Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Home-Delivered $1.90, Retail $2.20
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TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 by Alice Angeloni LACK OF CLARITY from central government during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic last year created “local tensions” balancing national decisions against Tairawhiti’s needs, a report says. COVID That appeared to be the key challenge in an otherwise successful response to Covid-19 across the region, according to a “cold debrief” that came before Gisborne district councillors last week. An external report, based on interviews with those DEBRIEF involved in the emergency management response in Tairawhiti, said overall the response went “very well”, with three confirmed cases and one probable case recorded in the district, and little community Successful response but lack of clarity transmission. This showed the health response measures, including contact tracing and testing, were from central government an issue: report effective and so the focus shifted to welfare as the situation evolved. Report author Richard Mowll said positives of the response included the strengthening CLAP FOR OUR of relationships and collaboration between CHAMPIONS: agencies and vulnerable people in the Mckenzie Wilton, community being cared for. 3, and her hand- The council phoned more than 7000 seniors clapping appreciation in the district aged over 65 years old, a for essential workers homeless shelter was set up, Whanau Ora was one of the many delivered hygiene packs to 1500 households front page pictures and food packages were also delivered. The Herald has run But as councillor Kerry Worsnop said at the over the Covid-19 Civil Defence and Emergency Management pandemic. Above, meeting last week: “You’ve actually been pretty brutal on yourselves in some places.” from Covid testing to Council director lifelines David Wilson said alert level restricted they had ensured “partners” to the emergency shopping to police response were also interviewed in the report. checkpoints, life “We really wanted to hear their experiences has changed as we working with us to make sure, as you say, that know it. According we weren’t just berating ourselves too much to worldometer, the or pumping ourselves up either,” he said. total of coronavirus The most obvious criticism that came from cases worldwide is local responders was communication from over 109.6 million, of central government. which over 84 million “The lack of direction on some response have recovered. issues from central government was not Nearly 2.418 million positive for local planning,” one said. people have died. A significant amount of key information New Zealand has had for the local response was gathered from the 2336 cases, including Prime Minister’s daily 1pm briefing conducted 25 deaths. during the height of the response. Sometimes local responders were unable Pictures from Herald to get further guidance other than what was given in the media briefings. files or supplied They acknowledged this was partly due to the reactive nature of the response. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-4 Business ..............9 Racing ................15 Sport ............ 20-24 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............10 Television ...........16 Weather .............23 National ............ 6-8 World....... 11,13-14 Classifieds ... 18-19 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Tuesday, February 16, 2021 SAFETY Makorori/Wainui residents raise multiple issues at FEARS regional transport meeting by Alice Angeloni On February 11, he recorded 326 vehicles many unsafe entrances and consideration speeds of vehicles on the beach because in one hour. also needs to be given to stop future public- there were still legitimate uses such as CARS “popping up” from steep beach “It just gives an indication of what’s made entrances.” launching boats from the beach, he said. tracks on to State Highway 35 as heavy barrelling up and down the Coast every day “The council and NZTA need to work They had been discussing “interventions” trucks thunder past is a serious safety risk, . popping up out of the side of the road are together on this,” she said. with NZTA, and how those could be funded if beach residents say. vehicles coming off the fore-dune. Living at Makorori, they saw the “good and money became available. About a dozen “unsafe” “There’s a tremendous danger factor bad of what goes on”. Neither the council nor NZTA had funding entry and exit points from there,” he said. “I’m not here to work against anyone but available at the moment, Mr Wilson said. the dunes at Makorori “I’m surprised there hasn’t been more I’m here to work together as landowners to A paper would be brought back to the Beach on to SH35 is one accidents with vehicles popping up from find solutions to the disrespect some public committee once the council had worked of a suite of concerns those tracks,” he later told The Gisborne are showing again and again to Makorori,” through the issues with NZTA. residents have with the Herald. Mrs Busby said. Phil Evans, of the Makorori Residents popular spot. In regards to vehicles on the beach and These latest concerns follow Makorori Association, told the meeting they had Makorori and Wainui dunes, Makorori residents were just asking residents handing a petition of 44 signatures been discussing the idea of continuing residents highlighted for a “fair crack of the whip”, he said. to councillor Pat Seymour in November. the walkway/cycleway from Wainui on to issues with illegal rubbish A “huge amount of money” had been spent The petition calls for a bylaw to ban beach Makorori. dumping, vehicles driving at speed on the on neighbouring beach reserves Waikanae, “hoons” and for the dunes to be protected. Mr Evans said he met with Gisborne Cycle beach and the “irreparable damage” to Wainui and Okitu. Council lifelines director David Wilson and Walkway Trust and wanted to continue to ecosystems as vehicles make new tracks “The other beaches have been protected said through the Traffic and Parking Bylaw work with it to further build a concept. through the dunes. with hundreds of bollards with the sole aim review, which would be undertaken this year, “If there is going to be other planning They made a public deputation at of keeping vehicles off the fragile foreshore, they would look at where they were able to around accesses and limitations to vehicles Gisborne District Council’s regional but at the same time allowing for good prohibit vehicles from the beach. on the beach, then I just felt it was important transport committee meeting last week at parking . allowing access for walkers, They were exploring how they could limit to raise that today.” which they repeated their call for a bylaw bikers, swimmers, fisherman. to ban vehicles on the “We’re trying to get beach. the same treatment for They also asked Makorori and Wainui Makorori, which is a for Waka Kotahi/New residents highlighted very popular beach.” Zealand Transport As a former wildlife Agency (NZTA) and the issues with illegal rubbish and fisheries ranger council to collaborate dumping, vehicles being for the district, Mr Bull to provide safe entry driven at speed on the said the foreshore was and exit points off the a valuable habitat for state highway and beach and the irreparable nesting seabirds. “designated” parking damage to ecosystems as Makorori resident areas, rather than the vehicles make new tracks Robyn Busby, whose free-for-all in which cars family own 0.8 hectares can drive through and through the dunes. of the dunes, said off- park anywhere in the roaders used it as a dunes. “playground” in winter. Wainui resident Sandy Bull described 10 “At present, drivers are choosing to go to 12 “dangerous pop-ups” from the dunes to wherever they like over the dunes, causing the highway. irreparable damage,” she said at the ‘TREMENDOUS DANGER FACTOR’: The danger posed by vehicles “popping He did a survey of traffic passing through committee meeting. up” from the dunes at a entry-exit track on to State Highway 35 at Makorori Makorori on SH35 to illustrate the danger. Entrances and exits to Makorori needed to have been underlined by concerned beach residents. Residents have also On February 5, in one hour, he recorded be fixed “asap”. repeated their call for a bylaw to ban vehicles from the fragile foreshore of 154 vehicles passed Makorori. Thirty five “One in particular is extremely dangerous Makorori Beach, which they say is being been used as a “playground” (below) were heavy trucks. due to large drop-outs. There are far too by off-roaders. Pictures supplied LOOKING AHEAD Get your FOCUS ON THE LAND Gisborne Herald • The Crown and kiwifruit plaintiffs have settled out of court over the Psa home-delivered incursion issue. • AgriHQ points to a cooling in prices for store lambs while Brazil’s beef production and exports are tipped to rise this year. • Wins were shared around at successful Ngatapa sheep dog trials on Friday and Saturday. TOMORROW THE GUIDE THURSDAY The Gisborne Herald, 64 Gladstone Road, P.O. Box 1143, Gisborne • Phone (06) 869 0600 • Fax (Editorial) (06) 869 0643 (Advertising) (06) 869 0644 Editor: Jeremy Muir • Chief Reporter: Andrew Ashton • Circulation: Cara Haines • Sports: Jack Malcolm/John Gillies To fi nd out more call 869 0620 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz The Gisborne Herald • Tuesday, February 16, 2021 NEWS 3 Chamber stresses need to take Alert Level 2 seriously THE return of Covid-19 Alert Level 2 needs to be taken seriously, the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce says. Restrictions were reintroduced yesterday for three days and Gisborne Chamber of Commerce president Paul Naske said it was important to follow those restrictions.