TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 Wairoa Mayor harassment investigation cost $55,000 DETAILS around Wairoa Mayor Craig Little’s Code of Conduct investigation over alleged harassment that cost ratepayers $55,000 in settlement and legal costs have been revealed. Stuff reported the investigation was sparked by a female employee after she complained to Wairoa District Council’s chief executive officer about Mr Little’s alleged behaviour towards her in mid-2017. The complainant claimed the Mayor’s behaviour breached the standards of ethical behaviour and the respect for others outlined in the council’s Code of Conduct. A preliminary assessment of the complaint by council concluded a full investigation was warranted and an independent investigator was instructed to carry this out. But before that went ahead the employee, who no longer works at the council, withdrew the complaint and said they had no objection to the council ceasing the investigation and taking no further action. The council spent $55,652, which included an undisclosed sum paid in compensation to the complainant, as well as legal fees incurred by the council and the complainant. Stuff reported that Mr Little would not comment and referred a request for comment to Wairoa District Council chief executive officer Steven May. In a statement, the council said the investigation was stopped after the complainant withdrew her complaint and DIVERSIFYING TO MEET DEMAND: Easts Outdoor Work and Leisure in Makaraka has adapted to the “the employment relationship between the Covid-19 times by making PVC face shields. As the country heads towards Alert Level 3 status next week, owners Dean Cook council and the employee was ceased by (pictured on the job) and wife Teresa saw there was a demand for face shields so set up their Makaraka workshop to produce mutual agreement”. these. “We’ve had a steady stream of orders — from Kaiaponi Farms and IMS, which is an industrial maintenance company, “Wairoa District Council followed the people doing home inspections, Walters Plumbing and Stenerson and Kain Opticians, as well as individuals wanting shields,” said employment law and as a responsible Mrs Cook. “We were lucky to get a delivery of PVC yesterday from Auckland as we could show it was an essential item.” They got employer protected the rights of all parties involved,” the statement said. — NZ Herald the idea after seeing a similar business in Nelson had started making face shields. A family-owned business, Easts is a saddlery that also sells canvas, sheepskin and leather goods, camping equipment, workwear and giftware. Picture by Liam Clayton by Sophie Rishworth someone else’s, they were stock and I wanted to return them to MULTIPLE investigations their owner,” Mr Gardner said. are under way after two piglets He had been planning on were shot on a Valley Road doing that over the weekend Pig shootings property last week. but on Thursday heard The piglets, estimated to gunshots. be around five months old, Mr Gardner said the animal were shot from the side of the control officers were “a bunch road by two Gisborne District of cowboys” to shoot from the Council animal control officers side of the road. last Thursday morning. Their actions left one piglet condemned The pigs had with its nose shot escaped from a off and the other in ‘A BUNCH OF Massey Road We’re talking shock. COWBOYS’: That’s property the week piglets‘ here, “We’re talking how Jon Gardner before. They were piglets here, not has described animal seen around Hill not rampaging rampaging wild control officers who Road and were wild boars boars.” shot two stray piglets reported by a —Jon Gardner’ A police on his property last resident whose investigation is week. Gisborne District garden and under way after Mr Council is investigating grounds were Gardner’s neighbour the incident. Mr Gardner uprooted by the pigs. heard the gunshots, saw men tracked down and The animals ended up on the standing by an unmarked ute euthanised the pigs, one Valley Road property of Jon and got out his gun to fire a of which had suffered Gardner. warning shot into the air. its nose being shot off. He told The Gisborne Herald “He was trying to protect my This recent picture of Mr he did not give council officers property,” said Mr Gardner. Gardner was taken by permission to shoot the pigs The pig shootings follow The Herald after a wood- on his land, did not know they an incident at Mr Gardner’s splitting machine was were going to do that and had property in January when stolen from his Valley tracked down the owners days thieves cut through a fence Road property. Thieves before and organised the return and stole a custom-made wood- cut through a fence to of the pigs. splitting machine. gain access. “Once I knew they were CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............10 Racing ................15 Television ..........21 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............11 Farming ..............19 Sport ............ 22-24 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ... 6-9, 17-18 World............ 12-14 Classifieds .........20 Weather .............23 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, April 22, 2020 YA GOTTA LAUGH... CONGRATULATIONS folks. If all that is left in the spirits cabinet is a half- Tomorrow we will have been in Level 4 lockdown drunk bottle of duty-free Malibu that has been for four weeks. gathering dust for 20 years but you refuse to lower That’s 28 days. 672 hours. 40,320 seconds. yourself to such a desperate level and polish it off If you’ve kept control of those homicidal urges — way to go. towards incessantly whining children in your However, if you feel sanity is a finish line moving bubble, pat yourself on the back. further into the distance as plot-losing and stir- If you have resisted the temptation to mow the crazy creep up menacingly behind you, remember already manicured lawns for the fifth time or add that old saying — “laughter is the best medicine”. a 20th loaf of bread to the pantry cupboard — good Here’s a few social media memes to help bring for you. you back to your happy place. Home schooling going well... two students suspended for fighting; one teacher fired for drinking on the job Get your Gisborne Herald • He got kicked out of Science classes for writing rap but now Bread Charity founder home-delivered and former Gisborne school student Mustafa Sheikh has released his debut song, What About You? • Pink Floyd to play live (more or less) in a series of concerts in your living room. • Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Lizzo and many more artists bring One World: Together At Home Special to Celebrate Covid-19 Workers to a small screen near you. TOMORROW PLUS: MUSIC GUIDE • FILM REVIEWS • GUIDE GOSSIP 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: Grant Miller/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 • Wednesday, April 22, 2020 NEWS 3 Testing centre medical staff offer assurances by Jonathan Rush and Wynsley Wrigley STAFF at the War Memorial Theatre Assessment Centre are encouraging the public to visit for overall health assessments, including Covid-19 tests. “We would love you to be tested,” Dr Patrick Ney says in a Gisborne Herald video report. From Three Rivers Medical Dr Ney, now based at the War Memorial Theatre Assessment Centre, said potential Covid-19 symptoms include fever, a cough, sore throat or runny nose and a loss of smell or taste. “We take extraordinary measures to both assure the safety of staff and to ensure the safety of patients coming through,” Dr Ney said. “We wear extensive personal protective equipment (PPE). “We have procedures in place to ensure there is minimum contact. “We ensure that everything is cleaned and wiped down, so the risks are very, very low. “Wearing PPE obviously provides good protection for both us and the patient. “The challenges are that you’re wearing multiple layers, you’re dressed from head to toe and it can become very hot — pretty uncomfortable. “You feel a little bit separated from the patient and unable to provide that facial assurance. “A lot of people are fearful when they see CURTAIN UP: The War Memorial Theatre has been transformed us dressed head to toe with our protective for the duration of lockdown into an assessment centre. Instead equipment, a little bit overwhelmed. of actors, dancers and performers taking to the boards, Hauora “I think there’s certainly some fear in respect Tairawhiti staff in full PPE are on stage administering tests for to actually undertaking the swab.” Covid-19. Above, registered nurse Rachel Hales is greeted for her The Herald’s video report followed one test (inset). The test returned negative. Pictures by Jonathan Rush person through the testing regime from start to finish last week. Most people breathed a sight of relief after assessment centre. A person who self-referred would be tested illnesses. they were tested, Dr Ney said. The public could self-refer and come down to “but you might have to be patient”. The procedure was relatively minor. “It wasn’t nearly bad as they imagined it to the centre between 1pm and 3pm, seven days There were days when the centre was very “We’re are doing the testing to ensure be.” a week.