TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 MOVES TO SOLVE SHIP FLIPPIN’ HECK BACKLOG ISSUE PAGE 2 State Highway 35 was down to one lane for a couple of hours yesterday morning just north of Ruatoria when this 16-tonne digger and its transporter flipped over. The mishap happened near the Tapuaeroa Road corner at around 9am and the road was reopened to both lanes at about 11.20am. Police have an inquiry under way and said it was fortunate no other vehicles were close by when it happened. Gisborne Hiabs was called to right and then remove the damaged digger, which was brought to Gisborne. No one was injured in the mishap. Picture supplied RELISHING HER ROLE AT TOKYO GAMES PAGE 4 COVID-19 PAGES 4, 7, 13-14, 17 • Cargo of 370,000 vaccine doses arrive • Third ship with Covid cases docks in NZ • Fiji’s death toll reaches 100, fifth death in NSW • Olympic Village cases ‘no surprise’ TWO forestry companies at about 10am on February workmates was done safely. have been fined and ordered to 13, 2019. He was working as a WorkSafe prosecutor pay reparation totalling nearly “breaker out” — someone who Ian Brookie said audits $1 million over the workplace attaches cables to felled trees commissioned by Ernslaw death of a Gisborne man in so they can be hauled out of the One and Pakiri from May to 2019. forest. It is considered one of September, 2018, highlighted In a recently-released the most physically demanding issues with the way a decision, Judge Warren forestry jobs. particular break out crew was ‘Asleep Cathcart fined Pakiri Logging Each of the companies operating. (At the hearing Limited $468,000, Ernslaw subsequently pleaded guilty in March, Ernslaw counsel One Limited $288,000, and to a charge of exposing an Joseph Lill refuted the crew in ordered the two companies to individual to risk of harm or question was Mr Miller’s.) share in reparations to Nathan illness. Despite being on notice about “Nate” Miller’s family totalling Pakiri Logging Limited went the issues months in advance, $238,000. into liquidation on August 28, both companies failed to take The judge’s decision was last year. It is understood the corrective action, which could at the reserved after a sentencing company is in a position to have prevented Mr Miller’s hearing in Gisborne District meet the reparation payment death, Mr Brookie said. Court during March. for the family but its ability to Pakiri said it did not receive Mr Miller, 28, was directly pay the fines is in question. the full audit results from its employed by Pakiri Logging At the hearing in March, foreman but the management Limited, a Gisborne-based the court was informed of Mr should have actively pursued hauler and ground-based Miller’s mother’s anguish at them, Mr Brookie said. logging operation subcontracted having to wait eight hours for Ernslaw One’s response was wheel’ by Ernslaw One, a foreign anyone to officially inform her only cursory. (largely Malaysian-owned) of Nate’s death. It was alarming for Ernslaw forestry company and the The court was also told Mr — the fourth-biggest forestry fourth-largest forest owner in Miller’s death was wholly management company in the $1m in fines, reparation New Zealand. avoidable. A WorkSafe country — not to be acting Mr Miller suffered fatal investigation found both on Audit results like this, Mr injuries and died after being companies failed to ensure Brookie said. over fatal forestry incident struck by a log on a forestry the dangerous work being site inland from Tolaga Bay undertaken by him and his CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Television ...........18 Racing ................23 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Classifieds ... 20-21 Sport ............ 24-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National ...6-10, 16-17 World............ 13-15 Picture page ......22 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Tuesday, July 20, 2021 UNDER THE RAINBOW: Eastland Port has put in place a new booking and scheduling system to allow better planning around log shipments from here to avoid the ongoing backlog situation. This stunning photograph, taken by Dylan Carse on Saturday morning, shows the log ship Hoihow alongside the wharf loading before departure for Tauranga. Backlog issues addressed Port introduces new measures to speed up loading process EASTLAND Port has introduced new to follow a series of rules aimed at more wood to be moved across the port,” have the best chance of success, relieving initiatives to reduce the backlog of ships significantly speeding up the vessel Mr Gaddum said. pressure on local forestry crews and sitting in the bay and help stabilise the loading. “Our focus is on trying to clear the trucking companies. East Coast forestry industry. Rules include limiting the amount of immediate backlog as quickly and “We know forestry contractors Eastland Group chief operating officer cargo that can go on the deck of ships efficiently as possible. and trucking companies are hurting Andrew Gaddum said local forestry and reducing vessel depth, meaning they “Once this is achieved the settings will financially so it’s important to us that we owners were seeing reduced revenues will not have to wait for a high tide in be reviewed but at this stage they are pull as many levers as possible to help from harvest as a result of the additional order to depart the port. expected to remain in place until January relieve the situation. cost of ships waiting to be loaded, A booking and scheduling system has 31 next year,” he said. “We’d like to acknowledge these lowering wharf gate returns. been introduced so vessels know when “The port has worked hard to get as challenging and unprecedented “Forestry harvesting is having to be they are able to load and can better plan much consensus on this as possible and circumstances and thank the entire curtailed due to a lack of log storage other work around this, meaning they consulted with the wider industry.” forestry supply chain for working capacity at the port and this is adversely do not need to spend unproductive time Mr Gaddum said the port’s focus was collaboratively to help create stability for impacting the local forestry supply chain, anchored off Gisborne. to move as much wood as possible across the East Coast forestry industry.” so we’ve put in place a range of new Thirty-three ships are locked in for the wharf in the shortest amount of The Twin Berth Project in development measures to help the situation.” processing under the new schedule. time while maintaining strict health and at the port will help minimise The allocation system has been “These solutions will offer consistency safety standards. such congestion events, with two modified and new operational parameters across the industry and will decrease “This will allow the industry and those 185-200-metre-long ships able to berth at put in place with exporters required vessel turnaround time and allow for most at risk of financial hardship to once. REMOVED: The mangled Toyota Celica car that smashed through railings on the Peel Street Bridge on Saturday night was removed yesterday. “The current focus for the Peel Street Bridge intersection is to make sure the site is safe for regular use for drivers and pedestrians,” a Gisborne District Council spokesman said. “We’re assessing how bad the damage is to the two bridge-side traffic lights and barrier rail.” A temporary roundabout remains in place at the intersection. “We won’t know how long the traffic lights will be out and the temporary roundabout is in place until the damage assessments are complete.” The male driver of the car escaped the crash with only minor facial lacerations. Picture by Liam Clayton LOOKING AHEAD Get your FOCUS ON THE LAND Gisborne Herald • The Meat Industry Association has welcomed changes by the Government home-delivered to ease pressure on the red meat sector’s migrant workforce. • The AgriHQ report this week points to Chinese lamb imports easing with seasonal trends in June. • Calf-rearing contracts remain elusive, while stronger bobby calf prices could see a lift in the value of feeder calves. TOMORROw THE GUIDE 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: Jack Malcolm/John Gillies To fi 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 20, 2021 NEWS 3 Olympic Pool Complex to reopen Saturday by Murray Robertson The asbestos issue with the 33m pool was remove the asbestos.” “We are really excited it can be held this found during routine maintenance and after News the indoor pool is set to open again year, given the challenges with repairs at the WITH repairs to its 50-metre indoor pool further investigation the decision was made has been welcomed. Olympic Pool,” she said. almost completed, the Olympic Pool Complex to close the complex at the start of this month Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti community “It’s great the community can be involved will reopen on Saturday in time for the start of while repairs to the 50m pool were completed. events adviser Debbie Hutchings said in this event and remember, it is for all ages, the annual Swim the Distance. The outdoor pool was painted and the the 2021 Swim the Distance event will be stages and fitness levels.” The complex has been closed since overflow channel was covered with an ACM sponsored again this year by Recreational Some swimmers have racked up several asbestos-containing material (ACM) was sealant nine months ago.