TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JULY 24-25, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.70 SEVEN PAGE 15 DAYS A lot of data, TO GET quickly HOME PAGE 6 COVID GAMES BEGIN FRUSTRATED: Five families whose loved ones have died while working in the forestry industry gathered outside Gisborne Courthouse yesterday to support Niko Brooking’s family, as the coroner’s inquest into how he died was heard inside. They say nothing has changed in the industry since their sons died. Whanau support person Candice Gate says the industry has forestry workers by the scruff of the neck. “Workers are gone from dark until dark, working in the steepest conditions, breaking their bodies, and still not making ends meet. Workers are unsupported, in isolated rural communities, feeling like there are no other options to provide for their whanau.” Picture by Rebecca Grunwell ‘Nothing has changed’ Grieving families want answers to ‘systemic’ forestry safety issues by Sophie Rishworth making tables, to ensure better outcomes anyone prosecuted as well. was at work inland from Tolaga Bay in in the health and safety of being a Mrs Callow remembers the exact words February 2019, when he was struck by “OUR people on the ground are still forestry worker. But it was not happening. a WorkSafe person said to her. a log. He suffered severe injuries to his getting killed,” said Richard Brooking as Four other families who also lost “He said my son was ‘the architect of abdomen and legs and was unable to be he stood outside Gisborne Courthouse sons in forestry accidents turned out to his own demise’. Which pretty much said revived by his workmates. yesterday, where the coroner’s inquest support the Brooking family yesterday. our son killed himself.” Ms Black and her partner Grant Te into the death of his son Niko Brooking Niko’s grandmother Polly Hodgson In 2013 Ken’s image was used on a Purei were there to support the Brooking was being held. said it was humbling to see the support billboard campaign by the NZ Council whanau. Mr Brooking is frustrated, not only outside the courtroom. of Trade Unions (CTU) to force a “Things have got to change,” she said. because he and his whanau had to fight She wants justice for Niko — and to Government inquiry, and better safety Ash Day was there to support her five years for the inquest but also because make sure it doesn’t happen again. and employment conditions. sister, Niko’s partner, and her niece, who he says “no meaningful change” has Caroline Callow was there in memory Mrs Callow said nothing had changed. was three years old when she lost her happened in the forestry industry and of her son Ken Callow, who was 34 when Her son worked for the same contractor father Niko. people are still losing their lives. in October 2011 he was crushed by a 23-year-old Piri Bartlett worked for when “She is growing up without her dad. “Three weeks ago another man lost his falling, rotten pine tree while working in he went to work in a forest on the East It could have been avoided. This is the life in Napier,” he said. the Whareratas. Cape in August, 2017, and never came chance to prevent future losses in the Mr Brooking said the people on the She knows what it is like to lose a home. forest.” ground needed to be at the decision- son in a forestry accident and not have Karen Black’s son Nathan (Nate) Miller CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ...... 11-12 Farming ........ 16-17 Television ....W9-12 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............13 Racing ................22 Sport ............ 28-32 TOMORROW National ..6-10,20-21 World....... 14-15,19 Classifieds .. 23-27 Weather .............31 977 1175467004 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, July 24, 2021 ROBOTICS DAY AT TONUI COLLAB: Carter and Monty Swanson (left) put their robotic creation to the test during Robotics Day as part of the Tonui Collab digital holiday programme. Others to enjoy the learning about everything from digital animation to virtual reality technology included Marcus Howard and Orum Blandford (above) and Adrian McGhie and Leilani Tamanui (below). Pictures by Rebecca Grunwell DIGITAL HOLIDAY FUN GISBORNE children have been at being robotics engineers, digital Some of the answers when children getting into robotics over the school animators, filmmakers, virtual and were asked what their favourite things break through Tonui Collab’s digital augmented reality techs and game were included — holiday programme. developers. “Going on an adventure in the “We have had over 200 tamariki “The best feedback is always jungle (digital animation workshop).” through these holidays,” Tonui Collab tamariki smiling and asking when they “Getting to see everybody’s education director Shanon O’Connor can come back, or the parents lettiing games and giving them a go (game said. us know their child couldn’t stop development workshop)” “Many are regulars although we smiling or talking about their day.” “I loved how it was different so have also had lots of tamariki here for As part of the programme, Tonui when you come to these workshops the first time.” encouragds feedback from the you’re not always doing the same The kids got to try their hands tamariki. thing.” Workers on the ground ‘don’t have a say’ FROM PAGE 1 as a support person. Some people tell him dangerous terrain were not the problem be harmed or killed in forestry and that Mr Brooking said the men on the he has sold out as it is the same company of today’s workers. inequity gap is continuing to grow.” ground in forestry don’t have a say. accused of not pressing for prosecutions “Leave the trees behind. And most It was hard to recruit workers into “They should have an opportunity to enough after a forestry accident. importantly start integral planning now, the forestry industry because of the be at those meetings where decisions are “But I’m passionate about keeping our and include the workers on the ground, safety record and the roading network made. people alive. Too many of our people are for the trees our grandchildren may be and port was not even coping in current “It’s all swivel chairs with air dying on the ground.” logging. This is inter-generational and we conditions, she said. conditioning making the decisions and Forestry worker advocate and whanau need to be strategic. “The forestry industry has been it is not working. We are still losing too support person Candice Gate said the “If Maori are going to be the largest given ample time and direction to make many lives. problem was systemic. forestry businesses by 2050 then where is changes to improve conditions and safety “We’ve had a five year fight to get to an “Victim blaming is status quo, and we their voice? of workers. But the industry’s priorities inquest after there was no prosecution. need to look at who makes the decisions. “Are the iwi leaders engaged and have been more focused on production It’s pretty gut-wrenching really. We’re “From where I am sitting it seems the forestry owners engaged? Or will they be and profit, which means lives continue to just here to hold the mana of our forestry industry is exploiting people and left the mess of broken lives, people and be lost. loved ones. Because when there’s no place.” land to deal with after all the money is “We need to be proactive. Get breaker- prosecution it looks like it’s their fault.” Mrs Gate said poor decisions made 30 gone and families ruined. outs and tree fallers off the ground and Mr Brooking is employed by WorkSafe years to plant pine trees on hilly and “Maori are 55 percent more likely to into machines.” LOOKING AHEAD ALL THE LATEST NEWS, INCLUDING: • From health professionals to sailors to smokefree Serious about 39266-01 shopping centre owners . it has been a voyage of discoveries for Mike and Marla Williams Selling? • Two Gisborne actors starring in second series of TV family So am I. drama Head High • Hauora Tairawhiti is looking to convert its ageing car fleet 027 515 5398 to electric vehicles • A review of Ngati Porou East Coast’s Ranfurly Shield Karyn Anderson challenge and the latest from the Tokyo Olympics E [email protected] MONDAY karynpropertybrokers 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 Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz PB048224 The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, July 24, 2021 NEWS 3 Teen girl Young entrepreneurs fired up dies after by Avneesh Vincent to use a whole row of fire starters using the original FIVE student market ones, but for ours entrepreneurs from they used only one and bicycle Gisborne Boys’ High School our ones burned for much are on fire over their new longer. business — Eco Starters. “Ten minutes long, quite accident Max Briant, Rewiti enough to start a fire,” Ropiha, Jacob Corrin, Eni Jacob said. THE 14-year-old girl involved in an Sinoti and Matariki Te Hau Eco Starters chief accident on Thursday while riding a bike started their business executive Max said they has died. selling eco fire starters initially got funding of $580 Willow Stone passed away in Gisborne earlier this year.