TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 ‘GUTTED’ SURF LIFESAVING NATIONALS CANCELLED PAGE 3 SLOW LANE WAITING WEEKS TO SIT DRIVER LICENCE TEST PAGE 4 RECONNECTING: East Coast actress Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne plays the role of an adult Makareta in the New Zealand movie Cousins, which had its Gisborne premiere last night. In this scene, Makareta receives a moko kauae. Themes of colonisation, separation and cultural identity are explored in this drama about three young cousins whose lives take decidedly different paths but are reconnected many years later through a twist of fate. Te Araroa-raised Ngatai-Melbourne says she drew on her upbringing in her role and came to appreciate the importance of Maori storytelling while filming. She hope all those who see the movie take something from it. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT STORY ON PAGE 2 PICTURES SUPPLIED PAGES 23 - 26 ‘EVERY DOSE COUNTS’ On track to complete 300 vaccinations this week “TRAILBLAZING” efforts to vaccinate “At each stage there were enthusiastic, sequencing developed by the Ministry of “I also want to pay tribute to our the first 300 eligible Tairawhiti residents knowledgeable people working as a Health. trailblazing border workers and their against Covid-19 have reached the concerted team to get the job done. Mr Green said there had been much households. You have shown us all how to halfway mark. “This was the first day of vaccinating feedback on how appreciative people step up and put the safety of your families Tairawhiti vaccinators are on target 38,000 Tairawhiti people in about nine were to get vaccinated, and how “friendly, and the wider community up front. to reach their initial immunisation goal, months. welcoming and professional the whole “We are focused on making sure every with 144 people receiving their first “Soon the first people arrived. There vaccination team is”. dose counts. Doses are limited at this Covid-19 vaccine between Saturday and was an air of caution and excitement He paid tribute to the team — stage. We know that there is a huge, pent- Tuesday. for all. There were many checks to vaccinators, clerical people, support up desire from people to get vaccinated. “We hope to complete giving border make sure the process was correct and people and kaiawhina, who were at the “The vaccination team have set us up workers, the people they live with and the vaccine ready to vaccination centre each well for the rest of the campaign. our team of local vaccinators their first be used, with border day. “Their planning has turned out spot-on. dose of the vaccine this week,” said workers and their The vaccination team “I acknowledge “It will inform the huge task ahead Hauora Tairawhiti chief executive Jim household members ‘have set us up well for the the wider team of keeping our whole community safe from Green. keen to get protected — rest of the campaign communications, the threat of Covid-19.” About 300 people are eligible at this a process that all of us — Hauora Tairawhiti’ chief management and The first shipment of thawed vaccines stage for the initial roll-out of the Pfizer- will take part in over executive Jim Green clinical leadership arrived in Gisborne on Friday and all BioTech vaccine which is 95 percent the coming months.” supporting the were used within the required five days. effective after two doses. High-risk, front- programme’s success. Another shipment had arrived since, Mr Green said Saturday morning was line health, fire and “They have designed said a health board spokeswoman. a hive of activity as final preparations emergency services workers who are at the whole process to maximise our Covid-19 Response Minister Chris were made for the first doses of the the highest risk of exposure to Covid-19 opportunity as a community and make Hipkins yesterday said that more than vaccine. are the next group to be vaccinated. people feel as comfortable as possible. 9000 doses had been given since the roll- “I walked the pathway people would Age- care workers and residents, “Every little detail has been thought out began almost three weeks ago. take to enter the building, go through those with underlying health conditions, through — from way-finding to welcoming, More than half of New Zealand’s 12,000 registration and on to vaccination, and kaumatua and older people will also from special messages to care packages border workers had received their first the 30-minute waiting period afterwards. be prioritised according to the roll-out once the vaccination is over. vaccination. GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Classifieds ... 18-19 Racing ................27 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Television ...........22 Sport ............ 28-32 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ..... 6-10,20 World............ 13-16 The Guide ... 23-26 Weather .............31 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, March 4, 2021 Delays for gorge travellers Covid puts the kibosh on MOTORISTS travelling through the Waioeka for two weeks in mid-April while the reinforcing Gorge can expect delays from Monday as Waka product is applied. A single-lane closure will be in weekend fishing comps Kotahi NZ Transport Agency starts strengthening place day and night for all other traffic during this work on Omoko Bridge on State Highway 2. period and Waka Kotahi is continuing to work with THE fish have been given a heaviest snapper. Omoko is the second of six bridges to be our contractors and engineers to consider options reprieve this weekend with two fishing Anglers can register on the day up to strengthened as part of the SH2 Waioeka Gorge to reduce disruption. competitions rescheduled due to the 10am, with lines in the water from 6am HPMV (high productivity motor vehicles) bridge “Elsewhere in the Waioeka Gorge, significant Covid-19 alert level change. to midday. strengthening project. road repairs approximately 3km to 4km north of the The Fishing Comp at Midway There will be a free barbecue and There will be a lane closure under stop/go traffic Omoko Bridge will get under way from Monday and surfcasting event, which was to be held kids play zone with bouncy castle and management, with a 30kmh temporary speed limit are expected to last approximately three weeks. on Saturday, has been postponed to games, along with entertainment for the from Monday to Friday between 6am and 7pm. “There is also resurfacing work scheduled to Saturday, March 13. adults as well. “Motorists should expect delays of five to 10 begin on Monday at the Omaukoro Bridge, north The family-friendly event has a total Also caught in the Covid-19 net is minutes during these hours. Over-dimension of Wairata Road. Lane closures with stop/go traffic prize pool of over $3000, including the the Farmlands Gisborne fundraising vehicles may be delayed by up to 20 minutes management and a temporary speed limit will major prize of a family getaway valued competition at Gisborne Tatapouri while equipment is moved to allow them past,” a be in place, with frequent full road closures of in excess of $1500. Sports Fishing Club. statement said. approximately 20 minutes. Motorists should expect Categories are heaviest kahawai, The fundraiser for The Sunrise “The route will be closed to vehicles heavier delays of up to 30 minutes. This work is expected snapper and other species, average Foundation has been postponed from than high productivity motor vehicles (HPMV) to take one to two days to complete.” kahawai and kids’ heaviest fish and tomorrow to Friday, April 16. Role inspired by home FROM FRONT PAGE She was originally cast as Missy who is by Matai O’Connor cheeky, insecure, often overlooked and the heartbeat of her family, but it changed as EAST Coast actor Tioreore Ngatai- the actors of the older characters changed. Melbourne stars in the highly-anticipated “It was a new challenge but I rose to New Zealand film Cousins, which had its the occasion. Hariata Moriarty plays Gisborne premiere last night. Missy and we both understood we Ngatai-Melbourne, of Te Araroa, plays had a job to do. It was actually quite a adult Makareta in the movie based compliment as well. The directors (Ainsley on Patricia Grace’s 1992 novel about Gardiner and Briar Grace-Smith) could three cousins — Makareta, Missy and see who was best for what character.” Mata — who are separated by different Ngatai-Melbourne learned about the circumstances, then reunited by chance importance of Maori storytelling while years later. shooting the film. Makareta is raised to be the princess of “Being a Maori production made me her tribe — spoilt and educated in Maori feel really comfortable with the people I and Pakeha worlds. was with. It also made me realise Maori Mata is taken from her whanau, storytelling is important. There’s not a lot placed in an orphanage and lives out her of wahine Maori writing about us, for us. childhood in fear and bewilderment. “I recently have started writing to see Back on their whanau land, Makareta what stories I can share.” flees an arranged marriage while Missy, Ngatai-Melbourne travelled home to Te the third cousin, takes her place as bride Araroa last week for a private screening and becomes kaitiaki (guardian) of the of Cousins for her whanau, hapu and iwi. whenua. “It was amazing to see our community However, the pair never give up hoping ON SET: Makareta, played by Te Araroa-raised Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, in the together and happy. Usually when we get that Mata will one day return home. weaving room set at Te Waiiti Marae, Rotorua, during filming for the movie Cousins.