TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.70, RETAIL $2.00 $6.1M PGF FUNDING FOR INTEGRATED BUSINESS AND TOURISM FACILITY DIGITAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME TWO CBD BUILDINGS TO BE TRANSFORMED DEVELOPMENT TO INCLUDE ROCKET LAB EDUCATION CENTRE WAIROA ‘IT’S JUST AMAZING’ — MAYOR CRAIG LITTLE PAGE 3 KNOCKED TO GROUND IN TERRIFYING DOG ATTACK ‘I was absolutely petrified but I told myself not to panic’ by Mark Peters She saw a large pitbull with no collar, and no lead or muzzle. A GISBORNE woman who uses Although there were no lacerations a walker to assist her mobility was on her leg there was a contusion as knocked to the ground from behind big as a small football, she says. by a pitbull terrier. “I knew my ankles had been Judy Smith, 73, is fearful of dogs twisted and I was absolutely after the attack, which happened petrified but I told myself not to in the first week of panic. I thought the dog November. might have been more It was reported to the I turned away frightened of me than I police and the Gisborne ‘gently but as was of it so I thought I District Council, but Mrs would just wait.” Smith is angry about soon as I did that Back on her feet having had no response the dog was on she kept her walker from either. my back between herself and the She was across the dog. road from a bakery —Judy’ Smith “I turned away gently near the top of Lytton but as soon as I did that Road when the incident the dog was on my back. BOWLED OVER: Gisborne woman Judy Smith is in happened. I shook it off and it landed with its moon boots and on crutches after she was attacked “As I walked down the road I legs in the air.” from behind and knocked to the ground by a pitbull suddenly got the most horrendous Mrs Smith again put her walker terrier in Lytton Road. A pre-existing condition means pain in my left calf. The force between herself and the dog. she uses a walker to get around and when she was propelled me into the air but I held knocked over she injured her ankles. on to the handles of the walker.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Picture by Paul Rickard 21950-01 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............10 Farming..............14 Television ...........19 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............11 Racing .......... 15-16 Sport ............ 20-24 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ............ 6-9 World............ 12-13 Classifieds ... 17-18 Weather .............23 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 PREP WORK: Bella Jones and Sonia Gardner put up a rail on a fence for the Larsen Sawmiling Showjumping Championships at Showgrounds Park. The annual three-day competition starts on Friday and features a transtasman young rider test. A high-quality field of over 300 horses have entered the champs. Picture by Paul Rickard by Diana Dobson Equestrian Sports New Zealand features 11 entries including the Gisborne area committee member in-form Keira Page (Waiheke Island) SOME of the best rising talent Kaye Williams says the transtasman on Redcliffs Colour Me In and Dylan from New Zealand and Australia clash will be one of the highlights Bibby (Onga Onga) on his two go head to head in the feature of the show. mounts — My Funky Monkey and BRING event of the Larsen Sawmilling Riders will compete on borrowed Daisy Patch. Showjumping Championships horses over two rounds on each of Lily Moore (Havelock North) is in Gisborne this weekend — the the three days. competing on the former Pony of Transtasman Young Rider Test. New Zealand are bidding for a the Year Fun House while Amelia Entries are strong for the third consecutive win over their Paull and Envious Edition will carry three-day show which features rivals. the local hopes. ON THE showjumping and show hunter The rain has been a godsend for Combinations are travelling from competitions across many classes, the Showgrounds Park venue. as far as Whangarei and Wellington including national series. “It will brighten everything up,” for the popular show. But all eyes will be on the hotly- said Williams. “The arena has been Course designer Heather contested transtasman test. watered for over a month so it is Macdonald has had to step in Wearing the silver fern in an looking amazing. Footing should be to ring one for Australian John impressive New Zealand team will absolutely perfect.” Vallance, who can’t come because AUSSIES be Oliver Croucher (Cambridge), She was buoyed by the number of the bushfires. Olivia Dalton (Karaka), Ally Carson (around 300 horses) and calibre of Glen Brooks is the ring two (Putaruru) and Emelia Forsyth entries. course designer and Marcus Rose (Clevedon) The Equissage Horse Grand Prix ring three. Transtasman young Sophie Scott (Wellington) is has attracted a solid, 12-strong field Entry is free over the three days. reserve and 1988 Olympian John including FEI World Cup NZ League Competition starts at 8.30am on Cottle is chef d’equipe. final winner Brooke Edgecombe Friday and Saturday, and 8am on rider test highlight of The Australians have also named (Waipukurau) aboard LT Holst Sunday. a strong squad in Chris Holland, Andrea and Lady Rider of the Year Showjumping will run in three Samantha Lamont, Clemency Mikayla Herbert (Rotorua) on Grand rings in the main arena while the Hughes and Sally Simmonds. Todd Caballo. show hunter classes are in the showjumping champs Hinde is chef d’equipe. The Country TV Pony Grand Prix indoor arena. Get your Gisborne Herald • About to bring tribute act Absolute Bowie to the Dome, band founder Roy Brown tells home-delivered the Guide about his encounter with Bowie and why the musician is his “absolute hero”. • New Zealand fl amenco guitarist talks about how fl amenco changed the former folk singer’s life, the power of the art and his upcoming concert in Gisborne. • Rock bands, theatre, a weekly choir and a yellow DC3, Smash Palace celebrates 30 years of eclecticism and eccentricity this weekend. TOMORROW PLUS: MUSIC GUIDE • FILM REVIEWS • GUIDE GOSSIP 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: Grant Miller/John Gillies To nd out more call 869 0620 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 NEWS 3 GDC animal BOOTS ON THE GROUND: MP Kiri Allan has bought control called a house in Gisborne and is busy unpacking boxes at her to earlier new whare. Picture by Liam dog attack Clayton FROM PAGE 1 Two vehicles were parked in the driveway the dog had come from but no one came out to help her, she says. With one hand behind her back she surreptitiously waved down two passing cars and the dog ran under a ute parked in the driveway. Because she had not been bitten, Mrs Smith declined an offer to be taken to hospital. But she did ask her rescuers to call animal control about the roaming animal that had attacked her. Before continuing her walk home she asked the people to keep an eye on the dog until she was at a safe distance. She shook for an hour-and-a-half after she got home, she says. She bandaged her leg to help control the swelling and lay down to help ease the MP setting up house in Gisborne pain. Mrs Smith phoned the police the following day to by Matai O’Connor country,” she said. “My focus is ensuring our region’s report the dog attack then reported it to the GDC. “I grew up in Paengaroa, the western rural communities have a strong voice “I can’t say the response was great. I thought ‘at LABOUR List MP Kiri Allan intends most point of the electorate, spent time at a central government level and are least I’ve done that. Let’s see what happens’.” to win the East Coast electorate seat in being raised in Te Karaka, have lived not forgotten like they were under the Mrs Smith lives with a neuromuscular condition the general election this year, but before and worked in Whakatane and now live previous government. I strongly believe which took a turn for the worse after the dog she tackles that challenge she needs in Gisborne. I have dedicated my time in our electorate deserves an MP seen attack. A GP gave her a support for her leg. When to unpack boxes at her new Gisborne Parliament to advocating for the needs and working for and in our community, she later twisted an ankle in a mishap at home, residence. aspirations of East Coast communities. something we have not had in the East the injury was diagnosed as a fracture and Mrs Ms Allan has purchased a house in Ms Allan has many supporters in Coast since Labour MP Janet Mackey,” she Smith was given moon boots to support her legs. Gisborne and sees herself being here for Gisborne and said that when she ran in said. “I was in shock at the time of the attack. What the foreseeable future. the 2017 general election they asked if she “There is an active political base here in I did was sensible and structured but I think I’ve “It made absolute sense to me.