TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 IMMIGRATION SLAMMED PAGE 6 AS CRUISE VISIT CANNED STEP PAGE 3 CLOSER TO VACCINE Arts & Entertainment INSIDE TODAY ROLL-OUT Pages 23-26 SUCCESS STORY: Kupa Simpson was one of the many who upskilled and gained qualifications through the Tairawhiti Economic Support Package Redeployment Programme. He was one of 24 people Arborcare employed through the programme and among those who have moved on to other employment — in Kupa’s case, a full-time job with McNatty Construction. The redeployment programme contributed to a sharp rise in Gisborne’s labour force numbers over 2020. Picture by The Black Balloon Labour force surge, ON THE JOB unemployment drop by Andrew Ashton The figures also show a growth of Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said approach between several parties, about 4600 workers in the region’s labour the numbers were “wonderful news” after including GDC (Gisborne District QUICK action and a collaborative force, now estimated to be about 32,200. a tough year for everyone. Council), MSD (Ministry of Social regional approach to economic recovery The region’s labour force participation “We reached out to the Government Development), PDU (Provincial are pointed to as major reasons for a rate has also grown from 70.4 percent to early on in 2020 when we became aware Development Unit), Eastland Group and significant turnaround in the region’s 73.1 percent over the year. of our forestry industry being adversely Trust Tairawhiti. unemployment rate and huge rise in the Labour force participation rate is the affected by the unfolding pandemic. “We could not have done this without region’s workforce. percentage of the civilian population “We were lucky to secure funding from supportive employers willing to guide Official unemployment statistics 16 years and older who the Government to run a and mentor some workers. released by Statistics New Zealand are working or actively redeployment programme “I have spoken to several of the yesterday show unemployment over the looking for work. ...“wonderful news” across the region. workers who were part of the programme combined Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne Gisborne Chamber of after a tough year for This was finalised a and they were grateful for the regions rose to 5.7 percent at the end of Commerce said the new everyone. week before the lockdown opportunities offered to them — training, December. figures represented what and the Government mentoring, as well as the opportunity to However, additional data supplied its members were seeing. —Mayor Rehette Stoltz allowed us to vary the move into permanent employment. to The Gisborne Herald by StatsNZ “The figures reflect contract to include “We redeployed more than 236 people estimates that when taken separately, what is happening in the workers from other (the target was 200) and after the Gisborne’s unemployment rate is lower local economy — from industry once it became programme, 160 workers transitioned — 4.9 percent. a myriad of construction projects and clear the pandemic would affect all into other employment. Stats NZ estimates there are now 300 business expansion projects to a strong industry, not only forestry. “I am proud of our collaborative region- fewer unemployed, with the district’s horticulture, forestry and farming “We are seeing those results now,” said wide effort to redeploy workers during unemployment rate falling from 6.8 sectors,” chamber president Paul Naske Mayor Stoltz. the pandemic and also help transition percent in December 2019. said. “It was a Tairawhiti-wide collaborative them into meaningful employment.” GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Classifieds ... 16-18 Racing ................27 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Television ...........22 Sport ............ 28-32 National 6-10,20-21 World............ 13-15 The Guide ... 23-26 Weather .............31 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, February 4, 2021 Family Planning nurses to strike THREE Gisborne workers below the Living Wage, which are among 100 New Zealand is absolutely unacceptable. Nurses Organisation (NZNO) “Because of this pay inequity, members working for the members say it is getting very Family Planning Association difficult to find and keep staff, (FPA) who will strike for 24 and this makes it harder for hours on February 17. people in need to access this The strike notice was specialist service. issued this week after The FPA says the situation members rejected the latest is the result of a decade of offer in collective agreement underfunding but Ms Wilson negotiations because it failed says that does not justify the to fully address longstanding undervaluation of their work. wage inequity and did not “NZNO acknowledge that the provide a tangible process FPA have sought additional IN THE to achieve this, NZNO lead Government funding in the SWING advocate Chris Wilson said. past to no avail but staff at the FPA staff were “simply FPA should not have to pay OF THINGS: asking” for their expertise to for the shortfall by working for Jamie Oomen-Rewiri, be recognised by giving them lower wages. above, goes for an equitable pay. The parties will attend after-school ride on “FPA nurses provide expert mediation next Wednesday and the basket swing at care in sexual and reproductive it is hoped a resolution will be the Botanical Gardens health for our communities found. yesterday while and have to train and attain “These members have never Matanginui Kapua, additional competencies to gone on strike and don’t want right, has fun in a chair deliver the services Family to. They are passionate about swing. The first term of Planning provides, including their work and want to attract the 2021 school year nurse prescribing. more staff to the service,” Ms started yesterday for “However, experienced FPA Wilson said. some students, with nurses are currently paid at “But in order to do so, many more returning least 8 percent less than their all administration and to the classroom or heath board counterparts. receptionists must have a attending school for “FPA nurse practitioners Living Wage, and nurses must the first time today. earn between 10 and be paid the same as their peers. 27 percent less than if they Not doing so is an injustice Pictures by worked in a health board. for health workers and it Rebecca “Three out of the four pay ultimately affects the quality Grunwell rates for medical receptionist of care they provide for the and administration roles are community.” Snap! Jan 2021 weather near repeat of Jan 2020 THE first month of the year millimetres and only two rain quarters have kept daytime degrees last week. However, last year a much has been almost a mirror image days of significance, the month temperatures from exceeding January 2020 had 295 hours bigger part of the North Island of the previous two Januaries, fell short of the 30-year average the norm. of sun while January 2019 had was drier than at the moment. delivering drier and sunnier (1981-2010) of 56mm. Despite that, the city a whopping 324.7 hours — the The contrary La Nina weather than usual. Only 8mm of rain has fallen experienced a 35-degree day all-time high since official conditions are still in effect, January 2021 was almost since January 8. on January 27 and some records started in 1937. with high pressure systems spot-on the 30-year average for The soil moisture deficit has particularly warm nights. Daily climate maps from Niwa crossing further south than temperature, with a mean daily steadily climbed, touching a The lack of rain naturally (National Institute of Water and normal, and all indications from maximum of 24.8 degrees, a daily loss rate of 5.9mm last follows from a lack of cloud and Atmospheric Research) show various climate agencies that mean daily minimum of 14 and week. the clear skies provided high the Gisborne-East Coast district similar conditions will prevail an overall daily mean of 19.2. The deficit is now almost ultraviolet levels and an above is about as dry as the same time until March. However, it is in the rain 140mm, which is a fraction average dose of sunshine hours. last year. MetService’s extended and sun departments that the drier than at the same time last Gisborne received 296 The whole of the coast from forecast says the high pressure month is following the previous year. hours of sun compared to the East Cape to Wairarapa is listed system over New Zealand is two years. Twenty days of winds from 30-year average of 240, and as dry in the Niwa Hotspot expected to deliver fair weather With a rainfall of 47.8 the easterly and southerly sea temperatures rose to 19.9 Watch. until next week. — RH LOOKING AHEAD Vicki Coley SPORTS Sells Real Estate • Blockbuster clash as champs Liverpool take on league leaders Manchester City in Premier League football. • Latest from the America’s Cup as Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK count down to the Prada Cup final to decide who meets Team New Zealand. • There’s only one thing on the mind of American sports fans at home and overseas — Monday’s FOCUS ON THE LAND Super Bowl LV TOMORROw SATuRdAy Vicki Coley Residential Sales Consultant The Gisborne Herald, 64 Gladstone Road, P.O. Box 1143, Gisborne • Phone (06) 869 0600 • Fax (Editorial) (06) 869 0643 (Advertising) (06) 869 0644 For a free no obligation appraisal call me. Editor: Jeremy Muir • Chief Reporter: Andrew Ashton • Circulation: Cara Haines • Sports: Jack Malcolm/John Gillies P 021 641 997 E [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz 32806-02 The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, February 4, 2021 NEWS 3 NOT COMING: Luxury ship Le Laperouse was scheduled to visit Gisborne on March 13 as part of a series of New Zealander-only cruises but all cruises have been cancelled due to visa issues Biker named ‘Cruel blow’ to industry as POLICE yesterday released the name of the motorcyclist who died on Sunday when his machine left SH2 north of Matawai and he and the bike struck a roadside barrier.