Thursday, April 23, 2020 Home-Delivered $1.90, Retail $2.20
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TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 • ECEs fear for children’s safety • On track to eliminate Covid-19 MARCH • Mystery still surrounds critical patient RE-ENACTMENT COVID 19 • Nightmare cruise for Kiwi doctor • Australia accused of ‘parroting’ Trump TO FEATURE IN • Virus ‘cleaning up’ Earth TV DOCO PAGE 2 READY TO REOPEN Waste Management’s Innes Street transfer station will be back in business on Tuesday, April 28, when the country changes to Alert Level 3. However, it will not be fully operational. For the first two weeks the station will open from 7.30am to 4.30pm weekdays and 9.30am to 3.30pm at weekends. The public will be able to discard green waste and rubbish items, but the recycling chutes at the front will not be open. There will be capacity for glass recycling and the bag cage will be operational. The public are asked to “hold back” during the first week to avoid a “mad rush”, and to be patient and follow instructions from staff. MORE ON PAGE 4 Picture by Liam Clayton ‘One-and-done’ test Gisborne company developing 15-minute diagnostic test for Covid-19 by Mark Peters kit will be a DNA diagnostic but with from the Institute of Environmental Although social distancing and totally different technology. We need a Science and Research. increased hygiene awareness might mean A SMARTPHONE app that can produce DNA diagnostic that doesn’t run on the While the rapid DNA diagnostic is six to the upcoming influenza season is mild this a Covid-19 test result in 15 minutes machines at a lab.” eight months away from release, dnature year, dnature is seeking to improve test is part of Gisborne-based dnature’s The mobile phone app will mean swab has helped establish Covid-19 testing in sensitivity to distinguish quickly between development of a rapid on-site DNA samples do not need to be sent away for New Zealand, and has launched its own a flu virus and the novel coronavirus. diagnostic test. testing — a process which can take up to testing kit. “This means the rapid method will have Development of such a test, and the 48 hours to get a result at a specialised The kit has shown high sensitivity and two test,” said Mr Mackay. continued development of a test kit laboratory— but can be done on-site test confidence due to its multiplex format “We’re coming into the flu season. dnature is already supplying, has been within minutes. (multiple tests in one tube). Rather than say ‘it’s not Covid’ after a accelerated through funding from the The app will be developed by a team led This new test will enable higher test, we’re targeting one major flu strain Health Research Council. by former Gisborne opthalmologist Hong throughput testing in laboratories. at the moment that affects the elderly. Dnature diagnostics and research Sheng Chiong. It will be a “one-and-done” test, says Mr “We’re trying to shorten the test time. If director John Mackay and his team have “He was keen to be part of the project,” Mackay. a sick person turns up we can tell them if been working on ideas for faster testing said Mr Mackay. “He was already working “We thought there was room for they have Covid or flu.” methods. on smartphone apps. improvement in the tests and improved Unlike other projects, the rapid test The $196,570 funding means they can “If you’re up the Coast, the smartphone sensitivity will ensure a true positive. dnature is developing can be used for scale up some of the more expensive parts will be the only equipment you need for a At the moment the focus is on sourcing widespread community surveillance in of development, as well as the production DNA diagnostic.” more diagnostics. We have good contacts cities and regional New Zealand. of test kits and research, says Mr Mackay. Collaborators on the project include for supplies and reagents and we have “When you have low amounts of disease, “There is a strong desire for Auckland, Gisborne and Dunedin-based already made some improvements to that’s the result of good diagnostic decentralised diagnostics. The new clinicians, as well as principal scientists methods.” process.” GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 The Guide .... 19-21 Television ..........24 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ........ 12-13 Classifieds .........22 Sport ............ 25-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National .... 6-10, 18 World............ 14-16 Racing ................23 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, April 23, 2020 RE-ENACTMENT: Gisborne man Peter Hakiwai (right) takes part in the June 8, 2019 re-enactment of the Maori Pioneer Battalion march through the city after returning from the Western Front on June 8, 1919. He did it in honour of his grandfather Pene Te Uamairangi Hakiwai — a chaplain in the battalion. Herald file picture Maori Battalion marches Honouring tipuna again in Maori TV doco by Wynsley Wrigley “My grandmother said he never spoke of the war. He saw terrible THE Maori Pioneer Battalion of things. He clammed up.” World War 1 marches again. The volunteers were diligent in Last year’s re-enactment of their training, said Mr Hakiwai. battalion veterans marching They needed to look like soldiers. through Gisborne after returning “We were given .303 Lee-Enfield from the Western Front a rifles by Peter Jackson. I saw century before will feature on a volunteer drop one during a documentary on Maori TV on training.” Anzac Day. The volunteers were also taught The documentary, called Whitiki, about their tipuna’s history, songs will screen at 9am and 4.30pm. and haka of the era. Gisborne man Peter Hakiwai will They were instructed how to definitely be watching as he will be march and carry a weapon by Dr featuring on it. Soutar, a former soldier himself Mr Hakiwai took part in the June who wrote the book Whiti! Whiti! 8 re-enactment to honour his Whiti E!: Maori in the First World tipuna (ancestor) — grandfather War. Pene Te Uamairangi Hakiwai, a By the time of the re-enactment, chaplain in the battalion. the volunteers resembled soldiers, About 300 returned servicemen marching in time and wearing from the eastern North Island area replica uniforms provided by marched from Te Poho-o-Rawiri Academy Award-winning director Marae through Gisborne to the Jackson. racecourse on June 8, 1919. “It was unbelievable,” said Mr HISTORY REPEATED: Gisborne man Peter Gisborne closed for half a day Hakiwai. “We had our timing. It Hakiwai (left) recounts being part of the and the town’s population nearly was just awesome.” re-enactment of the Maori Battalion’s June doubled as visitors flocked to Mr Hakiwai even received a 8, 1919, return home (above). His experience honour the soldiers. “promotion”. features in the Maori TV documentary Whitiki Mr Hakiwai was quick to Initially he had trained as a to screen on Anzac Day. volunteer for the re-enactment private marching in rank and file Hakiwai picture supplied by arranged by historian Dr Monty and carrying a .303. Maori TV, homecomng picture Soutar with support from famed “But Monty discovered my courtesy of Tairawhiti Museum movie director Sir Peter Jackson. grandfather was an officer.” Mr Hakiwai was initially So Mr Hakiwai become one, too. concerned that at 60 years old, he At 6am this Anzac Day was outside the age range sought, (Saturday), wearing one of his Get your but eventually received an email grandfather’s medals, Mr Hakiwai informing him to attend training at will stand at his letterbox and, Gisborne Herald Gisborne Girls’ High School. like thousands of other New “I was the oldest one in the Zealanders, will take part in the home-delivered group.” RSA’s Stand at Dawn virtual The 100 trainees from all over the service. North Island were asked to state As a rural resident, he will still be why they had volunteered. in his bubble. “I am extremely proud of my At 9am he will be watching the grandfather,” Mr Hakiwai told The Maori TV documentary in honour Herald. of all servicemen and women, “I only found out about his war those who returned and those who service five years ago. I have his did not. war medals.” Whitiki will screen at 9am and All of his family were proud of 4.30pm, Saturday, April 25 on the soldier who returned home but Maori Television and will also be died in 1935 while still a young available online at www.rnz.co.nz/ To nd out more call 869 0620 man. programmes/whitiki The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, April 23, 2020 NEWS 3 DO NOT ENTER, RAHUI: Hauora Tairawhiti’s bilingual policy is to use English and Maori when creating signs, evident here at the entrance to Gisborne Hospital. This sign was put up just before Alert Level 4 restrictions, alerting visitors to the hospital of Covid-19 precautions. Duplicates in various sizes are on most of the hospital’s external doors as well as both road entrances. The sign asks people to call a number and a hospital worker will come out to them, but this is no longer the case. There is only one entrance to the hospital now, to the Emergency Department and outpatients area. Everyone entering Gisborne Hospital is met at the entrance and asked a series of questions before they enter to understand if they need to be tested for Covid-19. The entrance is staffed 24 hours a day. Picture by Liam Clayton ‘Steadfast denial’ from ECE SAFETY FEARS Mayor Little in face of ‘Critical questions remain unanswered’ by Kim Parkinson safety teams, will be going back.” Who is more entitled? We She said parents had expressed some complaint EARLY childhood centres will open concern about the centres reopening but when the country moves to Alert Level 3 ‘cannot be expected to make she wanted to reassure parents they next week amid major safety concerns.