TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ KIWIFRUIT HISTORIC CHANGE HARVEST SO FAR PAGE 3 FOR NZ’S ABORTION ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LAWS PAGE 6 PAGES 23-26 INSIDE TODAY SHALL WE DANCE? Family bragging rights will be on the line when Gisborne brothers Campbell (left) and Alex Chrisp and sisters Pamela Hall (left) and Monica Williams go toe to toe at the Dancing for Life Ed charity event at the Farmers Air Showgrounds Park Event Centre fundraiser on June 20. The pairs chose rock and roll as their dance style and have been having a lot of fun learning the moves for the big event, which is raising money for the Life Education Trust. “I think we’ve got the rhythm and it’s for a great cause,” said Pamela. “If nothing else, it will give our families a laugh.” STORY ON PAGE 4 Picture by Chanellcrown Photography PANDEMIC COULD DELAY RATES RISE by Aaron van Delden Relief package announcement tomorrow Public advised to GISBORNE ratepayers are being asked • if they want the district council to lessen GOVERNMENT ministers will be in Gisborne here to announce a relief package for Covid- a 2020/21 rates hike by delaying the tomorrow to reveal details of a tailored 19-affected workers in the region. ‘shop normal’ wastewater treatment plant upgrade and economic relief package for Tairawhiti. The move comes on top of a national forgoing extra staff to process resource Economic Development Minister Phil relief package announced earlier this week. • More local events fall consent applications on time. Twyford, Forestry and Regional Economic That included a wage subsidy for affected The council decided last month to forge Development Minister Shane Jones and businesses and is also available to eligible victim to virus ahead with a 4.87 percent Employment Minister Willie Jackson will be businesses here. overall rates rise in its • Anxious Kiwis 2020/21 annual plan, but it agreed to seek public national response to the coronavirus budgeted a 3.26 percent rates increase for trapped overseas feedback before formally pandemic and considering how to manage 2020/21, but staff have told councillors that adopting the plan in June. rates increases, which many councils were needs to jump to 4.87 percent because of For city households, proposing for 2020/21. their decision to accelerate improvements • Plea for help from rates bills are expected to At yesterday’s extraordinary council to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. increase by $150 to $200 a meeting, Ms Thatcher Swann said the Improvements to the plant are required Air NZ year, on average. consultation document outlining the for the council to meet impending resource But in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, reasons for Gisborne’s rates hike should consent requirements over water quality. • ‘It’s a war’: Trump the council’s chief executive yesterday still be distributed. The plant’s upgrade will ensure hinted at a potential central government The council would have a better sense wastewater is clarified and disinfected directive to delay setting new rates. later this month of the potential need to before being discharged to Turanganui-a- • Italy death toll soars, Nedine Thatcher Swann said council delay the rates rise, she said. Kiwa/Poverty Bay. 475 in one day leaders were working on a co-ordinated The council’s 2018-28 Long Term Plan CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Classifieds ... 16-18 Television ..........27 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Racing .......... 19-20 Sport ............ 28-32 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National .... 6-10, 21 World...... 13-14, 22 The Guide .... 23-26 Weather .............31 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, March 19, 2020 HAZARDOUS SITUATION DECONTAMINATION: Firefighters were put through their paces yesterday in a hazardous materials incident and decontamination exercise held on the forecourt of the Gisborne fire station. Senior Station Officer Bernie Bull said the personnel involved were tested on their handling of a chemical spill. They were fully kitted out in hazardous substance gear and washed off afterwards in a portable decontamination shower. “We test the gear and practice with it every six months or so,” SSO Bull said. “The exercise went very well.” Pictures by Liam Clayton Exceptional sportsmanship Jack’s actions ‘the epitome of awesomeness’ THE selfless act of a young carnival this year at Mount shore he joined his friend in the Gisborne surf lifesaver is proof Maunganui. first aid tent and helped care for you’re never too young to make a The 11-year-old really enjoyed him. difference in someone’s life. the competition. Despite not finishing the race, Riversun Wainui Surf Life “I liked it. It was really big. Jack was told he would be allowed Saving Club member Jack Long There were a lot of kids from a lot to compete in the final, because he joined Riversun Wainui Surf of clubs.” would have made it through had Life Saving Club four years ago Jack made the finals of two he continued. and recently competed in his events but it was his actions He was 14th in the final. first Oceans’ 20 national junior in helping a mate and fellow Over the Oceans’ 20 carnival, competitor that had people talking representatives of the Waterman about him, Store NZ and Engine Swim A GREAT MATE: Jack Long “During the board semifinals I were on the look-out for Oceans from Wainui SLSC received a was paddling out and a large set 20 competitors who displayed special award at the Oceans’ came through,” said Jack, a Year 7 “exceptional sportsmanship”. 20 junior nationals at the student at Gisborne Intermediate. They found it in Jack. Mount earlier this month “On the first wave my friend He was recognised as part of a for going to the aid of a and I both popped it, but on the Waterman Store NZ competition clubmate and friend who lost second wave my friend lost his for an Engine Swim prize — a bag his board in the big waves. board. full of goodies and a $1000 gift Jack received an Engine Jack ditched his own board and voucher. Swim voucher for $1000. went to help his friend until an Jack’s efforts to help his friend He is pictured with Andrew IRB picked him up. were seen as the “epitome of Lauterstein from Engine Swim. He was not able to finish the awesomeness” and why surf Picture by Rod Salt race but once Jack was back to lifesaving is so special. LOOKING AHEAD Get your SPORTS Gisborne Herald • Yes there is still some sport going on . we home-delivered preview the Poverty Bay yachting champs • Gis Int students in the medals at a lake swim in Rotorua • How local rugby clubs are dealng with the delayed start to the season • Updates on the Warriors and Wellington Phoenix as their competitions continue 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: 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 • Thursday, March 19, 2020 NEWS 3 ‘Cautionary approach’ to public consultation raises ire FROM PAGE 1 the upgrade and spread out rates rises, $48 city ratepayers will need to pay next just on social media. reducing the increase for city ratepayers year to cover unbudgeted depreciation on This was especially important given from July 1 by $65. water infrastructure. the council’s current coronavirus-driven The need for more staff to process However, repaying the loan would Ms Thatcher Swann said the council moratorium on community meetings, Cr resource consent applications on time require more rates rises over time. was taking a “cautionary approach” to Seymour said. and higher-than-expected depreciation on Other options put forward in the public consultation and would distribute She recalled a time when such water infrastructure are also implicated consultation document include diverting the document via its social media documents were delivered to every in the rates increase. funds from unidentified council activities channels. letterbox in the district. Instead of delaying work on the to pay for more resource consenting work But that raised the ire of district Councillor Terry Sheldrake thought wastewater treatment plant, the council without a rates increase. councillor Pat Seymour, who wanted the an insert in The Gisborne Herald would could opt to loan money to continue No alternative is given for the extra document circulated more widely than suffice. Covid-19 website SO FAR SO GOOD: The GISBORNE District Council encourages kiwifruit harvest the community to visit the Government’s here has been comprehensive new website launched to provide in full swing the latest updates and information about Covid- for about two 19 Coronavirus. weeks and it’s The site has everything, including information so far so good on symptoms, advice on how to take care of your when it comes health, the financial support available and the to harvest rules for self isolation. volumes and “Together we can slow the spread” is the labour supplies banner headline for the site. to pick the “It contains everything you need to know in crop. This team one place,” the council said today in a social are pictured media post. “Advice and information, updates at an orchard and commonly-asked questions around at Makauri. Covid-19. Learn the simple steps you can take to From left are unite against the virus and slow its spread.” Kia Andersen, Go to covid19.govt.nz Michael Haines, Chelsea Debruyn and Slade #shop normal Tiopira.