TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 • Breaches prompt iwi to block access to lagoon • Roadworks resume, patience advised • U3A and WI connecting with Zoom COVID 19 • PM under pressure to lift lockdown early • Education leaders fear for students’ future PAGES 3-8, 10,13,14,18-20 • UK death toll exceeds Italy numbers That is the aim of $400,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund to Gisborne’s Tairawhiti Technology Trust (TaiTech) to create a digital hub and improve the region’s digital economy. From left, Carolyn Carpendale, Polly Crawford ‘ENDING DIGITAL and Maurice Alford of Tairawhiti Technology Trust welcomed the funding announced yesterday by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, who said it would “end digital apartheid” in this region. The trust is based at Kaiti Mall and will be able to improve its facilities before offering services for people to connect to, for business development and support, as well as offering free wi-fi, co-working spaces and guidance on use of APARTHEID’ the internet for business and skills development purposes. STORY ON PAGE 3 Picture by Paul Rickard Strength in numbers Businesses embracing ‘all in this together’ slogan by Sophie Rishworth been very demanding on business everyone is going to be feeling a lot of donated from their wages, which CPS is owners, employees and the community pain.” matching $2 for every $1 staff donate, EMPLOYEES in Tairawhiti’s small- organisations we support. Civil Project Solutions (CPS) owner and all this money will go toward local to-medium-sized business network have “I suspect the biggest challenges are Russell Moylan said his team had charities. taken pay cuts to weather the economic yet to come.” embraced the Government’s “we’re all in Mr Moylan said he believed these storm and help avoid job losses. Mr Matthews said he was hopeful this together” slogan as well. actions would go some way to helping With a recession coming, and waves the Government’s talk of investment in “Some staff were able to work from local businesses and local people weather of redundancies predicted to spike infrastructure would be channelled into home, others were not. But we have all the economic storm. unemployment to a double-figure regions. taken a 20 percent pay “It’s our way of giving back to the percentage, Gisborne businesses are “Which would kick- cut and reduced hours community and we highly encourage banding together to show strength in start the local economy I suspect the biggest until business returns other businesses and people who are numbers. and have a positive ‘challenges are yet to to normal. able, to follow suit.” Universal Engineering director Phil effect right through Alert Level 3 means During lockdown, the company Matthews said all 40 of his staff had the construction sector, come we are able to work at a continued regular Friday team lunches taken a pay reduction in line with flowing into the wider —Universal’ Engineering reduced capacity, either and weekend socialising, and even had a government recommendations. Tairawhiti region.” director Phil Matthews from home, worksites quiz night — all via Skype. “We are working extremely hard to “Our staff have or by having a skeleton “Staff have been really positive, hard- minimise the risk of any job cuts.” been fantastic and staff in the office.” working and transitioned to working Mr Matthews said the Covid-19 period are showing true resilience during this CPS has 14 Gisborne-based staff. from home really well. was the single most challenging period difficult time. The community-minded firm decided “If we think about the big picture they ever experienced as business “During Level 4 we communicated during Alert Level 3 to buy lunch for the there is still huge underlying uncertainty owners. regularly via email, social media and whole team from a different local café regarding the economic resilience of “To experience a drop of income phone calls to all staff to check on their every day, with a roster for whose turn it Tairawhiti, New Zealand and the world in March, no income for April and general wellbeing, health and families. is to select where it comes from. in general. uncertainty moving forward has “I am positive about the outcome but Weekly amounts are also being CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Opinion ................9 Puzzles...............21 Racing ...............24 Births & Deaths ...4 World ...12-13, 18-19 Business ............22 Sport ............ 25-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ...6-8, 14, 18 Classifieds .........17 Television ...........23 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, May 6, 2020 SHORTLISTED: The Property Brokers Gisborne/Craigs Investment Partners building (above) and Lawson Field Theatre (right) are among the 17 finalists for the Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay Architecture Awards. Both buildings were designed by Architects 44. Pictures by Strike Trio of Gisborne creations up for architecture award by Mark Peters The shortlist was selected by a jury led by Napier architect Renee Woods and A GISBORNE environmental included Napier resident Ezra Kelly, Te education space, theatre and real estate Awanga architect Yvonne Forrest and and investment advisers’ office building Auckland architect Gary Lawson. have been shortlisted in the Gisborne/ “Making an awards shortlist Hawke’s Bay regional architecture decided by your peers is a significant awards. achievement for any architect,” said jury The Pac Studio-designed Longbush convener Woods. Ecosanctuary Welcome Shelter and “It is also really heartening to see what Architects 44’s design for the Lawson a difference good architecture is making Field Theatre upgrade are shortlisted in in the communities of our region.” the public architecture category. The regional winner announcement Architects 44’s design for the Property date is to be confirmed. Brokers Gisborne and Craigs Investment The Covid-19 lockdown means visits to Partners building on Reads Quay is shortlisted projects by juries are on hold. shortlisted in the commercial category. Resumption of the visits or the WELCOME SHELTER: Auckland architect Sarosh Mulla’s design of a multi- The three are among 17 finalists in the adoption of alternative means of deciding purpose, eco-centric, modular structure called the Welcome Shelter for Longbush awards run by Te Kahui Whaihanga New award winners depend on national ecosanctuary is among three local buildings shortlisted for the Gisborne/Hawke’s Zealand Institute of Architects. measures to deal with the pandemic. Bay regional architecture awards. Picture by Simon Devitt Playcentre furniture donation an investment in Gisborne’s future by Sophie Rishworth the change in circumstances, it (which means it has no knots), would not happen. installed by Cherrywood’s Chris THE delivery of custom-made When Alert Level 3 arrived, Roux. furniture to Wainui Playcentre however, the furniture followed. Mrs Hughes said Wainui yesterday has been gratefully Cherrywood Joinery owner Playcentre would use the low received by parents and children Matt Peters said he wanted to tables as sensory areas for who use the space. give something back to the the babies. They were made It has been made and donated community. the right height for babies and by Gisborne’s Cherrywood “A few of these ladies have parents or caregivers to interact Joinery Ltd. been customers in the past. And while sitting on the floor. Mum-of-two Sarah Hughes we are investing in the future of Playcentres encourage said she wanted to acknowledge Gisborne.” learning through play, with the gift and say a public thank Mr Peters said he and his five parents and caregivers staying you for the kindness of a local staff members were relieved to with the children. business off the back of a tough get back to work at Level 3 as Each playcentre around time. they had a long waiting list. NZ is cooperatively managed The donation had been The donated furniture by parents and supported organised before lockdown but included a tier of wooden nationally by Playcentre Mrs Hughes thought considering shelves made with clear pine Aotearoa. CHERRY ON TOP: Cherrywood Joinery owner Matt Peters (right) and production manager Chris Roux with furniture the business made and donated to Wainui Playcentre. Sitting at low tables are (from left) Poppy Young (6), Freddie Hughes (3) Florence Hughes (2) and Sarah Hughes. Picture by Liam Clayton Get your Gisborne Herald • Two members of Gisborne ive-piece powerhouse Supreme Brother Sound talk about the home-delivered soul, funk, R&B sound of their freshly-released debut single. • Could Gisborne have a inalist in the online 48 hours ilm competition? The Guide talks to one of the entrants. • A recording of New Zealand-Chinese composer Gao Ping’s new work Bitter Cold Night — a tribute to Covid-19 whistleblower Dr Li Wenliang — is released for NZ Music Month. TOMORROW PLUS: MUSIC GUIDE • FILM REVIEWS • GUIDE GOSSIP The Gisborne Herald, 64 Gladstone Road, P.O. Box 1143, Gisborne • Phone (06) 869 0600 • Fax (Editorail) (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 • Wednesday, May 6, 2020 NEWS 3 Alert Level flouters force lagoon gates closure by Matai O’Connor Muriwai via Te Wherowhero. “The reason for keeping the gate THE gates at the Browns Beach locked for three months is because entry to Te Wherowhero Lagoon will be we need to come up with a better plan locked for the next three months. for the area. There will be a discussion They were locked yesterday about what to do going forward.