TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 TERROR THREAT PAGE 8 CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK ISLAMIC COMMUNITY ON HIGH ALERT • PAIR IN NZ SHOW SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH COIVID-19 • NZ EXPORTS COP AN ESTIMATED $300M HIT • UNCHARTED TERRITORY AS VIRUS SPREADS CLOSING PUBLIC ACCESS • GLOBAL BATTLE AGAINST VIRUS SHOULD BECOME ‘BRIDGE FOR PEACE’ TO WHARVES 5, 6 PAGE 3 PAGES 7, 10, 12 INSIDE TODAY TRIBUTES TO PAPA TEMPLE 33 ‘wonderful’ years as police chaplain The police community put on a special function at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae yesterday to recognise and pay tribute to the work retiring police chaplain Temple Isaacs has done for more than 30 years in Tairawhiti. He is pictured with wife Olive and Inspector Sam Aberahama. SEE STORY PAGE 3 Picture by Rebecca Grunwell CHAIN REACTION 300 Coast workers cop effects of export downturn by Andrew Ashton supply chain relied on exports to China. the growing demand from businesses and supporting impacted workers and On the East Coast, 300 people had struggling with cash flow and, in some businesses. Because of the underlying THE profound effects of the stopped working altogether or had to cases, paying tax, Ms Ardern said. momentum in our economy, the coronavirus outbreak and a drop in log reduce hours, she said. Economic Development Minister Phil Government’s surplus and low debt, exports are clearer after Prime Minister The Government was sending special Twyford will visit Gisborne today to hear we can bounce back to the strong level Jacinda Ardern revealed 300 East Coast teams from the Ministry of Social from those on the ground about what of growth seen before the coronavirus workers had either already lost jobs or Development to help those affected further aid might be needed. appeared.” had to reduce hours. find work in other fields, such as the “The Provincial Growth Fund is His comments came just hours after Speaking at her weekly post-Cabinet Government’s One Billion Trees projects funding local roading projects in the Statistics New Zealand released details media conference yesterday, the Prime or dealing with wilding pine programmes. area and we’re also looking at whether of New Zealand’s daily export trade data Minister said a special Cabinet sub- However, some of those opportunities this will provide an opportunity to help with China for the four-week period committee had been set up to get ahead are outside the region. retrain workers into an area where there January 27 to February 23 to give a first of the Covid-19 coronavirus. In addition, the Regional Business are skill shortages,” Mr Twyford said. glance at the impacts since the Covid-19 But effects were already being felt in Programme — run here by Trust “Our Government’s economic response outbreak. Tairawhiti and other places where the Tairawhiti — would be expanded to help to Covid-19 is focused on protecting jobs CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 31347-01 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............10 Racing ................16 Kids page ..........19 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............11 Classifieds .........17 Sport ............ 20-24 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ...... 6-9, 15 World............ 12-13 Television ...........18 Weather .............23 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Tuesday, March 3, 2020 KIDS, CRAFTS AND CASH by Sophie Rishworth morning so there was a steady stream of people coming to look and buy. THE point of difference at a craft fair in Nathan’s mum, Katie Lybrook, said she had Gisborne on Saturday was its focus on great feedback and there was a good vibe on children. the day. The Gizzy Kids “I want to thank Cain Craft Fair featured 26 Kerehoma from Taiki stallholders aged from E Hokohoko Youth six to 16. Markets and Angela The $130 raised Stuart from Gisborne from entry fees will District Council for be given to Stand meeting with Nathan Children’s Services Tu early on and guiding Maia Whanau by nine- him through the year-old organiser planning process. Nathan Cornfeld. “They are busy Nathan got the ball people but took him rolling for the market and his ideas seriously. with a business “Cain let Nathan proposal to his mum work under the a few months ago. He Hokohoko Markets wanted to raise money to run the fair and for Stand Tu Maia and provided him with help youth learn about access to helpful business. resources.” Nathan said he was Ms Lybrook said very pleased with how it was all about everything worked out empowering youth and on the day. having fun. “A big thanks to Nathan will present everybody who took YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR: Johana Stand Tu Maia with part and everyone Frazer at her stall of kawakawa balm the $130 raised from who helped.” that she made at home. Johana will be the stallholder koha at the Kaiti markets this Saturday. There were stalls Picture by Rebecca Grunwell on Thursday when he of crafts, food and visits the children’s plants. village in Cochrane Some children were raising money for Street. themselves while others were fundraising for “Nathan and I will sit down with Cain this groups. week for a debrief on the event. Parental help was minimal as it was all “We will pass along resources developed STAND TALL: On behalf of Stand Children’s Services Tu Maia Whanau, Carly about the kids learning how to trade. and lessons learned for anyone interested Bottrill and Paahi Paraha-Frost sold potted plants at the Gizzy Kids Craft Fair on The craft fair was held across the road from in organising future youth markets under Saturday. Money raised from a stallholder entry fee is to be donated to Stand. the Gisborne Farmers’ Market on Saturday Hokohoko Markets.” Picture by Rebecca Grunwell Union call to remove benefit restrictions FROM PAGE 1 Statistics showed during that time $70 help workers laid off due to the impact of to eliminate the stand-down period before — many have to just to make ends meet million was wiped from New Zealand’s the Covid 19 outbreak. workers can get the unemployment — but at the moment if one partner is forestry export trade with China. Mr Reid is a member of the advisory benefit is a good start but will not solve laid off, they are denied a benefit if their By value, $180 million of forestry group and FIRST Union the main problem. partner is earning.” products were exported in the four weeks, represents forest and “The WEAG report ■ The first log trains in eight years down from almost $250 million in the wood processing workers. There has been called for the removal of to leave Wairoa bound for Napier had a same period last year and lower than “There has ‘considerable all stand-down periods short run. projections. been considerable for benefits but also A KiwiRail spokesperson said the By weight, forestry exports to China disappointment in the disappointment in the addressed the bigger Wairoa-Napier log train had run only (mainly logs) had fallen to about 1.2 lack of Government action lack of Government problem that workers, three times this year. million tonnes in the past four weeks, to the WEAG report on action. although paying their “We work on behalf of exporters and, compared with about 1.3 million tonnes issues of benefit levels,” tax every week, are over the long term, see highs and lows in for the same period in 2019. Mr Reid said. ’ not entitled to the demand across our network. FIRST Union president Robert Reid “This lack of action is unemployed (Job Seeker) “We are seeing a slow-down in said the Government needed to look no also now affecting workers being laid off benefit if their partner/spouse is also in some areas as a result of international further than a report from the Welfare in the forestry, tourism, education, export paid employment. conditions.” Expert Advisory Group when considering and other industries. “These days, it’s rare not to have both how to use the social welfare system to “The call from the Minister of Forestry partners in a family relationship working SEE ALSO STORY PAGE 10 LOOKING AHEAD Get your FOCUS ON THE LAND Gisborne Herald • Prices and comment from today’s home-delivered monthly cattle fair at Matawhero — 1500-1600 head on offer. • Charlie Reynolds talks about biodiversity, “coming to a paddock near you”. • The titles shared around at the Opotiki Dog Trial club’s successful trial on Sunday. THE GUIDE TOMORROW 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: 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 • Tuesday, March 3, 2020 NEWS 3 Police chaplain of 33 years farewelled by Murray Robertson be my police chaplain?’ — and that’s how it all whanau, bless the building and he always made “We developed fantastic relationship with each started,” Insp Aberahama said. sure that he blessed the police staff who were other.” A SPECIAL function at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae Mr Isaacs was sworn in as a police chaplain working at that time,” Insp Aberahama said. He said one thing that stood out for him over yesterday morning marked the retirement of by the Police Commissioner of the day, Rob “He would lead Tairawhiti pirihimana on to any the years was to see the spiritual side of the Tairawhiti police chaplain Temple Isaacs and his Robinson.