RECENTLY, while staying in beautiful Ohope I was informed that the owner of the property next to where I was staying, in Pohutukawa Avenue, was going to cut down a 100-year-old, 100-foot tall iconic Norfolk pine – to improve their view of the ocean.

This beautiful tree straddles the property at which I was staying, 99 Pohutukawa Avenue, which belongs to the social club of the Rotorua Daily Post.

Apparently, on inquiry, they have given permission for the tree to be cut down; the tree straddles both properties. I can’t imagine that they understand what that means to the environment.

Such a wonderful specimen is, according to Whakatane City Council, not heritage-listed. Therefore, it can be cut down. Given the beauty of the specimen, this is really environmental vandalism. Surely there must be a way of preventing such wanton destruction. Where are the tree huggers when they are needed?

Richard Helms

SALE TIME: Leonie Tau, Maude Gay and Joan Wylds were on hand for Ohope Beach Lions to sell second hand items on Sunday. Photo Louis Klaassen D4502-16

NOVEMBER’S Ohope Beach Lions Club garage sale was another successful fundraising effort for the community.
Club president David Howard said it was a very good day and more people than expected checked the garage sale out.

“We made about $1500 to $1700 on Sunday, which all goes back into the community through Lions Club grants and sponsorship.”

He said at least 150 people attended the sale, a typical turnout when compared with previous months.

The garage sale is held on the first Sunday of every month at Port Ohope, near the wharf, from 10am to 12pm.

Mr Howard said the monthly garage sale had been running for at least 12 years and all items sold were donated by the community.

At Sunday’s garage sale items for sale included furniture, which Mr Howard said always sold well, jewellery, books, family games, soft toys and electrical appliances.

The next Ohope Beach Lions Club garage sale will be held on Sunday, December 4.

haylee.king@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

THE recent test involving closing off part of the roundabout next to the bridge over the Whakatane Rivers seems to have helped peak traffic flows, however, at some inconvenience to some road users, particularly that small group of residents in the cul-de-sac past the Rowing Club.

The benefit of the new layout is only for a short period of the day, after which the old layout works perfectly well. It seems to me that it would be possible to achieve the best of both worlds by installing a barrier arm that can be raised and lowered, similar to a railway level-crossing arm – down at peak traffic flows to prevent cars turning across in front of in-coming cars, and up for the rest of the day. An idea worth investigating?

Dave Hall
Melville Drive

LINING UP: Traffic builds behind a PJ Brogden Contracting harvester while driver Hunter Puterangi waits for a break in traffic to turn into a driveway on the other side of the road.
Photo Louis Klaassen D4512-23

CHERYL Brogden says new roadside barriers on State Highway 30 near White Cross Orchard are an accident waiting to happen.

Mrs Brogden and her husband own agricultural business PJ Brogden Contracting and lease several properties along the strip of SH30 from the Hydro Road intersection through to the Galatea Road turnoff near Mapou.

She said many of their employees drove large agricultural vehicles and had to pull into several driveways along that strip of road and needed to turn right across the road to do so.

In the past, those driving the vehicles were able to pull over on to the shoulder and wait until traffic was clear before crossing. Mrs Brogden said now they had no option but to stop in the middle of their lane if there was oncoming traffic and wait for an opportunity to cross.

She said traffic often built up behind vehicles. Sometimes, people tried to get around harvesters and tractors using dangerous manoeuvres.

The problem, according to Mrs Brogden, is that the installation of barriers means that the road shoulder is now too narrow to use. The barriers are part of the upgrade to the section of SH30 between Awakeri and the turn-off to Kawerau being undertaken by the NZ Transport

Agency at a cost of $2.5 million.

Mrs Brogden said her and husband had not been consulted by NZTA. She said she had tried calling them but was told that someone would have to call her back.

On Tuesday, when she had still not head from the agency, her husband rang her to say she “needed to contact someone” urgently after an irate motorist drove up behind him as he was trying to cross lanes to turn into a driveway.

She said drivers reacting negatively because they had to wait behind the large vehicles had become a regular occurrence once the barriers were installed.

“It is an accident waiting to happen. All it will take is a car coming up behind with a driver that is not watching and who goes up the back of him or doesn’t see the indicator and Bay roading police manager Ray Wylie.

She said while many of those she contacted were sympathetic, they were unable to help because it was an NZTA issue. So she turned the Beacon.

“It is just ridiculous what they have done. We have a right to be on the road and we have to be on the road, but they are making it more and more difficult.

“They have no thought for how it impacts us. There was no consultation with us. I spoke to a couple of people who went to a consultation meeting but they said only three people turned up.”

NZTA highways manager Niclas Johansson said the agency had contacted the Brogdens since Mrs Brogden spoke with the Beacon.

“The NZ Transport Agency is continuing to listen and work with the community as this safety project is rolled out. We have also spoken with

the Brogden’s and will meet with them.

“We are putting these improvements in to save lives but we also need people to travel at appropriate speeds, buy the safest vehicles they can afford and ensure that when they are driving they are alert and complying with the law.”

karla.akuhata@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

MANY who consider themselves rational, thinking people have been left wondering this week why the United States population elected Donald Trump to be president of the United States.

It’s tempting to blame a huge cohort of unthinking people for placing him in one of the world’s most powerful positions, but such pondering serves no purpose. Democracy delivered the outcome and conventional wisdom says this is the best method to select leaders, so we are going to have to learn to live with him.

When Trump surged from a less than 30 percent chance of capturing the election-day prize to firmly grasping it, television screens revealed slack-jawed disbelief in bars and living rooms around the world.

How could an apparently lecherous oaf secure the presidency in the face of a strong challenge from Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton (who, admittedly, is married to someone for whom at least the lecherous part of that description was once apt).

Clinton was someone who appeared to have all the credentials, experience and, according to pre-election pollsters, who it is now obvious were reporting from Fantasyland, even support.

If you were like me, you considered Trump securing the Republican nomination made it even more likely the outcome would be a Clinton win.

In Trump’s case, the list of reprehensible and derogatory comments he has uttered has inspired talk-show hosts and comedians for months; he gave us much to be amused about. All of a sudden it’s much harder to laugh.

No, the people have spoken and for the second time this year disgruntlement has triumphed over any kind of status quo.

Of course, the first hint of what looks like becoming a pandemic occurred with the Brexit decision, when Britains defied predictions earlier this year and voted to leave the European Union.

What is happening that is forcing people who do not normally vote to come out in droves and tip the balance into uncharted, anti-establishment waters?

Both the Brexit and Trump outcomes have the hallmarks of populations wishing to restore ways of life that applied decades ago; to times when blue-collar workers, a common denominator in both upset decisions, thrived financially.

What has gone so terribly wrong that Brexit occurred and Trump, in spite of being vilified by his own Republican party kaumatua, won?

Could it be the disparity in wealth the large and increasingly disenfranchised lower- and middle-classes are dealing with in western societies is not working for them now; that Halloween has taken hold and the trickle-down economic benefit philosophy is more trick than treat?

The lessons from the Trump win and Brexit vote must be: look after your middle classes or risk significant electoral backlash.

Interestingly, economist Gareth Morgan launched his Opportunity Party on November 4 and Morgan specifically identified disparities of wealth and opportunity in the New Zealand population as a motivation. We’ve learned that twice this year that when people in large numbers perceive they have been treated unfairly, they can deliver unpredictable results. The blindingly obvious solution – reduce the disparity and do it fast.

The consequences of not doing so will be bad for us all, no matter what our current financial wellbeing is. The natural environment, which we rely on for survival, is going to be a huge victim of the blue collar backlash in the United States because, courtesy of it, we now have an American president who believes global warming was created by and for the Chinese to make US manufacturing non-competitive. He wants to “cancel” the Paris Agreement setting climate change goals.

Geoff Mercer
– Editor

A BID by Whakatane District Council for funding to upgrade four overnight campgrounds has been successful.

The ministry of business, innovation and employment announced the council would receive $110,750 from the Regional Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Grant Fund, aimed at enhancing freedom camping facilities.

Council places and open spaces manager Mike Naude said the enhanced facilities would help Whakatane become ‘camping friendly’ by helping it meet visitor expectations through the provision of quality overnight camper facilities.

He said the enhancements would also minimise impacts on residents and other users sharing the designated public areas.

“Works will include improving access to sites, installation of two greywater disposal tanks, upgrading signs, installing fencing, and upgrading public conveniences.

“This is a very positive step to improving facilities within our district.”

A schedule of works has yet to be announced, but Mr Naude said they would be completed prior to July 2017.

East Coast MP Anne Tolley said Whakatane was among 14 districts receiving grants from the fund and she was delighted because it would help to grow tourism in the area.

“It is, of course, good news that the tourism sector in our region is experiencing sustained, strong growth because that means new job opportunities are being created for people.

“But it does also mean we must keep investing in the infrastructure required to maintain robust foundations for the ongoing expansion of tourism in the years and decades ahead.”

The grant fund received $12 million in the Government’s budget for 2016.

INTRICATE SEWING: Jeananne Orfanos creates beautiful baby gowns from donated fabric. Photos supplied

A FORMER Whakatane woman is making waves in the Australian media after she was denied the right to display her products at a baby expo held recently in Cairns.

Along with a group of volunteers, Jeananne Orfanos creates delicate gowns for stillborn babies and babies who have been prematurely lost.

The group was refused the right to be part of the popular Baby Welcome and Family Expo after the Cairns Regional Council rejected their application, deeming the items to be inappropriate for display at the event.

Formerly known as Denise (nee Rodgers), Jeananne was born in Whakatane and spent her early life here. Having lived in Cairns for many years, she was inspired to begin making the garments when she heard of a woman in Sydney doing a similar thing.

Along with a team of helpers, Jeananne began to create the gowns and other garments out of pieces of donated fabric. She says the group has now received a “massive” donation of 100 wedding dresses and suits from bridal company, South Pacific Bridal. These dresses and garments are carefully taken apart, and recreated into tiny baby-sized gowns. The group doesn’t only use soft colours though.

“There are so many different cultures in Cairns and often people want very bright colours, so we do a range of different types and colours.”

It’s something Jeananne says she always hopes will provide “just a little bit of help and a moment of pleasure to grieving parents”.

The voluntary group, who gift the gowns freely to bereft parents, advertise their service on the Facebook page, Angel Babies up North in FNQ.

“We are always looking for new ways to let people know about what we do. It’s very hard for these parents,” says Jeananne. “The death of a baby is still such a taboo subject, and it’s very isolating for parents going through so much grief. I like to think that it is a little bit of relief to them to know that someone cared enough to make a beautiful garment for their baby,” she says.

While Jeananne herself bears no ill feeling against the council, the story has sparked a strong response from others. News of the decision spread across many parts of Australia with some major newspapers covering the story, and Jeananne says she’s been contacted from as far afield as China.

“The amount of support we’ve had has just been incredible,” she says, adding that their number of sewing volunteers has just encountered a big jump. “This is a good thing, because we were also hoping to recruit some extra volunteers from the expo to help recreate all these beautiful wedding dresses.”

Jeananne says she appreciates that it was a difficult decision for the council. “I don’t resent their decision. It’s their expo, their decision. Not everyone agrees that we should have been there, but someone needs to look out for these grieving parents, and there are more of them than people realise. I guess I’m just sad that they could not have been a bit more open-hearted.”

Along with the intricate sewing, the group also creates knitted items, hats and other garments. Jeananne says her closest friend, living in Rotorua, is one of their volunteer knitters. It’s another of the ties Jeananne still has with the Eastern Bay, along with grandchildren living here and attending her old school, Allandale.

Anyone wishing to donate wool for the group can contact Judy Smythe, 0276226713.

HELPING HANDS: Jeananne at a wedding expo in Cairnes with Alice Irbin (centre) from South Pacific bridal which donated 100 wedding dresses and wedding celebrant Joanne Male along with some of the items they have made from the gowns.

by Lorraine Wilson

“WE'VE never really chosen growth, but growth has certainly chosen us,” says Heidi Rosewarne.

She is referring, not to the abundant growth of luscious berries on their Thornton Road property, but to the rapid and on-going growth of their business, Blueberry Corner. Heidi says the current size of their business is not anything she and husband Ben ever dreamt of.

The popular roadside berry farm is a far cry from the orchard it was when the couple bought it back in 2005. “We were just a blueberry orchard. We just grew and exported blueberries. New Zealanders didn’t know much about them then.”

Blueberries were still new in 2005, but as awareness and popularity grew, the couple found demand for them in the Eastern Bay rapidly increasing.

Blueberries at the orchard are certified organic. Other berries are, as yet, not. The certification process is long, but all of the strawberries are grown off the ground on table-like structures and, according to Heidi, this is a huge factor is their success.

“It’s an expensive system to install, but the benefits are vast,” she says. Growing berries on these off-ground structures means the majority of pests are instantly dealt with. “Slugs and ants and other pests don’t tend to climb up” she says. “What this means is that the need for herbicides and pesticides is almost eliminated. We don’t generally need to spray our berries at all”.

The entire orchard is regularly sprayed, not with pesticides, but with an organic seaweed solution that keeps plants strong and healthy. “The results are clear” says Heidi. “When we previously grew strawberries on the ground, we’d end up with around 30 percent of the crop as seconds. With the system we use now, we don’t even sell seconds. We just don’t get enough of them.”

The burgeoning demand for blueberries that saw Heidi and Ben putting blueberries for sale in a kiosk in front of the orchard all seems a long time ago for Heidi. The trajectory of growth has been on an escalating path ever since. All sales have increased exponentially, including the ever popular berry ice-creams.

“When we first started making them, we might have sold 50 in a day. Now, we will sell 1000 on a busy day,” says Heidi. “We still consider ourselves first and foremost as orchardists,” she says, “that’s what we do. We didn’t plan to grow into the business we are now, we just rolled with it. If a business planner took a look at how we do things, they’d be fairly alarmed,” she chuckles.

Heidi and Ben, along with their three children, have always taken keen close notice of what their customers want, both Eastern Bay people and and the many tourists that call in.

“We all aim to keep our customers happy,” Heidi says. So by 2010, when customers were asking for strawberries as well as blueberries, they put some strawberries in. Then the customers wanted other types of berries too, so the boysenberries and blackberries went in. A need for more space to grow the berries became obvious, so “we took care of that too”. And so it goes on.

Blueberry Corner is now the whole package, and still steadily growing. “If we’d planned for all this at the start, we’d have done things differently” says Heidi. “The café wouldn’t be in what was originally the implement shed,” she laughs. But, “it is what it is and we’ve just tried to roll with it”.

It seems every season, a new project is required. This year it’s been the playground with its new little playhouse and bouncy pillow, and the addition of a much needed car park extension. And the café is boasting its new rustic counter front. “It just hasn’t stopped for a long time” Heidi says.

Berries for sale, berry jams and relishes, teas, coffee and baking, outdoor seating alongside the pecking chickens, ice-creams, a playground. When it’s going to stop is anyone’s guess. The rustic charm and goodwill of Blueberry Corner has clearly found a spot in many a heart.

By Lorraine Wilson

EDGECUMBE homeowners have registered the biggest boost in residential property values in the Whakatane district, according to Quotable Value’s latest figures.

While the figures are still to be approved by auditors, Quotable Value members Michael Power and Ben Radich presented the figures at yesterday’s Whakatane District Council meeting.

The presentation highlighted the average capital values for residential properties in Edgecumbe had risen by 43.8 percent to $275,000, with the median land value increasing 54.1 percent to $76,000.

It also shows the Whakatane district is worth $8.6 billion, up from $7.3 billion in 2013, with the average capital value increase of 15.7 percent and a rise of 17.1 percent in land value.

Residential movements were summed up by the average capital value of a house in the district now at $342,000 and the median land value at $164,000.

Mr Radich said it was hoped the auditors would approve the new valuations today and owners’ notices would be posted from November 21.

He said owners who did not agree with the new values of their properties could object any time before January 13.

In the report accompanying the presentation, council rates and revenue team leader Christine Toms said the residential market had improved since 2013, with values lifting in Whakatane and outlying towns.

“The district now stands some 5 percent above the previous market peak of 2007. Apartment values have recovered their pre-2007 levels.

“Coastal land across the country experienced strong gains throughout much of the last decade, with demand from overseas and expat buyers outstripping supply. Following the global financial crisis this demand rapidly dried up and there was a period of falling values.”

However, since the last revaluation the market has improved, with sales reflecting a lift in demand that was most evident in the Ohope area.

Mrs Toms said while the valuation figures would be used to set the proposed rates for 2017 and 2018, several factors, including individual property revaluation increases or decreases relative to the average across the district, would also be used in the calculations.

“As the average is a 14.7 percent increase then those properties which have had an increase greater than 14.7 percent will see an increase in the rates payable, which are collected on a capital value.

Those properties that have had a decrease or a lower increase in value greater than 14.7 per cent will see a decrease in rates that are based on capital value.”

Capital and land values are revalued every three years and Quotable Value undertook 16,621 assessments in the Whakatane district, with residential properties making up 64 percent.

karla.akuhata@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

A MAN who held a knife to his wife’s throat during an argument, checked himself into an Auckland rehabilitation centre in an attempt to deal with his drug and alcohol problems.

When Gurbinder Singh appeared in the Whakatane District Court last week, pleading guilty to assaulting a person using a knife, lawyer Steve Franklin said he had completed a four-week stint at the Turning Point rehabilitation facility.

Mr Franklin said Singh was continuing to address his addictions and associated problems including attending at least four Alcoholics’ Anonymous meetings a week.

Singh was also scheduled to return to the centre every month for an overnight stay that would include two days of further treatment as well as committing to at least three months of medication to quell the cravings for alcohol and drugs.

Turning Point founding director Peter Dawson said Singh was an enthusiastic participant while he was at the centre and had reached the third tier of the 12-step programme.

“He went through a detoxification process, then he participated with one-on-one counselling sessions. He was also willing to admit he had problems with substance abuse.”

Judge Louis Bidois said Singh had been charged after an argument with his wife turned violent and he held a knife to her throat for at least 10 seconds.

He said the incident was “a recipe for disaster”.

Singh was sentenced to 300 hours of community work, 12 months of supervision and ordered to pay $500 to his wife for emotional harm caused.

other court appearances

Burgled while they slept

TWO men who broke into a house and stole items while a family slept were sentenced to community work and community detention when they appeared in Whakatane District Court last week.

Barry Leonard James Rapana and Tom Hunt were both charged with two counts of burglary. Hunt was also charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.

The men had pleaded guilty to the charges at previous appearances.
Judge Louis Bidois said they were part of a foursome that entered two properties looking for items to steal.

At one of the properties they took a television, laptop, a set of keys and several flash drives while a family, including children, slept in the bedroom.

In a statement, one of the victims said he couldn’t believe that people had broken into his house as he and his family slept.

“My children are now scared at night and they can’t sleep because they think someone is going to break in again.”

He said important family photos and documents were on some of the flash drives, which had not been returned.

Judge Bidois sentenced Hunt to nine months supervision, 180 hours community work, three weeks community detention and disqualified him from driving for six months.
Rapana was sentenced to 180 hours community work, nine months supervision and six weeks community detention.

Not that guy

IT was his first conviction for violence but Matthew Bateson told his lawyer the incident was enough to show him that he didn’t want to be “that guy”.

Bateson pleaded guilty in the Whakatane District Court to one charge of common assault after he was involved in an altercation with his partner that ended with him pushing her to the ground, slapping her and grabbing her by the throat so he could push her backwards.

Lawyer, Steve Franklin, said Bateson was ashamed of how he had treated his partner and was determined for it not to happen again.

“There was a lot of financial strain in the relationship but he is now working and the pressure has been alleviated.”

Judge Bidois said the assault occurred after Bateson became involved in an argument with his partner.

“She was left with bruises on the side of her neck and her muscles were sore.”

Judge Bidois ordered him to pay $150 in emotional harm reparation and sentenced him to 100 hours of community work.

“Every time you go to community work, it will remind you of why you are there.”

Too much time

AFTER leaving school last year, Te Rangitakatu Mahaki was working in the kiwifruit industry. But when that job fell through he was left with no source of income and too much time on his hands.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and two counts of shoplifting when he appeared in court last week.

Lawyer Lisa Ebbers said since leaving school after year 11, Mahaki had been hanging out with bad influences.

“His mother says that he was bored and that is when all of this trouble started.”

Judge Bidois sentenced Mahaki to 140 hours of community work and ordered him pay $72 reparation for the items he stole.

Avocado theft

TWO men who were caught stealing avocados from an Opotiki orchard were sentenced in court last week.

Vincent Nane Broughton and Louis Tame Waitere Major Pryor-Wetini were charged with theft after setting off an alarm and being found by the property owner with 50 avocados.

The police report said the men told police they were there collecting the avocados for their aunty’s tangi but neither of the men would admit to making that excuse.

Judge Bidois said it was culturally insensitive to proffer such an excuse.

He sentenced Wetini-Pryor to pay $400 plus court costs and Broughton received 120 hours of community work.

Drink driving

GARY James Lougher was annoyed with himself after being arrested for drink driving.

Lawyer Jonathan Kay said Lougher was stressed because the conviction had placed his employment in jeopardy.

“Given that he has appeared in court before he is pretty stressed and annoyed with himself.”

Judge Bidois said it was Lougher’s third drink driving conviction.

“Usually that would mean that the result would be a loss of liberty but given the first conviction was in 2006 and there was a six-year gap from the last one I can step back from that.”

He sentenced him to 180 hours of community work and disqualified him from driving for 12 months and one day.

Black eye

EVEN after she was assaulted by him, Robert Smiley Heke’s partner still described him as an “awesome father and a good man”.

The statement was included in a letter from the victim, which was handed up to the judge when Heke appeared in court for sentence on one charge of male assaults female.

He had previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

However, Judge Bidois told him that good men did not beat up their partners.

“This isn’t the first time that it has happened but she says she is prepared to stand by you so she must see something in you that I don’t.”

Judge Bidois said Heke had been drinking straight vodka when he assaulted the woman.

“That is a recipe for disaster, then of course you start seeing things that aren’t there; you lose your rag and then you assault her.

“She ended up with bruises and a black eye.”

Judge Bidois sentenced him to 12 months' supervision.

Dumbell

ANGRY at being thrown out of the house, Teamo Meshack Wilson picked up a dumbell and threw it at the victim.

He pleaded guilty to wilful damage. Judge Bidois said the incident was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” and the victim just wanted him out.

Wilson was sentenced to 80 hours community work and ordered to pay $200 reparation.

Stop it

TURANGA Nicholas was told that mothers were precious so he should stop beating up his partner.

Nicholas’ lawyer Rebecca Plunket said the couple had attended a restorative justice meeting and her client had also enrolled with Tuhoe Hau Ora.

She said Nicholas had also had one of his koro take him “up the river” for a month “where he was able to reconnect with the land and to get an idea of what is important, which is his partner and their kids.”

Judge Bidois said Nicholas needed to adjust his behaviour for the sake of his family.

“Mothers are taonga (precious) for the children and should not be treated like that.”

He sentenced him to nine months supervision and ordered him to pay $300 reparation for emotional harm.

Drink driving

JUDGE Bidois told Tuterangi Moeke he had to start behaving himself after he was arrested for stealing a car.

He had been drinking when he took the car so was charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and driving with excess breath alcohol.

Moeke pleaded guilty when he appeared in court last week.

Judge Bidois sentenced Moeke to 140 hours of community service and disqualified him from driving for six months.

RESULTS from this year’s Citizens’ Satisfaction Survey show trust and confidence levels in New Zealand Police remain high and stable at 77 percent.

Police deputy strategy chief executive Mark Evans said results from the annual survey reflected the commitment police had made to improve the way they delivered services to the public.

The independently-run survey asked people their views about police, feelings of safety and what their service experience was like if they recently had contact with police.

This year 9266 people throughout the country took part in the research.

Mr Evans said 87 percent of people said their service experience was much better or better than they expected.

The most common reason people gave was that the police officer had a positive attitude.

There was a significant improvement in satisfaction with the service received at public counters (84 percent, up from 78 percent) and when calling local stations (76 percent from 67 percent).

“No matter how well we do as an organisation, there is a requirement to do better.

“Our vision is to have the trust and confidence of all,” he said.

“The survey shows us areas in which we can make improvements and, of course, there are also variations between different districts.”

“The results highlight the good work of our staff and it’s great to see their commitment being recognised through the survey.

We also recognise that we can’t take it for granted and will continue to work hard to maintain the trust and confidence of New Zealanders.”

“The survey gives members of the public the opportunity to tell us how we are doing, and we thank those who took the time to participate in the survey,” Mr Evans said.

HATS off to Cheryl Brogden and others who have commented on the supposed upgrade on State Highway 30 from Awakeri.

What an absurd waste of money to make a normally safe stretch of road narrower with those unforgiving barriers.

Apart from agricultural machinery using the road I wonder how much thought New Zealand Transport Agency gave to the likes of school buses picking up and dropping off students, the increasing number of motorists who pull over to answer cell phones and the restriction of visibility at intersections, such as going into and coming out of MacDonald Road.

One has to wonder at the lack of intelligence in the decision to put these barriers where they are not needed.

The reported response re consultation and safety from NZTA  was pathetic.

Like hundreds of others I am a daily user and they made little effort to consult with me.

Tony Hogg

BRENDON Love, project manager of the Kopeopeo canal remediation project, has responded to an October 19 editorial focusing on surprising and worrying developments that have affected the proposed $15 million canal project in recent months. His goal is to reassure readers: 

Brendon Love,
project manager

THE editor is right, there have been some surprises for the project in recent months and we have talked through these with the community and have a plan in place to deal with them.
With many years’ experience in remediation projects, I am comfortable that each of the issues could be considered “normal hiccups” in a project of this size and complexity, and certainly none of the issues that have arisen are show-stoppers.

I would like to assure the community that we have a very detailed project risk register, which is updated regularly as risk mitigation measures are put in place.

However, there are always some risks that eventuate, even following best efforts to manage them, or that arise unexpectedly. In response, it is best that we just to go through these issues one-by-one:

• Contamination outside project boundaries: some further testing outside the project boundaries earlier this year did show levels of dioxins above the remediation target.

The area identified is outside of the scope of the current project and will require further investigation and consultation with private landowners before a solution is identified and implemented.

Because we are now aware of the issue we are able to plan for this and phase the project so that when funding is secured we can extend the project west to include contaminated sediment in this area.

• Project delays: the delays mentioned by the editor are due to a change of methodology that will allow the sediment to be transferred to containment sites through the use of a cutter-section dredge and pipeline, eliminating the need for the significant truck movements that were consented under the old method.

The project considered that eliminating these risks and responding to concerns from the community were worth delaying the start of the project.

• Issues with Containment Site 3: Recent in-depth geotechnical investigations indicated that the site near Keepa Road (CS3) was possible but not ideal for use as a containment site due to risks of earth movement during a large earthquake.

While it was a new piece of information and not what was originally planned, it was not a reason for delay or significant extra expense for the project as the consent allows for three containment sites, primarily because that originally reduced truck movements.

With the recent approval of the change in methodology, we now have more flexibility on what containment sites can be used.

While the results of the geotechnical investigation were disappointing it has provided an opportunity for the project team to reconsider which containment sites are best for the contaminated sediment to be contained and treated.

• Cost increases: No one likes to see cost increases in a project and the 35 percent increase is significant. There are a number of reasons for the increase in costs and these were outlined to Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the ministry for the environment, who will share that cost increase.

You can read more about those reasons in the presentation to the Community Liaison Group on October 11 on the website www.boprc.govt.nz/kopeopeo.

LABOUR’S communication spokeswoman, Clare Curran, will visit Whakatane on November 18 to discuss provision of faster broadband for Ohope and Coastlands.

Labour’s East Coast electorate chairwoman Anne Collins said she invited Ms Curran to the Eastern Bay in the hope she would support the quest of residents and businesses in the two locations to obtain fibre optic cable as an option.

Ms Collins said Chorus advertised its successful completion of the ultra-fast fibre option for Whakatane residents recently but omitted to note that Ohope and Coastlands had been missed off the plan.

“Evidently this is a mistake.

“I am hoping that Ms Curran will take up our case and help us in our campaign from here on,” Ms Collins said.

Ms Curran would be available at cafes for coffee and chats throughout the day, she said.

John Key, New Zealand priminister

PRIME minister John Key yesterday postponed a trip to Argentina, but intends to travel to Peru later this week to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 19-20, if circumstances permit.

Mr Key was scheduled to depart today for Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a series of meetings aimed at strengthening New Zealand’s trade, economic and political ties with the region, before travelling to Lima to attend APEC.

However, Sunday night’s earthquake, Mr Key postponed his visit to Argentina.

“The situation is still unfolding and we don’t yet know the full extent of the damage,” Mr Key said yesterday.

“I believe it is better that I remain in New Zealand in the coming days to offer my assistance and support until we have a better understanding of the event’s full impact.

“I want to thank Civil Defence and emergency services around the country who responded so rapidly, and also those New Zealanders who supported the large number of people who were evacuated.

“My officials have conveyed our apologies to the Argentine Government and I intend to call President Mauricio Macri in the next few days,” he said.

A decision on whether the trip to APEC will go ahead will be made later this week.

EIGHTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Matata man Alan McGregor examines the bicycle he was riding when he was hit by a car along State Highway 2.
The cyclist, who competed internationally in his earlier days, regularly rides for more than an hour. Still recovering from injuries, Mr McGregor speaks to the Beacon about his accident and remarkable recovery.

MEDALIST and 86-year-old cyclist Alan McGregor fears he may never ride a bicycle again after being hit by a car while riding on Monday, October 24.

On the day, the Matata resident set out for an hour-long ride on a route he has travelled hundreds of times.

He was riding east along State Highway 2 from Matata, intending to turn right on to Flax Road and then head to Braemar Road.

“I had my hand out to turn right and I was wearing an orange hi-vis top.

“I remember a car coming and I let that pass, but there was another behind it when I got hit.”

He said a dip in the road caused poor visibility for both himself and the driver of the vehicle involved, who was travelling in the same direction.

“I ended up in the middle of the road and I may have been knocked out momentarily, but I was able to tell people who I was and where I lived.”

Mr McGregor suffered two dislocated shoulders, a slight fracture of his left shoulder and a fractured eye socket.

“I count my lucky stars I had no broken bones or internal injuries.”

He also had a hematoma on his right thigh, bruises and scratches, and he needed stitches above his right eye caused by his damaged glasses.

Mr McGregor said he spent 10 days in Whakatane Hospital and his bike was a “write-off”.

Three weeks after the incident Mr McGregor is healing up nicely and has daily physiotherapy exercises to help his recovery.

He said he had also visited the accident site, which helped.

“It is absolutely amazing how I have healed.”

Mr McGregor said he wanted to clarify how the accident occurred because a report published at the time was misleading.

Kawerau police Senior Sergeant Al Fenwick told the Beacon Mr McGregor was turning right onto Matata Road from Flax Road when he was struck by a car.

But Mr McGregor said, he would “never take my bike down there as it is a gravel road”.

Neither was it likely that “an 86-year-old had ridden into the path [of a car] without looking at all”.

“I could see how I missed seeing the second car looking back from where I was hit.”

He said that car must have been in a dip in the road but beyond it the road was clear, which gave him the impression it was safe to turn right.

“I feel sorry for the person who hit me because they couldn’t avoid me.”

He began competitively cycling 60 years ago to keep fit and often cycled from Matata to Whakatane, or Te Puke, to place a bet at the TAB or for a haircut.

Mr McGregor had over 20 medals from New Zealand competitions including a gold from First Light at Gisborne.

Throughout his cycling history he had never experienced an accident like the one he had last month.

“I don’t think that’s my last ride, but if I do go riding I will be extra, extra careful.

“I’m not too determined to get back on the bike but I would like to keep riding to keep fit.”

haylee.king@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

LATE HARVEST: Hunter Puterangi, with PJ Brogden Contracting, and Scott McGregor, with McGregor Cartage, harvest silage near the White Cross Orchard on State Highway 30 last week. Photo Louis Klaassen D4513-15

WITH crops being two to three weeks late due to unfavourable weather, harvesting for silage and baling has become a challenge, one Eastern Bay farm contractor says.

PJ Brogden Contracting co-owner Cheryl Brogden said on Friday that cool and wet conditions had stunted crop growth and some farmers were starting to run short of feed.

“There are farmers out there already who are short of grass because they just haven’t had the growth,” she said.

The weather had taken a toll on their harvesting and sowing efforts.

“It’s been a challenging season with the wet, trying to get product off and trying to get crops in [the ground],” she said.

Mrs Brogden said they were basically on track with sales but were concerned that things could become more difficult in the long run.

“Sales for our silage have been steady but the worry now is that the ground’s actually turning very hard.

“Some warm rain is what we need. The rain we’ve been having is cold and, let’s face it, the past few nights it’s been as cold as you know what,” she said.

Mrs Brogden said the conditions could cause the different crops to mature at a rate where they could be harvested at around the same time.

“Because it is cold, the early crops haven’t been growing very much anyway so these crops that are late-planted will hopefully catch up soon,” she said.

mark.rieder@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

SNEAKY VIRUS: Verena Beckett and veterinary technician Jess Kingsland say BVD testing and annual vaccination have helped reduce the impact of the disease on replacement heifers. Photo supplied

WHEN northern Waikato dairy farmer Verena Beckett tried to find out why her healthy-looking replacement heifers were not calving as well as expected, her investigation led to an unexpected culprit.

Ms Beckett operates a 400-cow dairy herd on her father’s 160-hectare property at Rotongaro, west of Huntly. But it was on her own adjacent 165-hectare farm, also running 400 friesians, where the trouble was brewing.

Her replacements were raised as part of a grazing scheme run by Franklin Vets (Te Kauwhata) on a separate sheep and beef property northeast of Te Kauwhata.

According to veterinary technician Jess Kingsland they were “monster” heifers in great condition. But the naturally mated animals were experiencing empty rates of 8–10 percent and calving was very spread out.

Ms Kingsland said blood tests carried out several years ago under an MSD Animal Health heifer screening programme had shown stock had been exposed to the bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDv), so the disease was suspected as a possible culprit for the less-than-stellar reproductive performance in the heifers.

Ms Beckett said bulk milk tests for BVD were not showing anything significant, but the disease was a “sneaky” one so couldn’t be ruled out.

Bulls are a well-known pathway for BVD infection, but those used for Ms Beckett’s heifers were all tested and vaccinated. Ms Kingsland said no persistently infected (PI) animals were found among the heifers, so any transient infection with BVD may have come from “over the fence” contact with PI animals or contact with other mobs on the grazing property.

It was also a working sheep and beef farm and beef cattle were traded regularly, providing plenty of opportunity for the disease to find its way into the grazed heifers.

Biosecurity was a likely issue but it wasn’t going to be possible to prevent contact with other cattle, either over the fence on neighbouring properties or at the grazing property.

On the advice of her veterinarian, Ms Beckett started an annual vaccination programme with Bovilis BVD to protect her heifers from the disease. She noticed an immediate improvement.

“This year we had 80 percent of our heifers calved within the first three weeks and by the end of August only four were left to calve. The empty rate is also much lower now,” she said.

The calves received their initial sensitiser and booster shots four weeks apart before going off to graze. As adults they received an annual booster, four weeks before mating.

Ms Beckett began vaccinating her entire herd to help manage the risk to her productivity from BVD.

“There’s definitely a cost involved, but it’s hard to put a price on getting all your heifers in calf and calving early,” she said.

FLY INFLUX: House flies have made an early return after a warm winter.

HOUSE flies have made a robust and early return to the Eastern Bay, and they may not be alone.

Lee Evans, of pest controller JAE in Whakatane, said insect specialists in the pest control industry are predicting potentially higher-than-average numbers of both fleas and wasps this summer.

The flies, which normally begin staging their group appearances in late November or early December, have already arrived.

“They’re about a month early,” Mrs Evans said.

“The warmer and wetter winter we’ve had means many of the flying and crawling insects have had stronger breeding.

“Very cold temperatures in winter will typically wipe out many nests, particularly of those insects that breed in the grass.”

But Mrs Evans said with this winter being warmer than usual that would not have always happened.

The prolonged wet weather has also brought an influx of rodents indoors this past winter, with rats and mice seeking “higher and drier living conditions”.

Humidity is another factor acting in favour of the insect population.

“Conditions are good for breeding at the moment,” Mrs Evans said. “Higher humidity means longer breeding cycles.”

Flea proliferation could take hold inside a closed-up house and she advised anyone planning on leaving their house empty for a period of time over summer to think about having it treated.

Lorraine Wilson

Bay of Plenty continues to be a top-performing tourist region with a 40 percent growth in visitors in the past three years, according to the industry’s latest spending statistics.

The ministry of business, innovation and employment said the region saw a total visitor spend of $929 million for the year to September 2016. That was up 5.7 percent, or $50 million, compared with the year to September 2015 when $879 million was spent by both international and domestic guests.

Tauranga brought in the largest proportion of the Bay’s tourism revenue with $727 million, followed by Whakatane ($115 million), Western Bay ($80 million) and Kawerau ($7 million).

Tourism Bay of Plenty placed ahead of destinations such as Rotorua ($725 million), Dunedin ($688 million), Nelson-Tasman ($576 million) and Hawke’s Bay ($535 million).

New Zealand’s main centres – Auckland ($7.4 billion), Christchurch ($2.2 billion) and Wellington ($2 billion) – retained the top three positions.

Bay of Plenty also retained its position as a popular spot for Kiwi holidaymakers, with nearly 80 percent ($730 million) of the total year-to-date spend attributed to the domestic market – an increase of 2.9 percent compared with the same period last year. International guest spend generated $199 million during the year to September – up 17.7 percent.

The increase allowed the Bay to surpass Northland as the sixth-largest tourist destination market in New Zealand.

The cruise ship market, not counted in these figures, added a further $39 million to the economy each year.

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne said the New Zealand economy was seeing significant growth from tourism with the coastal Bay leading the trend.

“During this time, we have been able to market the region successfully to both New Zealanders and overseas visitors. The domestic market has grown by an average of 12 percent per annum in the past three years and the international market by 17 percent in the same time period,” she said.

Ms Dunne said these results demonstrated what happened when the industry worked together for a common goal.

“Our tourism operators and local businesses tell us they are feeling the positive effects of more visitors to the region and because of increased numbers – particularly international guests – the winter months have been more buoyant,” she said.

Monthly expenditure for September took a slight hit across the country, including the Bay, where visitor spending decreased from $54 million in August to $50 million.

Ms Dunne said businesses should not be discouraged by this decline. September was historically the lowest month for tourism spend around the country ahead of the peak summer season.