TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 SOLD! PAGE 3 HOSPITAL GOES $260m in house sales GREEN FOR ARTS & over 2020 ENTERTAINMENT CHRISTMAS PAGE 2 PAGES 23-26 ‘BUBBLE EXPEDITIONS’ Turanganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay will once again be graced by the presence of a cruise ship when luxury ship Le Laperouse visits Gisborne in March. French-based cruise line Ponant has been granted conditional approval for Le Laperouse to resume operations exclusively in New Zealand waters, and for New Zealand passengers, from February of next year. The cruises are being promoted as “Bubble Expeditions” for Kiwis and the ship is scheduled to arrive in Gisborrne on March 13. STORY ON PAGE 2 Picture by PONANT/Nick Rains GUNS, DRUGS SEIZED Multiple arrests from Eastland district police operation GANG members from Gisborne, Te for supply,” said Detective Senior Sergeant District Court on January 13. committed to reducing. Karaka and Wairoa are among those Kevin Ford of Gisborne police. The Hawke’s Bay arrests included a “Police will target anyone who involves arrested in an ongoing police operation “Police were very pleased to be able to 58-year-old Hastings man, a 49-year-old themselves in illicit drug manufacture and following recent drive-by shootings and get the seized firearms out of the hands of Eskdale man and a 37-year-old Bay View distribution. violent attacks in Hawke’s Bay. gang members. woman on various charges. “The number of high-powered firearms Police executed search warrants across “We encourage anyone who has illegal “These arrests highlight real concern seized indicates a willingness to Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, including firearms to contact us and arrange to around the apparent ease of access by perpetrate intimidation and violence in Raupunga, in relation to unlawful surrender them.” criminals, including gang members, to order to achieve illegal activity.” possession of firearms and drugs by gangs. Eastern investigations manager firearms and ammunition,” Det Insp Jones Det Insp Jones said police would Seven people were arrested. Detective Inspector Rob Jones said said. continue to have dialogue with gang and Twenty-one firearms have been ammunition, methamphetamine, cannabis “Eastern Police are committed to community leaders in an ongoing effort to recovered and seized, including a high- and $26,000 in cash was seized at one targeting organised crime activity in the prevent future violence. powered military-style semi-automatic address. area and those individuals who are in “The recovery of these firearms is a rifle, numerous sawn-off weapons and a “A 50-year-old man was arrested and unlawful possession of firearms.” huge relief to us and those individuals in revolver. has appeared in Wairoa District Court on A number of addresses searched where unlawful possession of firearms should Several of the firearms were loaded. firearms charges. firearms and ammunition were located expect to be targeted by police. One of the gang members arrested is “A 35-year-old Gisborne male was were connected to members and associates “Inquiries are continuing to locate from Gisborne, another is from Te Karaka arrested and charged with supplying of Black Power and the Mongrel Mob. people involved in this offending and and a third is from Wairoa. The others are methamphetamine, and we expect to lay “We want to send a clear message that establish how these firearms have come from places further south. further charges relating to firearms and such criminal activity won’t be tolerated,” into the possession of gang members. “All three were charged with unlawful receiving offences.” Det Insp Jones said. “As such, we are unable to rule out the possession of firearms, and one faces That man has been remanded in “It causes immeasurable harm in possibility of further arrests or charges charges of possessing methamphetamine custody and will appear again in Gisborne our communities — harm that we are being laid.” GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Classifieds ... 15-18 Racing ................27 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Television ..... 21-22 Sport ............ 28-32 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National .......... 6-10 World...... 13-14, 20 The Guide ... 23-26 Weather .............31 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, December 24, 2020 I’M DREAMING OF A GREEN PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Ward 9 Surgical nurses (from left) Varsha Sheela, Kelly Burns and Chris Dyson share the Christmas cheer of their ward which CHRISTMAS won them the people’s choice category of the Gisborne Hospital Christmas decorations competition. Picture by Paul Rickard A VARIATION on Bing Crosby’s timeless classic White Christmas provided the theme for this Gisborne Hospital’s annual Christmas decorations competition. Honours went to the Orderlies and Ward 9 Surgical. “I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas” was the theme for this year. The Orderlies won the judges’ competition while Ward 9 narrowly won the people’s choice award (by vote on Facebook), depriving second-placed Orderlies of the double. But the real winners were those visiting or working at Gisborne Hospital. “We all get to enjoy a bit of Christmas magic for a few weeks of the year, thanks to the decoration crews’ hard work,” said a hospital staff member. The Orderlies, whose office is right by the main entrance, have shared their Christmas spirit with many children, big and small, the staff member said. “Visitors and staff have been taken on a shortcut through their magical Christmas forest.” The captain of the Orderlies decorating team was Justine Nuku, who recruited a team of “orderly elves” to help. The surgical ward creation included hundreds of precisely cut-out leaves, animals and jungle creatures. Many of the decorations around the ORDERLY ELVES: hospital were created by staff working The Orderlies team created this winning green wonderland for Gisborne Hospital’s Christmas in their own time or by night-shift staff decorations competition. Admiring their work are (from left) Kaea Nepia, Sharyn Henry-Wainui, William Morris and when they had spare time. Andy Tamanui. Picture by Paul Rickard Kiwi-exclusive cruise ship to visit Gisborne by Andrew Ashton NZCA chief executive Kevin application into an exemption process, expeditions to visit remote and often O’Sullivan confirmed the vessel, able to which has strict criteria.” difficult-to-get-to parts of New Zealand. GISBORNE is back in the cruise carry 184 passengers, was scheduled to Ponant Asia Pacific chairman Sarina “Ponant’s relaxed, refined and game, with a luxury ship scheduled to arrive in Gisborne on March 13. Bratton said it was a privilege to offer French-inspired style complements this berth here in March. “This is good news. It’s something “bubble expeditions” for Kiwis. extraordinary experience. A statement from the New Zealand we’ve been arguing for since June. “Kiwi travel agents, tour operators, “This is an important step forward Cruise Association (NZCA) said the There are limitations to it but it’s good ground operators, airlines, port and it takes us closer to the time when move was the result of months of news Ponant is able to operate in New authorities, food and beverage suppliers, borders reopen and cruising resumes engagement with New Zealand’s Zealand. technical suppliers, fuel suppliers, in Australia, and to when we will be Ministry of Health. “The cruise line, in particular Ponant, service and waste suppliers all benefit able to confirm the return of our luxury It means French-based cruise line has put a lot of effort into strict from our small ship operation,” said Ms expedition small ships. Ponant has conditional approval for protocols and a lot of the screening Bratton. A 21-page Covid-19 policy, which its small luxury expedition vessel, Le processes involved,” he said. “Whilst presently in Australia, we mandates mask wearing and social Laperouse, to recommence operations “I think the Ministry of Health cannot travel internationally. distancing, will be provided to exclusively in New Zealand waters, for accepted that side of it some time ago. “I am so pleased that Ponant is passengers, who must undergo a medical New Zealanders, from February, 2021. It was just a case of massaging the once again able to offer Kiwis local and temperature check before boarding. LOOKING AHEAD Vicki Coley Sells Real Estate The Gisborne Herald will be back on Saturday December 26th. Vicki Coley Residential Sales Consultant The Gisborne Herald, 64 Gladstone Road, P.O. Box 1143, Gisborne • Phone (06) 869 0600 • Fax (Editorial) (06) 869 0643 (Advertising) (06) 869 0644 For a free no obligation appraisal call me. Editor: Jeremy Muir • Chief Reporter: Andrew Ashton • Circulation: Cara Haines • Sports: Jack Malcolm/John Gillies P 021 641 997 E [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz 32806-02 The Gisborne Herald • Thursday, December 24, 2020 NEWS 3 In with the new, out with the old at Te Wharau by Jack Marshall A 14-TONNE excavator made quick work of turning two old classrooms at Te Wharau School into rubble this week. The buildings did not meet the building requirements so were no longer fit for purpose. “Initially these classrooms were to be demolished in 2014 but this was delayed due to roll growth,” said Te Wharau principal Steve Berezowski. They were identified as needing earthquake strengthening and it was decided new classrooms were a better option. Currie Construction recently demolished classrooms in similar states at Ilminster Intermediate and Te Hapara School. “We currently have four new classrooms being built — two of which are replacing the two being demolished and two for roll growth,” said Mr Berezowski. The two replacement rooms were installed at the school in October.