TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7-8, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.70 INSIDE TODAY EMPHATIC ELECTION MAJORITY CONFIRMED PAGE 3 CYSTIC FIBROSIS SALOON CARS: Raising more awareness of cystic fibrosis is the only way to bring about a change in funding drugs to treat it, says Gisborne woman Paige Cook, who was born with the disease. To help do that and as a surprise for his wife, Ethan Cook and brother Daniel branded their 76G and 77G speedway saloon cars with the Cystic Fibrosis NZ logo and colours. The brothers will have information sheets, a donation box and merchandise at Gisborne Speedway Club events for anyone who wants to help. But the biggest thing you can do is sign the online petition calling for the Government VICTORY IN SIGHT to fund “miracle drug” Trikafta, which currently costs $470,000 a year in New Zealand. The drug would significantly improve and extend 24-year-old Paige’s life beyond her life expectancy of mid-to-late 30s. STORY ON PAGE 2 Picture by Liam Clayton PAGE 15 by Andrew Ashton and then all of a sudden a big slice of it comes off.” RESIDENTS in council-owned The residents were not willing to go flats are frightened they will be public about their concerns because “kicked out” if they speak up about they were frightened they might get Disgust at unaffordable rent hikes just days kicked out, she said. “So I said ‘OK let before Christmas. me say it and I’ll represent you’. From December 21, residents in “I can’t get over when they are Gisborne District Council community going to initiate it — on December 21. housing accommodation will have “Most of them (tenants she spoke to) to find an extra $1508 a year — a have said there won’t be any presents situation Age Concern chief executive for anybody — not even from the $2 Frances Toroa says is “disgusting”. shop. “One (tenant) said to me she only “I just think it’s disgusting. It’s Christmas had $100 spare (a fortnight) but then abominable and it has actually caused if you take $58 ($29 a week factoring a bit of depression in some of those I in the rent rise), she is only going to spoke to because they were looking be left with $41 to get clothes or pay forward to Christmas. the doctor. It’s dreadful. “They have just gone through Covid “A lot of them are saying it’s and now they have this to answer to, affecting their wellbeing because a lot which is affecting their dignity and of them won’t be able to go out for a wellbeing. rent hike cup of tea or go to the Cossie. It will “I’m just so disgusted — $58 a affect their social life.” fortnight, that’s a fortune for someone Mrs Toroa was first alerted to the on a fixed income.” ‘They have just gone through Covid and problem when she fielded calls from The council owns 120 community elderly residents asking where the housing units provided for those aged foodbank was located. 55 and over who have had difficulty now they have this to answer to, which “It’s a huge issue. It really sucks finding rental homes is affecting their dignity and wellbeing’ because they are doing their budget CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Vote early in the 2020 Gisborne Ward By-Election Post your voting papers away before Friday 13 November to ensure your vote counts. Ater this date voting papers should be hand-delivered to Gisborne District Council, 15 Fitzherbert St, Gisborne. Voting closes 12noon hursday 19 November. For more information about casting a special vote, come into Gisborne District Council, call 0800 922 822 or visit www.votegizzy.nz 35913-01 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ...... 12-13 Classifieds ... 21-24 Television ...W9-11 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............14 Farming ........ 25-26 Sport ............ 28-32 National .......... 6-10 World............15, 18 Racing ................27 Weather .............31 TOMORROW 977 1175467004 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, November 7, 2020 ‘Miracle’ drug gives hope to CF sufferers Speedway brothers helping to raise awareness of rare disease FROM FRONT PAGE Paige takes at least 30 pills a by Sophie Rishworth day. Growing up, she never wanted LIKE breathing through a to talk about it. straw is how cystic fibrosis is “I didn’t like the attention or described by Paige Cook — one of for people to feel sorry for me. I only three people in Gisborne and wanted to be normal. 530 nationwide who have the rare “But then as I got older I disease. realised there would be no To help spread awareness of changes if no one knew about it. cystic fibrosis, Paige’s husband “That’s when I started to talk Ethan Cook and his brother about it more and bring more Daniel unveiled special designs awareness. Now I am an open on their saloon cars at Gisborne book and I like it when people Speedway Club’s meeting last ask me questions.” weekend. Her main focus is to get New Both cars were decked out in Zealand funding for Trikafta. cystic fibrosis colours and logos to “Cystic fibrosis is an inherited, help spread awareness. incurable, life-threatening “I was super-surprised. It was disorder that damages all our so kind and lovely,” said 24-year- organs, but mainly our lungs and old Paige, who was born with the digestive system.” disease. Paige inherited it from her “It was a gesture to say ‘you’ve mum and dad, who did not realise got this, we can do it, you’re it was in the family and that they strong and we’re all in this were carriers until Paige was together’.” born. The cruel twist — and why Her brother is a carrier but more awareness is key — is does not have the disease. that there is a “miracle drug” “I was just that unlucky one. called Trikafta, which clinical “But I like to live my life with trials have shown significantly as much happiness and positivity improves health outcomes for as possible. cystic fibrosis sufferers. “I could choose to be bitter The problem is it is not or just make the most of my funded by the Government in situation.” New Zealand so comes at an Those with CF produce thick unattainable cost of $470,000 and sticky mucus that blocks the a year. Countries such as the tiny tubes of many organs. United Kingdom, the United “Our lungs develop severe States and Australia fund it for damage over the years from their citizens but not here. recurrent chest infections.” A petition is under way for Paige suffers breathlessness, Parliament to change this. wheezing and a chronic cough. For Paige, getting Trikafta “It’s like breathing though a would mean the difference straw. between her and Ethan having Other affected parts of the body their own family, and her living are the ears, nose (sinuses), liver, beyond the estimated life bones, muscles and joints,. expectancy of mid to late 30s. CF sufferers can have serious “I would be lying if I said the fertility problems and a high life expectancy didn’t play on my chance of developing CF diabetes. PUSHING BOUNDARIES: Innovation was key in several Gisborne Boys’ mind a bit. “My whole life has been High whakairo students’ carved works showcased in an exhibition on Thursday. Among the “If I had children, how long doctor visits, going in and out of carefully-arranged maze of panels was a work whakairo student Hayze Nepia dedicated to his would I be around to raise them? hospital, medications, breathing late grandmother. At the centre of the panel is a carved circle within which is a black and white How heartbroken would my therapies (using a nebuliser) and painting that depicts a trio of figures kneeling before two headstones under a tree against a family and friends be? physio. backdrop of hills. “The circle is like a memory board — a memory of my nan, and that’s me, “What I’m more scared of is “I was actually very lucky my mum and sister,” said Hayze of the three figures. “The tree represents the tree of life.” The living a painful and hard life, and because my mum is a nurse and cloaked, carved figure beneath the circle represents Hayze’s mother as she holds up the memory that is where Trikafta gives me she was very on to it.” board and she is supported from below by a figure that represents Hayze. The ascending, hope.” lyre-like form patterned with koru that makes up the top part of the work “is just flow”, said CF is a degenerative disease ■ To sign the petition to make Hayze. More from the exhibition in The Guide arts pages in The Gisborne Herald on Thursday. where sufferers get sicker as they Trikafta funded in NZ, go to Picture by Mark Peters get older. bit.ly/3k7n6lb LOOKING AHEAD Get your ALL THE LATEST NEWS, INCLUDING: Gisborne Herald • Mangapapa School ‘gobsmacked’ at proposed rating home-delivered system change which would charge per toilet • Rocket Lab to launch first student-built satellite from its Mahia pad • It’s beginning to look a little like Christmas as trees go up in the city centre • Photos from the beer festival, flower show and Combined Services Day 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 nd out more call 869 0620 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, November 7, 2020 NEWS 3 General Election Allan’s winning majority increased official results OFFICIAL General Election results released yesterday show East Coast electorate winner and Labour MP Kiri EAST COAST Allan increased her victory majority.