SATuRDAy, ApRIL 24, 2021 Getting out and about to see the mahi . Mayor Rehette Stoltz (centre) with Fulton Hogan foreman Hayden Stuart (left) and Tairāwhiti Redeployment programme worker Trent Kake on the Totangi Road at Ngatapa which was re-metalled as part of the TRp. Photo by The Black Balloon redepLoYMent SUcceSS When Covid-19 hit, Tairāwhiti community leaders ensured the region was at the front of the line and received a $23.755m redeployment package from the Government. It was a big coming together, with huge effort from MP Kiri Allan, and the end result is again leading the nation with the Tairāwhiti Redeployment Programme going beyond expectations. The programme has highlighted the benefits for Tairāwhiti when there is community collaboration like this. Diana Dobson talks to those who brought the TRP together. ollowing the first economic effects the Ministry of Business, Innovation and The programme exceeded its goal of While initially established for displaced of the Covid-19 lockdown last year, Employment, administered by the Provincial redeploying 220 workers, with 236 people forestry workers, the programme was quickly FTairāwhiti was the first region to Development Unit and managed by Gisborne into work and 183 of those finding long- expanded to include those who had directly get a government-funded recovery District Council. term full-time employment — 44 percent of lost jobs in other sectors due to Covid-19 package. A year on, those involved look back The people behind the Tairāwhiti Economic those with their programme employer. or were under-employed or at risk of at the success of the $23.755m Tairāwhiti Support Package Redeployment Programme The $23.755m Government investment redundancy because of Covid-19. Economic Support Package Redeployment have found that after exceeding expectations, came in response to the immediate effects of Tairāwhiti was the first region in New Programme, which was funded through the programme continues to have an impact. Covid-19 on Te Tairāwhiti. Zealand to receive the funding thanks to a Continued on page 2 Leave a lasting legacy What does the Sunrise Foundation do? We raise funds from donations and legacies We invest funds retaining the capital and generating income We use income from investments to provide grants for local charities and organisations. The Sunrise If you would like more information on how you can make a difference Foundation call Glenda on 06 867 7939 or [email protected]. www.sunrisefoundation.org.nz 36618-04 2 THE GISBORNE HERALD LEAD Tairāwhiti Economic Support package Redeployment programme participants working with the ArborCare Tree Company learning chainsaw skills as part of an initiative that saw wood waste cut into firewood and made available to those who need it throughout Tairāwhiti. Photo by The Black Balloon People at heart of the programme From page 2 going pastoral care from Turanga Ararau there to support them when needed. concerted effort from Gisborne District Qualifications gained over the months Council, Eastland Wood Council, Eastland worked included 42 primary industries Port, local iwi, Trust Tairāwhiti, Eastland certificates, 94 Constructsafe qualifications, Group and central Government agencies, 92 GrowSafe qualifications, 137 traffic with a massive effort from Labour MP Kiri control certificates, 136 new first aiders, 41 Allan on behalf of the region. new chainsaw operators, 61 more licensed Ministers Phil Twyford, Shane Jones and drivers: 44 through the wheels, tracks and Willie Jackson came to Gisborne to make rollers course and 12 more truck drivers. the announcement and recognise the pro- In all 977 certified training courses were activeness and unity of all involved. completed alongside valuable on-the-job GDC chief executive Nedine Thatcher training. Swann said it had been a huge effort by all The key ingredient in securing on- to pull the programme together within 10 going employment for so many once the days during the Covid-19 lockdown. programme ended was the real jobs being “I cannot thank enough the people provided within a commercial environment involved along the way who made this through the five projects. happen,” she said. The bulk of the non-wage costs sit within “I am extremely proud of our collective the $14.6m re-metalling of local roads effort and collective impact.” project, involving cartage and metal. The At the heart of the programme was always project saw $10.089m spent on roading people. metal, cartage and placement and involved “The late Annie Aranui, who worked on 66 redeployed workers — 16 more than the programme as the Ministry of Social anticipated. Overall the project will provide Development regional commissioner for broader, ongoing regional economic benefits social development, East Coast, summed it through the resulting wider use of this key up best by asking ‘how do we say yes to our regional asset in addition to the project talent in Tairāwhiti?’. work itself. “This (programme) was all about people. It The removal of hazardous trees from was about us as regional partners all coming local roads, which employed 75 people, cost together to help other people. We have had $5.3m; the kaitiaki o te whenua cost $1.11m Sandy Te Kani felt being part of the Tairāwhiti Economic Support package Redeployment some amazing results. and employed 70 people; the tree clearance programme would open doors of opportunity to him in the future. Photo by The Black Balloon “We couldn’t have done this alone — we from powerlines, contracted to Eastland had our partners EIT, Turanga Ararau, Group, cost $2m and employed 25 people; workers was Eastland Tree Care. Co-owner Programme manager Steve Breen said the central Government, local Government and finally, the $40,000 regional workforce Toni Sadlier says it was a steep learning benefits from the TRP had been immediate and our employers themselves. We all plan undertaken by Trust Tairāwhiti . curve for the team. and far-reaching. understood our contribution and valued Wood from hazardous trees was cut into “It was quite daunting at the time,” she “Most importantly, the skills and training that from each other.” manageable firewood, with 2900 cubic said, “but they are now our whanau . of those employed in the roles has benefited MP Kiri Allan said the Tairāwhiti metres distributed across the rohe to those we don’t call them employees, they are an them directly through their further Redeployment Package (TRP) highlighted in need. extended part of our family.” employment when the programme finished how much stronger the region is when The average hourly rate for the redeployed Whaia Tītīrangi operations team leader and to our region in the further upskilling of everyone worked together. workers was $24.12, with the median hourly Jordan Tibble said the mahi she and our local workforce,” he said. “It is a wonderful example of how, when rate $22.50. Fifty-two percent of those her team had done on the maunga was Apryll Parata, former senior regional we collectively face adversity, we are at our redeployed were of Maori descent with 27 important for all. official for the Provincial Development Unit, strongest to respond,” she said. percent aged between 15-25. “It is a healing mahi and a spiritual journey said one of the biggest challenges for those “The leadership within our region did such The total economic revenue impact of the also. The growth (from those working with on the programme was relevant skills. a good job to pre-empt what could have TRP was $66.8m, while the value added to her) has been amazing.” However, when people cared enough to been a catastrophe.” the gross regional product was $24m. Work at Whaia Tītīrangi and Te help, challenges can be overcome. The TRP ran over five projects, involving The programme started in April 2020, Wherowhero Lagoon, which were part “You will find a way through it. That 67 local businesses. One of the key goals was with the last of the redeployed workers of the kaitiaki o te whenua project, have goes back to the commitment that is really to give those involved new qualifications, finishing up at the end of March 2021. both continued under other funding needed and really shone through in this experiences and opportunities, with on- One of those businesses who took on programmes. programme.” SATuRDAy, ApRIL 24, 2021 3 PROFILE proMoted brigadier: In 2018 former Brigadier Lisa Ferris from the New Zealand Defence Force — who was born Gisborne woman Lisa Ferris became only the second woman to attain the rank of Brigadier and bred in Gisborne — will speak at the Dawn Service at the Gisborne in the New Zealand Army. She was pictured then with her parents Kevin and Carolyn as Cenotaph tomorrow morning. She spoke to reporter Murray Robertson about they pinned her new pips on her epaulettes. Tomorrow morning Brigadier Ferris will speak her military career to-date, and about her Anzac message tomorrow morning. at the Anzac Dawn service at the Gisborne Cenotaph. Pictures supplied Gisborne part of her life blood n 2018, Lisa Ferris became only the because it’s part of my life blood. Once you’re your country has to be one of them. It’s a trades, specialties that you can get into, and second woman to attain the rank of raised in Gisborne it’s always part of you.” responsibility, but also a privilege to do so. that includes law.” IBrigadier in the New Zealand Defence The 44-year-old daughter of Kevin and “Secondly, I have one of the most She said her central Anzac message Force. Carolyn (aka Cally) Ferris has come a long interesting jobs that a lawyer could have in a tomorrow morning will be fairly simple. The Chief of Defence Force at the time, way from the kumara fields she used to help Governmental job.” “It will be about what the day represents, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, said it was her grandad Bob Ferris tend when she was Brigadier Ferris holds a Master of Laws and and for me it’s really personal, because I think “a promotion well earned”, and described young.