started But veteran grower Bill Thorpe said property on Tiniroto Rd was valued at gold kiwifruit growers could see a 200 to seeing substantial returns, he said. that average “hides the reality” for $4,485,000 in 2017. 300 percent rates increase in 2022. “Are you just chasing us because of kiwifruit growers. A revaluation of the property in 2020, The Zespri gold kiwifruit licence has the potential income we could make, Mr Thorpe told councillors that under which included the growing licence, put recently been valued at near $500,000 per or are we using more of Gisborne’s the proposal, a sample of six kiwifruit- the property at $13,310,000. hectare, according to growers. infrastructure?” he asked councillors at only properties would see an average The proposed rates for that property in Gisborne is the first region to adjust Long Term Plan hearings yesterday. rates increase of 103 percent in 2021/22. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Racing .......... 17-18 Television ...........23 Births & Deaths....4 Opinion ..............12 Literature ..........19 Sport ............ 24-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ............ 6-9 World............ 13-15 Classifieds ... 20-22 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Friday, May 14, 2021 Vaccination roll-out nears next phase HAUORA Tairawhiti is in ON THE UP: Halfway the middle of providing the through providing Covid-19 vaccine to residents Covid-19 vaccinations at residential aged care to residents at aged facilities, ahead of the next care facilities, Hauora phase of the roll-out in two Tairawhiti is gearing weeks’ time. up for the opening of a The Ministry of Health city-based Vaccination website shows that, to date, the Centre on May 24. DHB is sitting at 89 percent of The dip in the graph its planned delivery. relates to the week “As of May 13, we have after Easter when no given 3456 doses of the vaccine doses were Covid vaccine. That is 2078 administered. first doses and 1378 second doses,” a Hauora Tairawhiti spokeswoman said. According to the DHB’s plan, 1100 doses of the vaccine are expected to be given out this week. “We are now carrying on vaccinating the residents of aged residential care facilities. The residents at Te Puia Hospital have had their first workers. Many of the staff Group one (border workers and started vaccinating this group Centre is due to open on dose of the vaccine. Yesterday, have now received their second their household) on top of their there would be no break until Monday, May 24, for the next we were vaccinating residents dose.” normal work. They had been all of Tairawhiti’s over-16 phase. at Leighton House. The spokeswoman confirmed busy setting up the vaccination population is vaccinated at the “The centre will not be a “We expect to complete there was just one week centre and completing end of the year. walk-in centre — people will giving the first dose of the when no vaccine doses were the specialised training to “Our Public Health nurses need to have an appointment. vaccine to all the residents of administered. administer Covid vaccines. really are superstars. To make The focus will be on people Gisborne’s five rest homes by “That was the week after This was on top of being at the sure they can carry on being in Group Three — those over next Wednesday. Staff at the Easter. At that stage it was forefront of our ongoing testing superstars, they had a decent 65 and people most at risk facilities have been vaccinated mostly our Public Health response to Covid. Easter break to recuperate.” of getting seriously ill from along with other frontline nurses who were vaccinating “We knew that once we A city-based Vaccination Covid-19.” Vigilance against myrtle rust urged ANYONE who discovers possible myrtle rust north of Gisborne, but those myrtle rust infections on their property were found to be clear of the fungal should immediately notify the Gisborne disease. District Council to help prevent further A site inspection in Te Araroa over spreading. the weekend revealed the historic large The best way to report it is using the pohutukawa there being free of myrtle GDC Fix app, which allows users to rust. accurately map the location and attach “At this stage the occurrences remain photos, or alternatively call customer localised and vigilance from the public services. is crucial to preventing the disease from Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease coming pervasive in the region,” Dr Cave that affects plants in the myrtle family said. including eucalyptus, manuka and “If anyone is concerned they have trees pohutukawa, and can lead to plant death. infected with myrtle rust, they should let SPOT IT, REPORT IT: Myrtle rust has been The Ministry for Primary Industries us know straight away. This will ensure found on ramarama bushes and other native identifies it in the top three biosecurity it is followed up promptly and biosecurity plants throughout Gisborne. Gisborne District threats to New Zealand. staff can advise steps on its safe removal Council says if you suspect you have found Multiple occurrences of myrtle rust and disposal.” the fungal disease, contact them immediately. have happened in Gisborne city. Myrtle rust can affect all trees Pictures supplied All ramarama trees inspected by GDC’s belonging to the broader myrtle species, biosecurity staff in the last week were including Australian tea tree, rata, feijoa, found to be infected. bottle brush, guava, willow myrtle and both sides of the leaf (mature infection); It was also discovered at the Women’s monkey apple. brown/grey rust pustules (older spores) Native Tree Nursery in Riverdale, It generally attacks soft, new growth, on older lesions; grey, ‘fuzzy’ spore growth as reported in The Gisborne Herald including leaf surfaces, shoots, buds, on undersides of leaves (Saturday, May1). flowers and fruit. The spores are microscopic and can Council principal scientist Dr Murry Myrtle rust appears as bright yellow easily be spread across large distances by Cave said biosecurity staff had visited powdery eruptions appearing on the wind, insects, birds, people, or machinery. other native tree suppliers in Gisborne underside of the leaf (young infection); The MPI guide to identifying myrtle and followed up on additional reports of bright yellow powdery eruptions on rust can be found at tinyurl.com/hextnp4j LOOKING AHEAD Get your FOCUS ON THE LAND Gisborne Herald EASING • More on the Beef and Lamb NZ “What’s the Beef” roadshow event at home-delivered TRAFFIC Whangara Angus on Monday.