TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 HAVE YOUR SAY ON CITY’S PAGE 4 PAGES 6, 10-12, 15 HEAVY TRAFFIC ROUTES PAGE 3 COVID-19NEW •PBL Aussies to resume Kiwi deportations AU REVOIR TO • Man’s car egged in racist attack THE RESTAURANT PAGE• Record 3 rate of 230,370 cases in a day TRADE • No let-up in Victoria outbreak ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK: Maori showband-styled foursome, the Modern Maori Quartet, took their smooth vocals and banter to a stage borrowed from Rhythm and Vines for yesterday’s Matariki 2020 concert. Held under the Town Clock and midwinter sun, the band was one of several top acts who brought people together for the Gisborne/East Coast celebration of the Maori New Year. STORY ON PAGE 2 Picture by Liam Clayton Five-star recovery ASB scorecard rates Gisborne’s economy fastest growing in NZ again by Andrew Ashton “The region went into the crisis with Gisborne’s share of the overall economy strong per person growth (such as from a plenty of momentum. Housing market remains at 0.7 percent. sharp boost in a region’s productivity). A $355 MILLION splurge on new car strength saw house price growth top Mr Tuffley said he expected that to “In general, Gisborne has had a good sales here has helped retain a five-star the nationwide ranks remain constant in the run of momentum leading into the Covid rating for the regional economy, a new over the quarter. short term. downturn. It has been quite noticeable report says. Retail trade and new Retail sales grew 9.2 “It would take a in the Regional Scoreboard over the past ASB’s latest Regional Economic car registrations also percent to $157 million sustained difference few years that generally it has been the Scorecard report rates Gisborne’s grew more here than in economic growth export-focused regions such as Gisborne, economy as the fastest growing in New anywhere else.” for the quarter while new rates to markedly shift Hawke’s Bay and Otago that have Zealand for the fourth quarter running. Retail sales grew car sales were up 5.3 any region’s share of performed best during a period of good As many other regional economies 9.2 percent to $157m for percent to $335m. GDP (gross domestic export incomes. struggled over the first three months of the quarter while new product),” he said. “That income will have contributed to the year following impacts from Covid-19, car sales were up “An increase in the the general flow of money into the region Gisborne has bucked the trend. 5.3 percent to $335m. GDP share can occur that has supported retail spending and “Gisborne is significantly exposed West Coast was the only other region through either strong population growth the housing market, for example.” to the impact of Covid-19,” ASB chief to experience a growth in car sales — up for a long period compared to other economist Nick Tuffley said. 1.5 percent. regions, or through a sustained period of CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............10 Television ...........16 Sport ............ 20-24 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............11 Classifieds ... 17-18 Weather .............23 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ...... 6-9, 15 World............ 12-14 Racing ................19 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Monday, July 13, 2020 by Mark Peters Mr Whatarau. armchairs in a lounge-like shelter to A man flew a black, white and red the left of the stage. The concert was an WITH all the trouble going on in tino rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty opportunity to bring everyone together, the world, Modern Maori Quartet flag in front of the sound and light said one visitor. Low-key would perform a sunny song, said technicians’ tent as the Maori “It’s a time for celebration. I’m a band member Matariki Whatarau at showband-styled foursome broke into a teacher and we’ve been learning about the Matariki 2020 concert yesterday. reggae version of the heartbreak song, the stars.” The creamy-voiced act and the band’s I Don’t Want To Talk About It. The star she particularly looked sunny banter captured the tone of the public The Witchdoctor’s lead singer/ forward to though was Rob Ruha. Maori new year celebration under guitarist Tyna Keelan, who Along with Ria Hall, Ruha joined The the Town Clock and midwinter sun co-organised the free concert with Witchdoctor in a song with the message yesterday. Athena Emmerson-Kapa of TroTAK, “know our history”. vibe at Co-organised by East Coast Music shredded the air with an extended lead Opa Ria looked forward to seeing all Ltd and Te Runanga o Turanganui a break then introduced the drummer. the bands. Kiwa (TRoTAK), the event the free “It’s great to have one of the greatest “It’s good to have such top quality concert hosted top acts that ranged drummers in the world here so I’m music. This is a good thing for the from local bands The Ashes, and going to make him do a drum solo.” community; to get people out and Matariki Supreme Brother Sound, to Ria Hall, Mr Keelan’s guitar lead break was about.” Rob Ruha, and The Witchdoctor. followed by an old-school drubbing “It’s freaking positive,” enthused The music and the humour was of the drums the musician clearly Gisborne Girls’ High School social distinctively New Zealand and relished. science teacher Laurie Harrison. concert downbeat. Most of the crowd stood or sat in “You have lots of gumboots, it’s “Another song by another famous the sun. Kaumatua and kuia took casual, everybody’s happy, and Maori. His name is Rod Stewart,” said advantage of the comfort of sofas and everyone knows everyone.” BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE: Te Iwi Ngaro Cheffers-Shaw and Ngareta Rangihuna, with moko Keanu Leach (1) snug on her lap, enjoyed the sounds of yesterday’s Matariki 2020 festival from the comfort of a leather couch. Above and top right, local band Supreme Brother Sound entertained with their distinctive mix of soul, funk and R&B. Middle right, La vie en rose Aupouri checks out the scene from Hoana Aupouri’s shoulders and, bottom right, Lorraine Waititi, Maisie Pohatu and Gypsy Te Maro were wrapped up warm in the comfort of the area set aside for kaumatua and kuia. Pictures by Liam Clayton The Gisborne Herald • Monday, July 13, 2020 NEWS 3 Public feedback sought on heavy vehicle routes GISBORNE District Council begins community consultation today to seek feedback on recommendations to restrict heavy vehicles in the city to a single highway route. The council is supporting recommendations made in a report by engineering consultancy WSP, which considered the social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects of maintaining the current dual heavy vehicle routes through Ormond and Awapuni roads. The report recommends a single highway route and considers Harper Road as the ideal connecting route from the Waimata Valley to the state highway and prefers Hirini Street as the single access route to the port. The results of this community engagement will help inform whether draft provisions for heavy vehicle routes are included in the regional Traffic and Parking Bylaw up for review this year. Acting council chief executive David Wilson said this was an excellent opportunity for the community to have its say on an issue that affects everyone. INCOMING, OUTGOING: As one fully-laden log truck heads into the city along Awapuni Road this morning, another empty truck “There’s no doubt that having two heads out. Gisborne District Council is seeking public feedback on a report recommending heavy traffic be restricted to a single heavy freight routes through our city route rather than the current dual routes of Awapuni and Ormond roads. Picture by Liam Clayton impacts our community significantly,” he said. “We believe that by having a single routes they should take.” Awarua administration building in Staff will have hard copies if the public highway route we can get our freight to The community will be able to give Fitzherbert Street from July 27 to would rather write their comments. port, while reducing this impact. feedback online at the council website July 30 from 5pm-7pm. Maps will also be available. “This isn’t an easy discussion to have from July 13 until August 7. Council staff will have devices with a To give feedback, learn more and to but with the projected increase of truck Community drop-in sessions, where new programme they have developed — read the WSP report, go to www.gdc. numbers on our city roads it’s important council staff will be available to discuss called Socialpinpoint — to help the public govt.nz and click on the Have Your Say that everyone gives their views on the and advise, will be held at the council’s make comments on the proposal. section. Cautious optimism Breaking new ground with an eye on by Mark Peters THE site has been blessed, the the global horizon ground has been broken and today the concrete base was being poured in FROM PAGE 1 recovery while protecting our readiness for installation of the Matai people and our environment. Research module. Gisborne Chamber of “We have our work cut out Based at the Gisborne Hospital Commerce president Paul for us.” grounds, the prefabricated module will Naske said the ranking was The Regional Economic house Matai Research’s state-of-the- not a surprise. Scoreboard takes the latest art MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) “There is a lot of activity quarterly regional statistics machine.