TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 FEATURE INSIDE PAGE 6,7 SCHOOLS GO DIY THREE NEW CASES FOR TRYATHLON PAGE 2,4 LINKED TO SCHOOL 100 COASTIES: Coastal communities like Waipiro Bay are being asked to raise their voices about climate change by filling in a survey to help inform the work of the Climate Change Commission He Pou a Rangi. Picture by Liam Clayton ‘Raise voices, not sea level’ Coastal communities urged to contribute to Climate Change Commission survey by Matai O’Connor vulnerable rohe (areas) that will face throughout Tairawhiti pushing the Crown has recognised 14 customary flooding by the sea and sea-level rise,” survey out in a mixed media approach. marine title areas within nga rohe moana GETTING coastal Maori communities Climate Change Commission deputy Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou chair o nga hapu o Ngati Porou. to share their thoughts on climate change chair Lisa Tumahai said. Selwyn Parata is encouraging Ngati “Our takutai moana is the heartbeat is the goal of a campaign launched by the “We are encouraging marae, hapu, iwi Porou whanau, hapu and iwi to complete of our communities. We are coastal Climate Change Commission He Pou a and hapori (communities) to use our the 100coastievoices survey and provide people, which is why many of our marae Rangi on Monday. rohe surveys as tools to get their people their feedback to the CCC. are located close to the moana. The The commission launched the new engaged in the campaign,” she said. “The biggest long-term threat to our negative impact of climate change on te online campaign, 100coastievoices.net, In Tairawhiti people will travel to the environment is global warming caused by ao will have a big impact on our people, to activate coastal Maori communities to East Coast to take the survey to those human-made emissions of carbon dioxide. especially with rising sea levels.” “raise their voices, not the sea level”. in remote coastal areas — places where Erosion will continue to worsen, affecting Speaking at the national rollout of The campaign aims to encourage 100 — there might not be internet coverage. our whenua and our ability to farm the survey yesterday, Ms Tumahai said, or more — “coasties” to provide feedback The commission is also working with sustainably. “Hopefully what we are doing is creating on the Climate Change Commission’s the Uawa community, Tolaga Bay Area Earlier in February Te Runanganui o awareness about these issues for our recently released draft report on School and local iwi to get the word out Ngati Porou welcomed the announcement whanau, hapu and iwi,” Ms Tumahai addressing climate change. about the survey. from the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi said. “Our focus is to reach some of the most People will be on the ground Negotiations Andrew Little that the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Classifieds ... 20-22 Racing ................23 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Television ...........18 Sport ............ 24-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National .......... 6-10 World....... 13,16-17 Farming .............19 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, February 24, 2021 THE TRI MUST GO ON READY, STEADY, EAT SPAGHETTI . GO!: The Gisborne edition of the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon was cancelled due to Covid-19-related issues but that did not stop several local schools from taking part in alternative events. Racing into the water at the Olympic Pools Complex yesterday at the start of the Te Kura Re Rua o Waikirikiri DIY TRYathlon, which also involved students from Motu School are Katalaya Wanoa, Tuia Kennedy-Hogan and Ace Winitana- Nepia (all of Waikirikiri) and Patrick Trafford and Harry Newman (of Motu). Waikirikiri students had been involved in a dedicated training programme for the Weet-Bix TRYathlon. Mangapapa School also held a DIY TRYathlon. STORY ON PAGE 4 Pictures by Paul Rickard and Liam Clayton PEDAL POWER: Holly Boyle pushes the pedals at the Mangapapa School TRYathlon. AROUND THE OUTSIDE: Like a barefooted Zola Budd, Layla Whaanga about to zip past Rosie Hallgarth at the Mangapapa School TRYathlon. HELMET ON AND SHE’S READY TO GO: Evie Starck prepares for the cycle section of the Mangapapa School TRYathlon. YOU CAN DO IT: MAN ON A MISSION: Kauri READY TO RIDE: Zion Noanoa Whareretimana Nepia Kennedy-Hogan (Waikirikiri) is (Motu School) aboput to start the (Waikirikiri) pounds it out on fully focused on the job ahead as cycle leg of the Waikirikiri school the run leg of the Waikirikiri DIY he finishes the swim leg of the TRYathlon. TRYathlon at Churchill Park. DIY TRYathlon at the Olympic Pools Complex. Get your Gisborne Herald • Hoea! Gallery is a new experimental indigenous art gallery on Gladstone Road. home-delivered • Calling all young writers, the New Zealand Society of Authors is pairing established writers and school students who have a penchant for putting pen to paper. • New York Nights . in Gisborne. An evening of incredible talent from our community who stand up behind the mic and sing. 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 fi nd out more call 869 0620 e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • web site: www.gisborneherald.co.nz The Gisborne Herald • Wednesday, February 24, 2021 NEWS 3 Cannabis operation likely cause of fire Unit resident charged by Murray Robertson THE fire that destroyed two flats in a block of units in London Street on Monday night was probably caused by heat from a hydroponic cannabis growing operation. The blaze destroyed the interior of two of the four residential units and caused extensive heat and smoke damage in the other two. An estimated 16 people lived in the units and now have to find somewhere else to live. Police detectives and a specialist fire investigator probed the fire scene yesterday to establish the cause. “It started in a bedroom in one of the ground floor units,” said Detective Sergeant John Love. “There was nothing suspicious about it. It started accidentally. “But we have linked the cause to heat from a small hydroponic cannabis-growing operation we found in a downstairs bedroom.” A 34-year-old man who lived in that unit, along with three other people, has been arrested and charged with cultivating cannabis. “He will appear in the Gisborne District Court next week,” Det Sgt Love said. “People carrying out that sort of cannabis production need to be aware of what can go wrong. “In this case the outcome could have been even more disastrous for the other people living in that housing unit complex.” All those living in the complex got out safely but lost almost everything they owned, as well as their homes. Victim Support have been working with the CAUSE ESTABLISHED: The fire that destroyed two units and damaged two others in a block of flats in London Street displaced people, in what police describe as a was caused by heat from a small hydroponic cannabis operation. A man has been charged. quite a big job. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell Local Maori input ‘vital’ to inform Accused went into bathroom commission work FROM PAGE 1 to ‘check on hip problems’ A Ngai Tahu and a coastie herself, she is backing the campaign to ensure the A MAN accused of sexual offending hospital. evidence towards the allegations was from benefits of climate action are shared against his 16-year-old niece told police he She claimed her uncle followed her the complainant. The jury would need to across society. sometimes went into a bathroom while she to her bedroom after she had showered, decide how reliable it was when assessed “Climate policies must not further was bathing or showering but not for any simulated sex by rubbing himself up alongside the evidence of three defence compound historical grievances for unlawful purpose. against her, removed her towel, and raped witnesses. Maori. It is vital that Maori provide input The girl had been having hip problems her. The defence claims the complainant into our first draft report of advice to the and he was simply checking on her, the The remaining charges represent made up the allegations to free herself Government.” man said in a police evidential DVD numerous other times her uncle allegedly from the rules and restrictions her Anyone from the public can make interview, shown to a jury in Gisborne touched her indecently — almost daily, aunt and uncle imposed in response to a submission during the formal District Court yesterday. sometimes when her aunt was home but her truanting and lying to them. (The consultation period, using haveyoursay. The interview was the final part of the unaware, the complainant said. Some of complainant rejected this when it was put climatecommission.govt.nz. The Crown’s case, after which the accused the offending was while she was in the to her earlier.) consultation runs through to March 14. elected to call witnesses in his defence. bathroom. There was no lock on that door. Her bad behaviour culminated in an Information from the survey will be The man, in his 30s, cannot be named Police put the allegations to the man incident in which police had to locate her, correlated and turned into a submission due to automatic suppression of the during his voluntary DVD interview. Mr Maynard said.