TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JANUARY 30-31, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.70 PAGE 3 SIR BOB ON PAGE 6 A MILESTONE OUR PEOPLE, MISSION OUR FLAVOURS,PBL OUR PLACE HELPING KEEP CITY INSIDE TODAY STREETS SAFE NINE HOLES? NO THANKS: Gisborne Park Golf Club members have come out strongly against their course being reduced to nine holes to make way for a sports hub in the area. The financial impact would be major, they say, and could see the club cease operations and close. Picture by Paul Rickard Teed off at hub proposal Park members united against cutting course in half by Alice Angeloni A LOT OF “Most of our vets have stated they too HISTORY: would not continue to play. It doesn’t MEMBERS of an 84-year-old golf Gisborne Park seem fair that we may have to give up club fear a sports hub proposal to chop members pose what we love and what keeps us active.” their course in half could result in them outside the In a business case presentation to the closing down completely. clubhouse at council in December, consultant Kent Gisborne Park its closing day Duston said Golf NZ had advised them Golf Club made its tournament in there was increasing participation in case at a Gisborne 1937. The golf nine-hole golf because people were time- District Council club has been constrained. meeting on Thursday part of the The club’s submission shot that in response to plans sporting fabric down, saying conversion to a nine-hole to “reinvigorate” here for 84 years. course would result in a “huge drop in sports and recreation membership”. facilities in Of the Park’s 140 members, 84 percent Tairawhiti. club and put forward two potential “I am not a spring chicken anymore. are 18-hole members. Sport Gisborne solutions — cut the course in half or I am no longer young enough to play “If nine holes was the way of golf in Tairawhiti, Trust Tairawhiti and reorientate it over neighbouring airport soccer or netball or tennis . my body this district it would show in the nine- Gisborne District Council have land at a cost of up to $4.5 million. will not allow it,” the 82-year-old said. hole membership already available to partnered to put a business case to Club members oppose losing half “But golf allows me to still be a part our members,” the submission said. central government. The case proposes their course and at Thursday’s council of competitive sport. The golf club If they converted to nine holes, they building four sports “hubs” at a cost of meeting, Park representatives bolstered keeps my life active. There is always would have to lower subscription and $150 million to provide shared facilities their submission with stories of its something to do — games to play, people green fee charges. for several clubs and codes. history and members, including life to meet.” This would result in a dramatic Part of the Park golf course is the member and club patron Shirley Paku. Another senior member Evan Parkin, reduction in revenue and could mean recommended site for one of the hubs. Mrs Paku, a member of the club for 53 who is the club’s veterans convener, said having to let their greenkeeper go. Planners have acknowledged the years, said it brings her “fun, exercise, if the Park was to close, he would stop disruption this could pose to the golf social contact and competition”. playing golf. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Local News ...... 1-5 Opinion ..............11 Racing ................23 Television ....W9-11 Births & Deaths ...4 World............ 12-14 Business ...... 24-25 Sport ............ 32-36 National .... 6-10, 18 Farming ........ 20-22 Classifieds ... 26-31 Weather .............35 977 1175467004 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, January 30, 2021 FUN 4 Collectors needed for ALL heart appeal THE Heart Foundation is looking for collectors in Gisborne to support its annual Big Heart Appeal on February 19 and 20. This is your chance to be involved in something that really makes a difference and changes the lives of Kiwis living with heart disease. The appeal will be held in Gisborne at The Warehouse, February 19; the city centre, February 19 and 20; Ballance Street Village, February 19 and 20; Gisborne Farmers’ Market, February 20. Right (from bottom), Ryder Halley, Becca Brew Call the Heart Foundation on 0800 and Baely McLean fly down a slide on the bouncy BIG HEART (0800 244 432) to give two castle tandem style at Mangapapa School hours of your time as a volunteer street yesterday. Above, Michaela Miller with Grady collector in Gisborne at a site and time Frame. They were among the many who enjoyed that suits you. the Events 4 All holiday programme held over the The Heart Foundation says it needs past seven weeks. Events 4 All is an afterschool the support of Kiwis” “more than ever”, care programme run at seven schools in the with 6700 New Zealanders dying of city. Its holiday programme featured a variety of heart disease each year. activities. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell Proud to be part of the Rainbow community by Jack Marshall Asexual, and Ally community. The Tairawhiti events coincide with Pride PRIDE Tairawhiti is set to raise the rainbow activities around New Zealand. flag and turn on the lights to celebrate the Members of Tairawhiti Rainbow Collective, LGBTQI+ community in Tairawhiti on Tuesday, allies and the public at large will assemble at the February 2. Gisborne District Council building for the flag- At midday, the rainbow flag will be raised raising at 11.45am at Gisborne City Council and at 9pm the Town A karakia will be followed by speeches from Clock will be lit up in the same colours. representatives of community groups who Tairawhiti Rainbow Collective chair Dr Jill support the pride kaupapa. Chrisp says the community needs more visibility Speakers will be Dr Chrisp, Ikaroa Rawhiti on the Coast. Green MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, Eastern police “We know that despite their resilience, district Area Commander Sam Aberahama, Rainbow communities experience invisibility, Tairawhiti Qmunity Youth Gisborne and inequitable treatment, abuse and discrimination. Aniwaniwa Tairawhiti representatives and Mayor “Data show that this leads to mental health Rehette Stoltz, who will raise the flag outside the issues, addictions, violence, suicidality, Council building. homelessness, disengagement informal “We welcome everyone to celebrate both education and unemployment.” events with us where there will be places of “Rainbow” is an umbrella term to safety and acceptance,” co-organiser Tee Wells describe people whose sexual orientation, said. gender identity, gender expression or sex Supporters will assemble by the Town Clock FLYING THE FLAG: Members of the Tairawhiti Rainbow Collective in the 2019 characteristics differ from the majority. at 8.45pm before it lights up in the rainbow Christmas Parade. The collective is running two Pride events on February 2 — the LGBTQI+ is a common abbreviation for colours. Raising of the Rainbow Flag and the Light Up The Town Clock Rainbow. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, The flag will fly at the council building and the Herald file picture Genderqueer, Queer, Intersexed, Agender, Town Clock will be lit up throughout February. LOOKING AHEAD ALL THE LATEST NEWS, INCLUDING: Get your • Decrease in mobility parks highlights district council’s Gisborne Herald outdated disability strategy home-delivered • Local job redeployment programme to be replicated throughout the country • School’s in! A big day for new entrants as schools reopen from Tuesday • The council adopts a groundbreaking draft trade waste bylaw in relation to mortuary waste MONDAY The Herald will not have a Monday edition due to Auckland Anniversary Weekend. Enjoy your holiday! 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 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz To nd out more call 869 0620 The Gisborne Herald • Saturday, January 30, 2021 NEWS 3 Salads recalled Volunteers are the bee’s over listeria knees: area commander by Sophie Rishworth ANYONE who walks into the concerns Gisborne police station might meet Bev Fisher behind the counter. PAK’nSave is among She gives her time for free to greet a range of New Zealand every person, find out who they need supermarkets and to speak to and take down their details. independent retailers “I love it, it’s never boring,” she says. stocking deli and pre- Bev is one of around 100 volunteers packaged salad batches who support the police in this region that have been recalled with their time, which has proved due to fears of listeria “fundamental” to the service. contamination. Tairawhiti area commander The recall involves 13 Inspector Sam Aberahama says, salads from the Pams, Bush “Volunteers are the bee’s knees.” Road, Bells and Country He can’t wait to finish work one day Foods brands, with the pre- just so he can be one. packaged salads dated from “Volunteers are fundamental to our January 27 to February 10. community.” “New Zealand Food This year Insp Aberahama wrote Safety is advising the public Christmas cards to all of them. to return or dispose of “I even got a few back,” he said. specific batches of various Over the years the leadership team ready-to-eat salads as have also cooked a Christmas meal for they may contain listeria the volunteers. bacteria,” a statement from Insp Aberahama says he feels the Ministry for Primary immense gratitude to them all, and HELPING THE COMMUNITY: Police volunteers Phil Goodwin and Phillipa Mastrovich help police by Industries said.