TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 GBHS BOOK PULLED PAGE 9 EXHIBITION AFTER AUTHOR’S ‘THEIR WORK MOKO COMMENT NEEDS TO BLUE OR RED? BE SEEN’ PAGE 2 ELECTION DAY USA PAGES 13-14 WE HAVE LIFT-OFF: Low-flying human beings were spotted on and over the ocean at Wainui’s Chalet surf break yesterday. Kitesurfers revelled in winds of up ‘GHOST’ to 26 kilometres an hour, impressing with their speed, the heights they were reaching in the air and the lengths of their jumps. Among the group of extreme sports enthusiasts were this pair captured in unison by Gisborne Herald photographer HOUSES Liam Clayton. Hundreds of private dwellings sitting empty during crisis by Andrew Ashton of their own. There isn’t enough research into why people choose to AS Tairawhiti struggles in the leave their properties empty, however, midst of a housing crisis, census data some of the probable reasons include shows hundreds of unoccupied, or overseas owners wanting the property “ghost”, houses could have solved the free for when they return to New problem two years ago. Zealand; and a potential disconnect Earlier this year a report from between what the landlord/investor umbrella group Manaaki Tairawhiti is wanting for the property compared and Trust Tairawhiti revealed to what tenants are willing or able Tairawhiti was about 400 houses to pay, particularly in the current short of resolving its housing crisis. climate, or even ‘land-banking’. But Statistics NZ data from the A small number of these empty 2018 Census shows of Gisborne’s properties could also be new 18,477 private dwellings, 756 were developments waiting to be sold or empty. Another 54 “non-private” properties waiting on rebuilds or dwellings were also empty. developments and needing consent Stats NZ said the Census data (which can take many months). included baches and holiday homes “Without doubt if these ‘ghost’ but it could not separate those from properties were returned to the its figures, nor could it tell how many rental market it would help ease the more houses might be empty now. pressure on stock and in turn reduce Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said some of the upward pressure on Manaaki Tairawhiti, as the regional rental prices. housing lead, had just recruited a “There is some anecdotal evidence person to drive a housing strategy that portions of the new legislation on the council’s behalf “and GDC is implemented by the Government in full support to move as soon as to help lift the standard of housing possible”. for tenants has actually caused “Every organisation has a role to some property owners to leave play and at GDC we are reviewing their properties empty instead of our rules and regulations to ensure improving them to meet the new we support, encourage and enable standards. development, not hinder it. “Some commentators have “We acknowledge that we need to suggested there may be some move with haste. This issue needs benefits in an empty homes tax to urgent addressing.” disincentivise land-banking. There Real Estate Institute chief may be some merits in this measure executive Bindi Norwell said more but it would require a lot more research was needed into why people investigation and may end up being were leaving houses empty. a short-term, temporary solution, “This trend of ‘ghost’ houses is a rather than addressing the wider shame as we can see there are many issue of the housing shortage. willing purchasers in the market who are trying to secure a property CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ENROL Your journey to NOW! START eit.ac.nz success starts here FEB 2021 Check out FEES-FREE STUDY* feesfree.govt.nz Carpentry | Automotive | Mechanical Engineering TRADES & * conditions apply Services Pathway | Outdoor Experience TECHNOLOGY 34817-04 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Television ...........17 Racing ................23 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Classifieds ... 18-20 Sport ............ 24-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National .......... 6-10 World............ 13-15 Farming ....... 21-22 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, November 4, 2020 THE RESULTS OF THEIR HARD MAHI: Driven by personal goals, inspired by the kaupapa of the programme and fuelled by barbecue food, Gisborne Boys’ High School whakairo (Maori carving) students King Maxwell (left) and Lathaneal Niwa-Karakia are among those ready for the school’s annual whakairo exhibition tomorrow night. Picture by Liam Clayton WHERE by Mark Peters whale, which is brought to life Mr Falaoa has maintained those with flowing koru. The whale’s principles. LOCKDOWN only made mouth is recessed and lined with “I’m not lazy,” says one principle Gisborne Boys High School’s a Pacific island pattern. on a poster in the workshop. “I whakairo (carving) students work Painted in blue, the ridged just need some targets.” harder. pattern of waves steps outside Similarly: “I’m not angry. I just CREATIVITY The Covid-19 response set traditional Maori design to need some positive vibes.” coursework behind by seven suggest the ocean. Part of Mr Callaghan’s tradition weeks but hard mahi (work) Mr Falaoa kept the workshop was the Friday meal of fish and means the students will be open during the school holidays chips for his students. ready for their annual exhibition so students could continue with “Craig used to feed the boys opening tomorrow night, says their work. and boys would do the hard FLOWS whakairo teacher Kahurangi Some turned up at 10am and mahi,” says Mr Falaoa. Falaoa. didn’t leave until 9pm, he said. “Last night (Tuesday), some of “They have spent countless “I made the mistake of cooking the boys brought in some venison hours here. Their work needs to up a feed which charged them up and chops. We cleaned up the Boys’ High students ready be seen.” and they stayed on. That’s in line barbecue and cooked them up. On track for the one night only with what Craig used to do.” I’m trying to keep to the tradition for one night only exhibition exhibition are students King Craig is the late Craig Craig started. I’ve just followed in Maxwell and Lathaneal Callaghan, who established the his footsteps.” Niwa-Karakia. whakairo class at Boys’ High. As a graduate of the ESTABLISHED by the late Craig Callaghan, Gisborne King’s intricately-carved “After he became ill he used his Toihoukura Maori visual arts Boys’ High School’s whakairo (Maori carving) programme serpentine design features a time in hospital to write three school, Mr Falaoa has also was announced in 2015 as the supreme winner at the Prime manaia and is based on a story workbooks, one each for NCEA brought his own skills to the Minister’s Education Excellence Awards. “from up north” about an eel on levels 1-3, aimed at enhancing not classroom. The course was recognised for fostering passion and its return journey from the land’s only the students’ understanding “I enjoy being here. It’s a good changing attitudes to learning the course and also won the waterways to the ocean. of whakairo but helping improve environment. We were here till The coiled pattern is stained their literacy. Teaching and Learning category at the awards. 10.30 last night. We had the dark brown while a lighter stain “These boys are hands-on,” says music jamming. Whakairo programmes had since opened at secondary enhances the sense of flow in the Mr Falaoa. “The workbooks are “It’s about creating an schools across the country, Mr Callaghan told The Gisborne linked koru pattern. designed to help improve literacy.” environment where the creativity Herald in 2016. Paikea the whale rider is the Whakairo students are also flows. Kai is one thing. Music “What is important is that this knowledge is going out to help theme of Lathaneal’s carving required to write the story behind helps keep them going. all these other kids in the next generation.” which has been finished in dark their artworks. “The big thing is seeing the end Mr Callaghan passed away on December 20, 2018, after a stain and paint. Mr Callaghan also developed result.” long illness. The carved form of Paikea a kaupapa (set of values/policy) The exhibition is in the school rests on the back of the stylised for the whakairo workshop and hall from 6pm tomorrow. Get your Gisborne Herald • He doesn’t see himself as an artist and he won’t part with his works so his front yard is home-delivered populated by big steel sculptures. Ihaia Crookes explains why. • Artist Leigh Wright tells The Guide about his life in the bush and sea, and his life-long love of drawing that has brought him back to Gisborne for an exhibition at Miharo gallery. • Gisborne Choral Society musical director Gavin Maclean talks about why the group looks forward to the heavy breathing of singing in public again. TOMORROW PLUS: MUSIC GUIDE • FILM REVIEWS • GUIDE GOSSIP 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 To nd out more call 869 0620 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, November 4, 2020 NEWS 3 Three important KILLER ON THE LOOSE: A pod of orca/killer whalers days recognised at was spotted in local waters yesterday. After sightings commemorations from Dive Tatapouri and Okitu, the orca were seen A FLYOVER and the “For any information frolicking at The Cut at Trust Tairawhiti Rescue please do not hesitate to Waikanae Beach at around Helicopter will be part of contact the RSA.” 7pm.