TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 PAGE 3 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The two-day Rau Tipu Rau Ora summit key note speakers included British High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke (middle). Te Aitanga a Mahaki Trust chairman Pene Brown (left) gifted Ms Clarke a pounamu. Next to Ms Clarke is Ngai Tamanuhiri Tutu Poroporo Trust chairwoman Pauline Hill. Picture by Paul Rickard ‘SICKENING’ STENCH FROM OLD LANDFILL MOSQUE SCOPED WEEKS BEFORE MASSACRE PAGE 6 HUNDREDS MORE COVID CASES IN VICTORIA PAGE 13 ‘There is still a threat’ Not out of the woods yet, Summit speakers warn by Matai O’Connor generation is at the base of our recovery. We need to make sure we have their NEW Zealand’s efforts to combat interests at heart.” Covid-19 were hailed but there was also She spoke of how renewable energies a warning from speakers at the Rau could be more beneficial than coal. Tipu Rau Ora Summit, which ended in “Covid-19 has shown how fast we can Gisborne yesterday. move when we need to, We can change “It might feel like normal but we our policy and behaviours at pace.” are not out of the woods,” British High A panel discussion on Tairawhiti’s Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Covid-19 response followed her speech. Clarke said. Panel members were Hauora Tairawhiti Former soldier, public servant and chair Kim Ngarimu, Gisborne District writer Sir Wira Gardiner said “we have Council Civil Defence Emergency captured the objective but we cannot let Management Group controller Dave our guard down . there is still a threat”. Wilson, hapu and Ruatoria community They were among multiple speakers checkpoint lead Tui Warmenhoven, at the two-day summit held at Emerald KORERO ON COVID: Among those at the Rau Tipu Rau Ora Summit in Gisborne Turanga Health chief executive Reweti Hotel, which also featured panel were (from left) Te Whanau o Waipareira chief executive John Tamihere, Sir Wira Ropiha and Amohaere Houkamau of Toitu discussions and workshops. Gardiner, Ngai Tamanuhiri Tutu Poroporo chairwoman Pauline Hill,Tairawhiti artist Te Tairawhiti. Reflecting on Gisborne’s response to Aturangi Nepia-Clamp, Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou chairman Selwyn Parata and Te In response to a question from the Covid-19 and what the recovery of the Aitanga a Mahaki kaumatua Charlie Pera. Picture by Paul Rickard MC Matai Smith on how it felt being region will look like was the key theme of appointed group controller in February the summit. like we used to. “We have an opportunity to build back and then dealing with a global pandemic Ms Clarke — the opening keynote But while “it might feel like normal, we better and build a green recovery. in March, Mr Wilson said it was “the speaker — thanked the New Zealand are not out of the woods.” “The lockdown helped many of us hardest thing I’ve ever done”. Government and the “team of five million” International borders were closed and reconnect to our immediate surroundings. Ms Warmehoven said checkpoint for their “extraordinary achievement” of global storms were still raging. We noticed how quiet the roads were, how volunteers along the East Coast had eliminating Covid-19 transmission. “The health, economic, and geopolitical clean the air was, how the birds sang. questioned over 12,500 vehicles during She told the audience “we are in impacts will affect us all.” It was like the world was given a break lockdown. our own sort of post-Covid reality in “The impacts on the developing world from the wear and tear of our hectic Ms Ngarimu spoke of the speed in Aotearoa”. will be devastating. The full impacts of lives.” which the health sector acted in response “Life in Aotearoa feels very much like Covid-19 on the most vulnerable is yet to The United Kingdom government was to Covid-19. normal. We can meet in person rather be seen. seeking to build better relations with Mr Ropiha shared his experiences in than zui(online hui). We can hongi and “We have the chance to chart a path to Maori and incorporate tikanga Maori into organising care packages for those in hug, rather than do a mini bow. We can go a better future.” their climate approach, she said. need. about our normal lives and generally live Climate action was needed, she said. “We need to make sure the next CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Racing .......... 17-18 Television ...........23 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Classifieds ... 19-21 Sport ............ 24-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National .......... 6-10 World............ 13-15 Literature............22 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Friday, July 24, 2020 CHAINSAW GANG: Wood that would usually go straight into a chipper is to be cut up for firewood and distributed to those who need it most in the community. The initiative is part of the Tairawhiti Economic Support Package Redeployment Programme. Pictured are participants FREE FIREWOOD working with the ArborCare Tree Company to learn chainsaw skills as part of the initiative. Picture by The Black Balloon Distributors needed for waste wood initiative HAZARDOUS trees to be chopped down The wood comes from the hazardous tree District Council thought this would be a great [email protected] around the district will be turned into free removal project, which involves the felling of way to keep our community warm next winter,” “We’re hoping by having groups register with firewood for next winter. 2000 hazardous trees on 93 roads across the she said. us, we will cover all corners of Tairawhiti and The wood will be given to those who need it district. Up to 900 trees fall on to local roads each reach as many whanau in need as we can,” she most in the community. The project costs $5.3 million and will year, causing danger and disruption. said. However, Gisborne District Council needs redeploy 75 workers. Processing sites have been set up where the “We are blessed in Tairawhiti to have so people to help distribute it. Redeployment programme manager Glenis trees will be taken to be split and stacked in many great community organisations who have Expressions of interest are being called for Philip-Barbara said the wood would first and readiness for distribution from September. existing relationships with households who can from not-for-profit groups and organisations foremost be made available to not-for-profit The wood will predominantly be a mixture of do with a hand. to transport the “green” firewood to those who community groups to ensure it gets to the pine, willow and poplar. “These include marae, sports clubs, need it. elderly and those who need it most. It will be wet and green and suitable for education, health and social organisations,” The initiative of free firewood from wood Any remaining supplies will be made burning until winter of 2021. said Mrs Philip-Barbara. that would normally go to waste is part of available to others. Not-for-profit community organisations and “Our goal here is to tautoko (support) the the Tairawhiti Economic Support Package “This is waste wood that would normally be groups interested in collecting and distributing good work they do by providing this firewood Redeployment Programme. put through a chipper but the team at Gisborne the wood can contact Mrs Philip-Barbara at through them to those who need it the most.” Hospital’s geriatric ward acknowledged RETIRED nurse Marie Te Elderly people requiring together. I worked alongside a Aho is sad about the demolition hospital-level care were cared strong team of nurses. of Gisborne’s former maternity for on the top two floors where “Although I was given a choice hospital, where the geriatric the nurses’ accommodation used to stay in mainstream nursing or ward was based. to be. to specialise in geriatric nursing, From 1976 to 1986 she worked Mrs Te Aho previously worked I chose the latter. Not once did I in what was known as Ward at Cook Hospital. regret my decision.” 3, Base Maternity Hospital, She retired in 1986 to look Many of the residential although she and her nursing after grandchildren who had patients became good friends. colleagues referred to their ward turned home from Australia. But Mrs Te Aho described Mrs as the geriatric unit. she did not wish to speak too Lawrie as “a very dear and Ms Te Aho has seen publicity much about herself. special friend”. about the demolition of the Mrs Te Aho said she wanted She did not know her maternity hospital, known as the the geriatric ward to receive Christian name. “I always called Morris Adair building in its later some publicity. her Mrs Lawrie.” years, and tributes to those who “All I want is some Mrs Lawrie’s husband was the worked there, were born there or acknowledgement that we did medical superintendent, she said. were treated there. have a geriatric ward.” Mrs Te Aho’s daughter offered But she is disappointed about She wondered if some of her to take her to the former the lack of publicity concerning former colleagues felt the same maternity hospital for one last COMING DOWN: The demolition of Gisborne Hospital’s Morris the geriatric ward. way. look before demolition began. Adair Building continues. News of the demo work has brought back In the 1970s, health boards “Those of us in the geriatric “I said no, I wasn’t interested. memories for many. Picture by Liam Clayton provided aged residential care. ward went through a lot I was very sad.” LOOKING AHEAD Get your TOMORROW FOCUS ON THE LAND Gisborne Herald • National and Labour home-delivered candidates for East Coast ‘Repair the rail line’ speak at the Federated Farmers AGM.