Saturday, January 16, 2021
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TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JANUARY 16-17, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.70 INSIDE TODAY BAY VIEW ‘THIS IS NOT A GAME’ BP ABLAZE GLOBAL COVID TOLL PASSES 2M PAGE 7 PAGE 14 ‘Staggered’ at concept ‘Major behaviour change’ required for speed limit revamp by Alice Angeloni unsealed network. “Maybe if you’re a rally car driver, but DRIVERS in Tairawhiti will require a not in reality.” “major behaviour change” if a move to This process had been about mapping lower speed limits across the region the speed limit against the speed that goes ahead. vehicles actually travelled, he said. The A revamp of speed limits in Tairawhiti report said the average speeds driven could see drivers slowed from 50kmh over the region’s roads tended to be to 40kmh on most of Gisborne’s urban lower than what was posted, especially roads, and 30kmh in the city centre and on winding and unsealed rural roads. near schools. Eastland Group chief operating officer The draft proposal suggests speed Andrew Gaddum, who is a community limits on council-managed rural roads, adviser for the committee, said in the which does not include state highways, meeting he was “staggered” at the drop from 100kmh to 80kmh. concept of four different speed zones Main routes around Gisborne that within the city, and five including drivers are encouraged to use, like Wainui. Ormond Rd, Roebuck Rd, Lytton Rd and “You’re going to have signs Gladstone Rd, would keep the 50kmh everywhere. People won’t know what speed limit. speed limit they’re in at any given time. The changes proposed in “It just seems an absolute a new speed management bugger’s muddle. The police plan would be consulted on will have a field day . It’s alongside the draft 2021- a concept I just can’t even 2031 Long-Term Plan in wrap my head around. March and April. “I just can’t see how you’re The draft plan was going to police it, or how presented to the Regional people are going to know Transport committee on what they’re supposed to be December 3 and covered doing.” recommended speed limits Safety was central to the for the rural townships of Te Araroa and case put forth for lowering speed limits, Matawai, along with the Gisborne CBD. with the report saying speed increased It said a follow-up report would focus the likelihood and severity of crashes, on the rest of the city and immediate and a small reduction in speed could surrounds, including the Flats and make a “big difference” especially when Wainui. cyclists and pedestrians were involved. A report from council staff said any Analysis of crash data where deaths changes to speed limits would need and serious injury had been caused a “prolonged education campaign” showed the Gisborne district was 1.5 and would require a “major behaviour times worse than the national average. change” in the community. There have been 36 fatal and 245 Speed reductions would not serious crashes on roads in Tairawhiti, “significantly increase” journey times including State Highways, over the during peak traffic, but it would be past decade, according to New Zealand noticeable during off-peak periods, the Transport Agency’s crash analysis report said. database. Council director community lifelines These crashes resulted in 45 deaths, David Wilson said the community had 308 serious and 1235 minor injuries. to consider whether the speed limits in The top three contributing factors place on rural roads and through rural to fatal and serious injury crashes communities were appropriate. were alcohol, poor handling and travel “You cannot drive 100kmh on our speed. SLOWING DOWN: A revamp of speed limits in Tairawhiti could see drivers slowed from 50kmh to 40kmh on most of Gisborne’s urban roads and 30kmh in the city centre. File picture GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ...... 11-12 Classifieds....22-27 Farming ....... 17-18 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............13 Television ....W9-11 Sport ............ 28-32 TOMORROW National ..... 6-10,19 World............ 14-16 Racing ................20 Weather .............31 977 1175467004 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, January 16, 2021 Adding their touch to Waikanae Stream plantings THE banks of the Waikanae Stream have manager of Fulton Hogan East Coast’s The next step will be the application of Conservation. had a spruce-up thanks to volunteers from newest department, Tiaki Wai, to see where organic spray to help suppress the weeds. The $23.755m Redeployment Programme Fulton Hogan. a little injection of “extra energy” would go a “The Waikanae Stream plantings are still was established in response to the impact of This week a crew of 17 — including long way. relatively young and will most certainly Covid-19 with the aim of providing work and seven from the Tairawhiti Economic Support “While out walking my dog, I noticed the benefit from Fulton Hogan’s energy and training for 220 people, but exceeded that Package Redeployment Programme — area needed a bit of help so it seemed a effort.” and supported 236 people into employment. headed to the inner city waterway to clear good place to head,” Mr Tamanui said. Tiaki Wai core kaupapa is the flood The programme has been funded through the weeds from around the native plants and Tiaki Wai is the first Fulton Hogan protection scheme and water flow the Ministry of Business, Innovation and give the area a bit of a boost. department nationwide to have a te reo management, and the team feels this small Employment, administered by the Provincial Fulton Hogan’s safety, quality, training and name. contribution benefits stream quality and Development Unit and managed by Gisborne environmental regional manager David Butler “They’re a passionate team of experts who survival of many small fish life. District Council. Everyone on the programme said the company was often on the lookout look after our waterways, and are key to our The plantings at the Waikanae Stream came through the Ministry of Social for projects or work they could volunteer to operations,” Mr Butler said. have been done by the Women’s Native Tree Development, with the goal of ensuring do that would benefit the whole community. All involved agreed the Waikanae Stream Project Trust and Tairawhiti Environment all not only find work but pick up new Particularly keen on giving back to the work was an excellent way to start the New Centre with support from the Gisborne skills, qualifications and the opportunity of environment, he approached Tane Tamananui, Year. District Council and the Department of meaningful, long term employment. MUCKING IN: Fulton Hogan staff volunteered to clean up Waikanae Stream. They are back, from left, Richard Mason, Ngahiwi Manuel, Sarah Comber, Hadfield Kutia, Darcy August, Ian Wolfe, Roger Tahau, David Butler and Peter Hatten. Front, from left, Tane Tamanui, Edward Wood, Liam Marsh, Mike Higgs, Ned Teepa, Josh McKay. Picture by Paul Rickard Chance for businesses to celebrate innovation BUSINESSES are urged to let people to take stock, share their experiences and and celebrates the diversity and reluctant businesses to put forward an know about the innovation they showed achievements, recognise their teams and resilience of the Tairawhiti regional entry. in overcoming Covid-19. to celebrate together.” economy. “While winning the top award was a Nominations for the 2021 Westpac The event is co-sponsored by Westpac As a regional competition, Westpac and very proud moment, the true benefit to Tairawhiti Business Excellence Awards and Trust Tairawhiti and entries close Trust Tairawhiti have sought to partner CPS was the awards process,” a Civil open today and Westpac commercial and on March 31, with judging taking place with local organisations to celebrate local Project Solutions statement said. agriculture area manager Joshua Dear throughout April and May. businesses. “The process forced us to look critically said this was a chance to tell some of the Finalists will be notified at the end of For example, the Gisborne Chamber at our business, reflect on how far we “remarkable stories of innovation and May, with the awards presentation and of Commerce said it was “thrilled” to had come and reassess where we wanted resilience” from Kiwi businesses in the dinner on Friday, June 18. be a major supporter of the business to go.” past 12 months. Television personality and raconteur excellence awards for 2021, “as we yet Trust Tairawhiti chief executive Gavin “2020 was a challenging year, but we’ve Jeremy Corbett will be the Master of again partner with Westpac and Trust Murphy said the awards “celebrate the been so proud to see the hard work and Ceremonies for the awards night at the Tairawhiti to celebrate and acknowledge businesses that are creating positive creativity from so many Kiwi companies. Farmers Air Showgrounds Event Centre. the exceptional businesses within the impact in our communities and are “The awards provide an invaluable The Westpac Tairawhiti Business Tairawhiti region”. helping to shape a region of shared opening to reflect on success. These Excellence Awards have been designed The most recent winners of the pride, shared prosperity and shared awards are an opportunity for businesses to provide a competition that recognises Supreme Award encouraged any opportunity”. LOOKING AHEAD Get your ALL THE LATEST NEWS, INCLUDING: Gisborne Herald • Big trees at Gisborne Intermediate come down. • Search for missing honeymooners, 59 years home-delivered after plane goes down. • Shark tales from days gone by • Midway development starting soon • National surf champs