TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JUNE 19-20, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.70 CORSON WINNERS INSIDE TODAY PM VACCINATED PAGE 3 PAGE 6 DAYS NUMBERED: The Gisborne District Council is proposing to close this campsite at Turihaua North, in a draft bylaw governing freedom camping in the district. File picture Grumbles about freedom campers aired at bylaw hearing by Alice Angeloni camping at Turihaua Point north because at Turihaua, said they valued freedom Other submitters spoke of theft of safety concerns around rapid erosion camping in the bay and recognised and slaughter of livestock, risks from CAMPERS who make their home at a to the area and its position near a bend the families who had camped there for campers lighting fires on the beach, point north of Gisborne over the summer on the state highway. generations, and their right to be there. safety concerns when taking their family say a proposal to close the site is a Mr Ropiha argued that closing that But their farming operation and lives to the beach walking past patched gang breach of their rights. area would not protect it from erosion, had been impacted by the members camping, and Winton Ropiha, who has camped at nor protect the health and safety of 10 percent of campers who even receiving death the northern end of Turihaua Point campers and visitors. were disrespectful, along The entire threats. for the past 25 years, The place enhanced the wellbeing of with a lack of council ‘ They also talked about says Gisborne District whanau, he said. monitoring, rubbish length of dune is the plastic, metal, wood, Council’s proposal to “The problem in relation to the area is collection and enforcement. experiencing severe poisons, excrement prohibit camping there not the campers, or the visitors, it’s the Last summer they had erosion and liquids left behind is inconsistent with the moana (ocean) reclaiming the whenua caravans parked at the ’ by campers, and the New Zealand Bill of (land). end of their driveway, they —Sarah Williams degradation to the Rights. He said the way to reduce the erosion, witnessed rubbish being environment caused by Mr Ropiha said the was to stopbank affected areas, “as has burned, semi-permanent posts being put into the bylaw change would been done further around Turihaua Point structures built on the ground. deprive him of a life he and at Pouawa”. dunes and people “blatantly” using their Tawhai Bristowe told the hearings had lived and wished to Mr Ropiha was one of 14 people, laneway as a toilet. committee his family regularly spent continue to live with his tamariki and including campers, motorhomers, farmers She supported Turihaua south being summers in the area and took care of the mokopuna. and town residents, who covered a lot of a restricted seasonal camping area in land. Council policy adviser Chris Gilmore ground at public hearings on the draft January but believed Turihaua north “We’ve always cleaned our mess up. said the draft freedom camping bylaw bylaw on Wednesday. should become a prohibited area. We take our own rubbish away, we’ve got was consistent with the Bill of Rights. Erosion, homelessness, climate change, “The entire length of dune is our own facilities to go to the toilet. We “The proposed changes are considered public defecation and the quintessential experiencing severe erosion which is actually mow the lawns when we can, to be reasonable and not overly Kiwi holiday were among the points being exacerbated by the rock wall to the too.” restrictive or impractical,” he said. raised. north, and further worsened by campers The council has proposed prohibiting Sarah Williams, whose family farms traversing the area.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Opinion ..............10 Classifieds ... 20-23 Business ...... 26-27 Births & Deaths ...4 World............ 11-12 Television ....W9-11 Sport ............ 28-32 TOMORROW National ....... 6-9,13 Farming.........16-19 Racing ................24 Weather .............31 977 1175467004 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, June 19, 2021 by Jack Malcolm programme with the Hurricanes. community and pride, which Uawa has For eight gruelling weeks, five rugby in spades,” he said. TOLAGA Bay rugby star Tipene hopefuls were put to the absolute test “Watching the kids practise while Meihana has been immortalised in his as they fought to resurrect their rugby I painted Tipene brought back fond community with a mural on the walls of dreams and get the ultimate second memories of me playing rugby in bare Inspiring the Uawa Rugby Club. chance. Meihana was announced as the feet with my friends. I hope this mural The photorealistic artwork of Meihana winner of the show during its finale last inspires kids to reach for the stars.” took New Zealand street artist Owen Thursday. Meihana said his feelings about the Dippie a week to complete. Dippie said he wanted to inspire artwork were indescribable after seeing It was commissioned by 2degrees members of the local community with it for the first time when it was unveiled to celebrate Meihana as the winner of the mural reading, ‘Every day is a on Thursday afternoon. at Uawa TV Three’s 2nd Chance Charlie, which second chance to prove yourself’. “This means the world to me… it’s includes a three-month personalised “Originally from a small town myself an amazing feeling. Owen has done an training, mentoring and development (Kawerau), I grew up with a real sense of incredible job. I’m so grateful to him.” LARGER THAN LIFE: Tipene Meihana with artist Owen Dippie after Dippie completed the mural on the Uawa Rugby Club wall this week. The words accompanying the painting are obscured by the pair, but they read “Every day is a second chance to prove yourself.” Picture supplied Cloud cover keeping the frosts away for mild, dry June THE Gisborne district is enjoying a the sunshine total for the first 15 days of 5.6. so far where the mercury has dipped remarkably mild June, but with less of the month well down on what it Daytime has been warmer too, at an below zero. cloud on the horizon. should be for the time of year. average of 15.4 degrees over the first 18 The heaviest were the minus 2.2 and The month’s rainfall total is well short The sun has delivered just 53 hours of days, compared to 15.1 for the 30-year minus 2.3 mornings of June 3 and 4. of average. the yellow stuff — well short of reaching mean. That is well short of Gisborne’s heaviest So far this month there have only the June average of just over 128 hours. Overall, that equates to a half- June frost, which was a blood-chilling been a couple of what might be called On a warmer note, the temperatures monthly daily mean of 11.3 degrees . minus 8.9 degrees in 1957. rainy days, delivering just 20.6mm. have been surprisingly mild, with day or a whole degree warmer than usual. For those keen on the benefits of cold That is just one-fifth of the 30-year and night temperatures both up. The blanket effect of the overcast water bathing at the beach, and surfing, average of 104.6mm. The overnight minimum up for the skies has not only kept the temperature the water temperature is about average There have been quite a few grey, first 18 days has averaged 7.3 degrees up, but kept the frost away. for the time of year at 15.4 degrees on damp, overcast days and that has seen — 1.7 degrees above the 30-year mean There have been just three mornings Friday. — RH LOOKING AHEAD Get your ALL THE LATEST NEWS, INCLUDING: Gisborne Herald • It’s the shortest day, spring must be around the corner. home-delivered • Matawai School students help out with planting 200 native trees in Motu catchment. • SPCA extends desexing service to meet demand • Melia trees getting the chop • Coverage of local football, rugby, netball and hockey. • Black Caps v India in one of the biggest games in the 144 year history of test cricket — weather permitting. MONDAY The Gisborne Herald, 64 Gladstone Road, P.O. Box 1143, Gisborne • Phone (06) 869 0600 • Fax (Editorial) (06) 869 0643 (Advertising) (06) 869 0644 Editor: Jeremy Muir • Chief Reporter: Andrew Ashton • Circulation: Cara Haines • Sports: Jack Malcolm/John Gillies To fi nd out more call 869 0620 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, June 19, 2021 NEWS 3 SUPREME BUSINESS WINNERS THE CORSON CREW: Back, from left, Rangi Judges impressed Dunn, Zoe McIntyre, Kerry Mullooly, Wayne Lamont, Nick Webb, by ‘exceptional Brett Thompson, Daniel Prenter and Holly resilience’ and Teesdale. Front, from left, Steve Brown, Richard Hyland, Anthony Hully adaptability of and Clayton Flight. Picture by local enterprises Stephen Jones THE best of the best was celebrated Excellence Trophy. “We received quality entries across Touring Ltd. last night at the 2021 Westpac Tairawhiti Judges could not separate the winners all the excellence categories and had Manufacturing and technology Business Excellence Awards, with family of the Te Puni Kokiri-sponsored Maori- a challenging task to separate award (sponsored by Gisborne Net): Rua company Corson Grain crowned supreme owned Business Excellence Trophy, winners,” Mr Searle said. Bioscience. winners. awarding it jointly to K Williams “Many businesses showed outstanding Professionals and service (sponsored by Corson Grain started business in Shearing and Rewi Haulage. examples of attracting and retaining EIT Tairawhiti): ProTraffic Solutions.