TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 SURVEYING THE DAMAGE: Rerekohu student Jenesis Dewes looks at the severe damage FALLOON to Kaiananga Hill Road at Waiomatatini Valley between Ruatoria and Tikitiki. Also pictured are Waiapu River Restoration crew members QUITS AS John Haenga (down the hill), Rongopai Paenga, Whiti Raroa and Jellicoe Atkins. Picture supplied MORE WOMEN COMPLAIN PAGE 6 COVID-19 • CONCERN ABOUT LOW TESTING NUMBERS • MILLIONS PAID TO PUBLICITY CONTRACTORS • OPTIMISM OVER VACCINE TEST RESULTS • DOING IT HARD IN AFRICA PAGES 6, 7, 12 RESIDENTS around Kaiananga Hill Road in Dewes. “We suffer the worst erosion in the ‘We suffer the Waiomatatini Valley are having to clamber world and it’s only getting worse. There are so over a steep dropout after rain and slips left a many disheartened landowners at the lower large hole in the road. end of the catchment. We are the ones who the worst Local resident Tina Dewes said people in suffer because of all the activity up river. the Waiomatatini Valley were used to this and “We lose acres and acres of prime soil to the everyone in the valley was good. Waiapu (River) which disappears out to sea. erosion in “We all look after one another.” To add to more heartache and disappointment, This was, however, the worst locals had seen the council expects us to pay for land that is no in a long time. It was ongoing damage, going a longer there. the world long way back from when the back country was “We have whanau right across the rohe who cleared of native bush and turned into farming. can’t get a load of metal after requests four “The damage is irreversible. Now we months in a row. SMART BINS and it’s only are affected by logging, quarrying and big “Yet they have money for Endeavour demands to supply metal for forestry roads.” models.” WORKING WELL This had put stress and pressure on both More on the weather damage, page 3 AROUND DISTRICT getting worse’ sides of the Waiapu catchment,” said Ms PAGE 5 A LIQUIDATOR has given the go-ahead for the It was not known if provisions in the Companies Environment Court to impose penalties of $130,000 Act might preclude the court’s sanctions. The case on defunct forestry company DNS Forest Products was adjourned for confirmation from the liquidator. Limited for shoddy post-harvesting practices at its Judge Dwyer yesterday imposed the fine and Makiri Forest two years ago. ordered reparation of $6500 for the neighbouring The case was finalised yesterday in Gisborne Matuku Station. $130,000 District Court by Environment Court Judge Brian A reparation claim of $15,000 was previously Dwyer. made on behalf of that property but Judge Dwyer, DNS previously admitted that between June, persuaded by DNS counsel Matthew Atkinson, 2017, and July, 2018, it discharged contaminant — imposed the lesser amount as a contribution. forestry waste and sediment — on to land at Makiri The judge said while the case was settled on the Forest in circumstances where it could, and did, basis DNS was responsible for what went on at the enter waterways. forest since January, 2018, he accepted there were The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to likely other contributors to the damage at Matuku, fine for $600,000 for corporate offenders. albeit he had no way of determining that. It was one of many brought by Gisborne District DNS was an Auckland-based company thath Council against multiple forest companies after two marketed and sold logs harvested from its consecutive weekends of heavy rain in June, 2018. Makiri Forest — a 493-hectare plantation forest The rain sent thousands of tonnes of forest located about 38km northwest of Gisborne in the debris and sediment down the region’s waterways, headwaters of the Waihora Valley. revealing widespread non-compliance with It was issued a resource consent by the district resource management consents by forest council in November, 2016. The consent allowed it companies. to construct roading and landings, and to harvest shoddy In June, Judge Dwyer rejected the company’s 398ha of trees. application for a discharge without conviction, DNS contracted A and R Logging Limited to do signalling a fine of $124,700, (all but 10 percent the work and Logic Forest Solutions to oversee it, of which will go to the district council) and a with work starting early 2017. reparation order for an affected neighbouring By January 2018, the two contractors had property owner. each pulled out of the forest due to a commercial But the penalties could not be immediately dispute with DNS. imposed as the company’s liquidation had only just practices come to light. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............10 Television ...........15 Picture page .....19 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............11 Racing ................16 Sport ............ 21-24 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ............ 6-9 World............ 12-14 Classifieds ... 17-18 Weather .............23 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Tuesday, July 21, 2020 10 years of swimming the distance DESTINATION MAHIA: The 10th edition of Swim the Distance starts on August 1. Participants face the challenge of completing 45.5 kilometres in the 50-metre pool at the Olympic Pool Complex — the equivalent of swimming from Gisborne to the northern side of Mahia. Herald file picture by Murray Robertson to September 30. the 10th anniversary and will be the last make with others who take part in it.” Pool staff said the flow of completed chance people get to swim in the current Recreational Services have come on REGISTRATIONS have opened for registrations was slow so far “but lots of 50-metre pool before work starts on the $40 board as a major sponsor this year. this year’s Swim the Distance event at people have taken away registration forms.” million redevelopment project. “We really appreciate their financial the Olympic Pool Complex and the 10th Participants in previous years have “The next time Swim the Distance support,” said Debbie. “It means people can anniversary will be special. racked up colossal distances over the two- happens it will hopefully be in the new participate for a cost of only $50 across the More than 200 people took part last month period, with some covering over 50-metre pool.” two months, and that includes unlimited year — swimming, walking or “jogging” 400km. Debbie said the event was a great pool entry.” 45.5 kilometres in the 50-metre pool, the “It will be interesting to see what sort opportunity for people of all abilities to get The registration period remains open equivalent of swimming from Gisborne to of mileage people clock up this year,” into the 27-degree water of the Olympic throughout the event. the northern side of Mahia across the bay. said Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti active Pool. Registrations will be taken at the Olympic Registrations are being taken for the 2020 communities event adviser Debbie “They get the chance to improve their Pool or you can download an entry form event run by Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti and Hutchings general fitness, rehabilitate from injuries, from www.sportgisborne.org.nz — go to Olympic Pool Complex staff from August 1 “This will be a special event because it’s and then there’s the social connections they Events under the Get Active section. SPACE MISSION School holiday programme takes children on a journey to the stars A GROUP of budding Society of New Zealand astronomers got to learn from and was the director of its an expert at the Tairawhiti astrophotography section for Museum astronomy holiday 13 years. programme. His photos have been The fully-booked school published in books and holiday programme gave magazines around the world children an introduction and appeared on two New to astronomy taught by Zealand stamps. one of New Zealand’s top He holds a Master of Science amateur astronomers and (Astronomy) from Swinburne astrophotographers, John University. Drummond. He has helped discover 20 The programme began with exoplanets, which is a planet a power-point presentation, outside the solar system. where the children learned Mr Drummond runs about the stars in the night Gisborne Astro Tours, an sky, followed by an art project astronomical experience at based on what they had his Patutahi property, where discovered. people can observe the skies STARGAZING: Taking part in one of two astronomy sessions run by John Drummond at Tairawhiti Mr Drummond recently from a custom-built roll-off Museum are (from left) Nathan Cornfeld, Rome McDonald, Georgia Jones, Max Hindmarsh, Henry Jones, served as president of roof observatory and outdoor Ned Cook, Millyela Lewis-Mouterde, Iby Costello, Zosia Costello, Mia Blot-Mouterde, Johnny the Royal Astronomical stargazing platform. Batarrita-Clarke, Mr Drummond, Adrianna Batarrita-Clarke and Archie Cook. Picture by Liam Clayton LOOKING AHEAD Get your FOCUS ON THE LAND Gisborne Herald • Provincial Federated Farmers home-delivered president Charlie Reynolds presents a strong report to the Feds’ AGM today — and a new executive has been elected. • The weekly AgriHQ report for the week beginning July 20. 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: 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, July 21, 2020 NEWS 3 Tolley relieved Peters’ damages claim decided EAST Coast National MP Anne Tolley says declarations against former government Winston.