TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 POOL UPGRADE TO GISBORNE PRODUCT GETS COVID-19 START IN SEPTEMBER • One new Covid case in New Zealand US PATENT • National kapa haka competition postponed PAGES PAGE 3 • Russia accused of hacking vaccine trials 7, 10-14 PAGE 5 • Record number of new cases in Victoria RESILIENCE THROUGH DIVERSITY Record income, $18.5m profit for Eastland Group DESPITE the economic impacts of “By keeping essential infrastructure The group’s Te Ahi O Maui Tawhiri on this important regional Covid-19, Eastland Group has posted running and providing another geothermal power plant, near project,” Mr Todd said. record income and a record $12.3 excellent return to Trust Tairawhiti, Kawerau, had its first full year of “The feedback from the community million distribution to its community Eastland Group is helping to support operation. has been fantastic and we look trust owners. regional resilience.” Its generation portfolio, which forward to opening the full terminal Regional infrastructure, energy and Eastland Group’s income for the includes Te Ahi O Maui, Geothermal later this year. It will be an important logistics company Eastland Group had year ending March 2020 was a Developments Ltd (GDL) and the economic enabler as flight and another strong financial year (to the record $111.7m, with the ports sector Waihi hydro scheme, generated a total passenger numbers continue to end of March), recording a profit of contributing 34 percent, generation of 258 GWh of electricity. rebound post-Covid-19.” $18.5 million. 20 percent and networks 33 percent of Eastland Network, which is also Until early February, Eastland This figure was down on its record the total. part of Eastland Group, had another Group’s year was tracking largely as 2019 year but is still the second Although bad weather caused steady year. planned, with all sectors performing highest Eastland Group has achieved unprecedented shipping delays and The total energy supplied was 311 solidly. since its formation in 2003. Covid-19 affected the global supply GWh (gigawatt hours) and the total By the end of March, New Zealand The return of $12.3m to its owner, chain, Eastland Port exported energy distributed was 283 GWh, was in Alert Level 4 lockdown. Trust Tairawhiti, was a record, despite 2,890,730 tonnes of cargo. slightly up on 2019. All of Eastland Group’s three the effects of Covid-19 being felt It also set several records. Total connections were 25,732 — sectors were categorised as wholly or during the last two months of the In December, in ISO’s first full 19,679 domestic consumers and 6053 partly essential businesses and had to financial year. month managing all wharfside non-domestic consumers. be kept operating. In a joint statement, chief executive operations, Eastland Port hit a new The first stage of Eastland Group- The port was technically open Matt Todd and chair Matanuku export record of 322,000 tonnes in a operated Gisborne Airport’s new for the small number of kiwifruit Mahuika said: “These results, at single month. terminal — a project co-funded by and squash ships but there were no a time of such uncertainty, are It also hit a new cart-in record on the Provincial Growth Fund, Trust logging ships. testament to the hard work and December 17, after 15,725 tonnes of Tairawhiti and Eastland Group — The airport was shut and all collaboration of our staff, customers, wood arrived and were processed in a opened late last year. scheduled flights stopped. contractors and the whole community. single day. “It’s an honour to partner with Ngai CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Television ...........18 Racing .......... 22-23 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Classifieds ... 19-20 Sport ............ 24-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ..... 6-10,17 World............ 13-15 Literature ..........21 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Friday, July 17, 2020 AFRICAN ART-VENTURE: Mixed media creativity with an African theme was the focus of a three-day kids holiday art workshop run by artist Holly Howman-Evans (pictured) at her Zany Zebra Art Studio at Makorori. The children explored the theme of the “gangly giraffe” through a variety of mediums such as oil and chalk pastels, watercolours, pencils, crayons and printing. Letting their creative juices flow around the table are (from left) Zaria Tupling, Belle Finnie, Ella Kirby, Frankie Allen, Nevaeh O’Neill, Naia Erickson and Stevie Keenan. Picture by Liam Clayton Plastic Journey a wake-up call for youth GISBORNE District their waste habits at Youth Council has created home.” an interactive display for Youth council co-chair, Plastic-Free July and the Sumita Singh said it was public will get the chance for young people to explore to experience it later this rather than observe. month. “We are hoping to give Titled Te Haerenga locals a glimpse into what Kirihou, The Plastic our oceans and the Arctic Journey, the educational look like now and in the project is aimed at young future,” Sumita said. people and their whanau to Youth councillor Ella learn more about the long- Parkin has also been term impacts of plastics on working on the project. the environment. “It’s a great way to It will be open for six show young people the days from July 27. importance of reducing, GDYC co-chair Alice reusing and recycling, and Kibble designed and educating them on how coordinated the project to respect our world,” she over the last month. said. “I was surprised how The art project will use easy it was to collect large signs in English and Maori quantities of plastics with and sign language to be help from local businesses more accommodating for and members of the the community the council community,” she said. represents. “It was a big wake-up The youth council call for myself and the recommends people take other youth councillors. along bread tags, bottle “I think it is really tops and can tabs for extra important we teach local interactive fun. kids how to be proactive about their futures in a fun ■ THE interactive display is and interactive way, and open from July 27 to 31 from it is designed by youth for 3pm to 5pm and August 1 from ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE IN THEIR HANDS: Gisborne District Youth Council has created an interactive youth. 9am to 3pm. It will be located at display for Plastic-Free July, which will be open to the public from July 27 to August 1. From left are youth “I hope the community the old Treb-Net store in Treble councillor Nellie Brown, Tairawhiti Youth Environment group member Sabine Lapoint who helped make the takes something away from Court. School-time bookings are display, youth councillor Haylee Law and youth council co-chairs Alice Kibble and Sumita Singh. Front is youth the display and change available — ring 0211327722. councillor Maddie Ashworth. Picture by Liam Clayton LOOKING AHEAD Get your FOCUS ON THE LAND • New research points to links Gisborne Herald between ‘wellbeing’ and home-delivered on-farm injuries. • More than 1200 head presented for today’s weekly REGENERATING sheep sale at Matawhero. • A sheep dog training day on THE LAND Otara Station yesterday was well attended. TOMORROw TOMORROw 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: 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 • Friday, July 17, 2020 NEWS 3 Apple harvest up despite extraordinary times by Murray Robertson 10-week period.” Around 12,000 tonnes THE 2020 apple season was harvested across the in Tairawhiti was a good district. one despite the impact of Kaiaponi Farms the Covid-19 lockdown on handled about 70 percent harvesting. of the region’s apple crop. Apple croppers “The increase in completed their harvest volume is a result of new in late April and there apple planting coming were increased volumes into production. across the district’s “Most of the growth orchards. has been with the apple “Favourable weather variety Envy, which over the harvest months continues to prove helped greatly in popular with consumers getting all fruit picked and growers,” Mr Wilson under the extraordinary said. circumstances of a Covid- Most of the Kaiaponi 19 Level 4 lockdown,” Farms apples are said Kaiaponi Farms exported. The export general manager Scott volume from here Wilson. represents about 3 “Growers did a great percent the national crop. job in getting the required “There have been systems in place to greater logistical and manage staff and social marketing challenges distancing rules. over the 2020 season, “We consider all as a result of internal ourselves lucky to have market Covid-19 been classed as an conditions. essential industry and “Shopping habits have allowed the opportunity changed and the market to run our businesses,” has had to adapt. Mr Wilson said. “Fresh fruit from a “Apple volumes at trusted source has been Kaiaponi were up 41 selling well, although it percent, with 9200 tonnes will be a longer season SUCCESSFUL SEASON: The apple harvest was completed in the district despite the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown picked and delivered to until all fruit is shipped and yielded 12,000 tonnes of product. Apple volumes were up 41 percent at Kaiaponi Farms, keeping staff busy at its the packhouse over a and sold in 2020.” packhouse at Waerenga-a-Hika.