APPLICATIONS to the Whakatane District Mayoral Relief Fund are now open.

Any Whakatane district residents affected by flood or storm damage as a result of the April cyclones are eligible to apply to the fund for financial assistance.

Priority will be given to applications under the following criteria:

•  Provision of essentials for daily life, transport needs and household contents;
•  Rebuild/recovery costs of buildings damaged by water or storm damage;
• Essential items not covered by insurance or other funds.

The fund has a current balance of just over $150,000 thanks to donations made directly to Whakatane District Council and via a Givealittle campaign, which remains open.

Mayor Tony Bonne said it was likely applications to the fund would exceed the amount available, and he emphasised that people should look at other funding sources in the first instance.

An advisory board would assess applications on a fortnightly basis and provide recommendations to the Mayoral Relief Fund trustees to confirm approval and distribution of the funds on a fair and equitable basis.

The advisory board members are: Taneatua Community Board chairwoman Diane Yalden; Rangitaiki Community Board chairwoman Charelle Stevenson; Ngati Awa representative Tu O’Brien; rural representative Bruce Woods; and recovery team representative Barbara Dempsey.

The Mayoral Relief Fund trustees are Mr Bonne; deputy mayor Judy Turner; and Colin Leonard, the independent member of the council’s audit and risk committee.

Application forms are available at Te Tari Awhina Community Hub (at the Edgecumbe Library), libraries in Murupara and Whakatane, the Kawerau i-Site; and on the Whakatane District Council website.

BEST TEAM: The winning Spotted Cats, Rico Kurei, Paul (Skip) Brown and Ben Bakalich. Photo supplied

OPOTIKI’S Spotted Cats took out the Opotiki Big 3, held over Queen’s Birthday weekend.

It was the second time Paul (Skip) Brown and long-time hunting mate Ben Bakalich had won the hunting and fishing competition, this time sharing the joy and prizes with newcomer Rico Kurei.

Their prizes included game-hunting gear, jackets, hunting knives and fishing rods.

Over the years, Skip’s teams have finished second on seven occasions as well as third on others.

Bakalich said he had participated in the competition with Skip for 14 years now, winning it for the first time with him in 2014.

The calibre of the animals this year had been unreal, he said.
Opotiki Big 3 coordinator Slim McCallion said hunting and fishing conditions were ideal for the 54 teams that took part.

“It was a good time of the year – nice and crisp,” he said.

There were plenty of good-conditioned animals and fish weighed in with around 40 of the teams – the most ever – managing to bag the elusive three species required to be in contention for a prize.

Heading for the final weigh-in on Sunday, the Spotted Cats thought that with some decent animals already weighed in, they might be in contention for a top three place. Taking the win was a nice surprise.

Top six teams

•  Spotted Cats – Paul Brown, Ben Bakalich, Rico Kurei (299 points)
•  Clawdad – Milton Kiri, Brody Motchell, Jim Doolan (294 points)
•  Honesty box – Trent Takurua, Rose Maxwell, Corban Maxwell (287 points)
• Ping Wings – Ngawai Amoamo, Weihana Amoamo, Albert Kurei (286 points)
• 3B’s – Brent McNaul, Bugs Boucher, Brad McNaul (284 points)
•  Snorts redemption – Allan Enckevort, Zane Collins, Dallas Curtis (283 points)

BIG CATCHES: There was a number of stag and boar caught during the popular Opotiki Big 3 event at the weekend. Photo Paula Massey D5455-16

THE 2017 Fibre & Fleece Festival has been postponed for a year due to a lack of entries.

Co-ordinator Paula Black said the decision was made to postpone the July festival because “it became evident by close-off date that the volume of entries received was not enough to sustain a complete festival programme”.

The festival would now be held in July 2018.

Ms Black one of the reasons for the drop in entries was a lack of interest from younger people.

“Our intensive review process in 2014 identified the need for more youth participation to provide for the longevity of the festival … to the next generation of artisans and designers,” she said.

She said, however, the showcasing of artist and design entries was improved in the 2015 show and there was a closer link between audience, models, artist and designers, plus there was increased youth input and participation.

Ms Black said all sponsorship received for this year’s festival would be returned.

LEGACY: Frans Steens, Jopie Bruys Steens, Guus Steens, Elly Bakker Steens, Ria Blommerde Steens, Roseleen Steens, Riet Steens and Jaap Bakker await their piece of cake at the reunion. Photo Paula Massey D5456-22

WHEN Anna and Antoon Steens stepped off the boat from Holland with their family 60 years ago, they knew their lives would be changed forever.

The Steens family held their first reunion in more than 10 years at Ohope Christian Camp last weekend, giving their widely-dispersed family an opportunity to catch up and renew their ties.
Marylou Bruys, one of the reunion organisers, says it was the biggest Steen family reunion they have ever held.

“We had well over 200 there, more than we expected,” she says “The youngest was three weeks and the oldest was 91, so four or five generations [were] there.”

The Steens family established a construction business that built some of the region’s more iconic buildings such as Trident High School and Whakatane Airport. They were also involved in a lot of the construction at Kawerau.

When asked about the one thing that best described the atmosphere at the reunion, Marylou says it was happiness at being together. “The biggest thing was all the smiles,” she says.

A lot had changed since her grandparents boarded the ship on its long journey.

“They all emigrated in 1958 … and that was in the boat that took six weeks to come over.”

While proud of their heritage, over the years some members of the family lost contact with their cultural ties to the Dutch way of life. “We heard both languages being spoken by a lot of generations but I think less Dutch is being spoken [now],” Marylou says.

The reunion was also a celebration of the melding of the Dutch family with the New Zealand way of life. The event’s decorations were in red, white and blue.

“Red, white and blue are the colours for the Dutch flag and the New Zealand flag obviously,” she says.

As the day came to a close and the family members went their separate ways, Marylou says the smiles turned to tears with the knowledge it would be a long time until they would meet again.

Though reunions are difficult to organise on a regular basis, many of those who came to this one are are considering meeting again but in an informal manner.

FAMILY CAKE: An old family photo reproduced in icing was the centrepiece at the Steens family reunion last week. Photo Paula Massey D5456-03

mark.rieder@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

STARS IN HIS EYES: Year 12 Trident High School student Jack Nelson is off to United States Space Camp. Photo Louis Klaassen D5422-04

A TRIDENT High School student is over the moon after being selected by the Royal Society Te Aparangi to attend the United States Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama in July.

Jack Nelson, 16, a year 12 student, is one of four New Zealand students, plus a teacher, chosen to attend the 10-day International Space Camp (ISC).

More than 300 students countrywide applied.

“I have always loved the idea of space science,” said Jack. “And this gives me the chance to explore the option more. I am very pleased to have this opportunity.”

Jack, who is also a rugby first XV player and a member of the Whakatane District Youth Council, said he had done the level one earth, ocean, space and science class in Year 11 and found it fascinating.

The camp brings together educators and students from 35 countries around the world who will meet with like-minded students and teachers who have a passion for space travel and astronomy.

“We will be doing underwater astronaut training,” said Jack.

The students will be challenged academically and physically with extended-duration missions and experiencing microgravity in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer. Activities will include hands-on astronaut training, as well as learning about the mental, emotional and physical demands astronauts must face.

The programme is designed to promote space science and exploration.  After the week-long Space Camp has finished, the group will head to Houston for three days, visiting some of the sights, including the Houston Space Centre and the Natural History Museum.

The Talented School Students Travel Award, managed by Royal Society Te Aparangi and funded by the ministry of business, innovation and employment, will fund 70 percent of Jack’s travel and registration costs.

A separate programme is organised for the educators that includes authentic astronaut training simulators and activities developed to promote learning in a classroom setting.

Jack said the trip was made possible after teacher Erin Nolan helped him put in an application.

Ms Nolan said they had never sent anyone before and Jack was a top student with an interest in space science so she helped him apply.

The three other students joining Jack will be from Westlake Girls’ High School in Auckland, Napier Boys’ High School and Christchurch Girls’ High School. The teacher is also from Napier Boys’ High School.

SPACE SHUTTLE: The Pathfinder space shuttle at the centre of the Space Camp.

kathy.forsyth@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

CHAMPIONS: Phoenix and Paris Henare were part of the Trident High School senior girl’s underwater hockey team, crowned 2016 national champions at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Underwater Hockey Championships.

IT might not be a sport that many Maori girls play, but the unwavering support from her grandparents has helped Phoenix Henare and her sister, Paris, to represent New Zealand in underwater hockey

Steph and Peter Lieder have brought up their two granddaughters since they were little. Over the years they have worked hard to teach them about hard work and success and now it is starting to pay off with both girls named in the New Zealand under 19 women’s team for underwater hockey.

Phoenix says they both know this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of their grandparents.

“My sister and I always had opportunities to become the best we could be. My nan played a large role in motivating my little sister to train each and every single day in the lead-up to being selected for the worlds team in 2015, and to this day their love and support drives me to do the best I can by training hard, playing hard and making them proud.”

Last month, Phoenix travelled home from Dunedin, where she is studying science at Otago University, to spend the weekend with her grandparents before she and Paris headed into camp for the New Zealand team. She says it is important to find time to spend with the family now she is living away from home.

“I am in my first year and am studying for a bachelor of science, majoring in physiology. After I have gained my bachelor [degree] in three years I hope to study for a doctorate in chiropractic medicine.

“Growing up with grandparents made me always feel grateful to have such loving people surround me during my upbringing, which I love about them and am truly grateful for. They have led me to be the person I am today and I will never be able to repay them for that but hope to in some form one day.”

While underwater hockey is a minority sport that not many Maori girls play, Phoenix says she was introduced to it when she was learning to swim.

“I got involved when I started primary school at Awakeri. As all primary schools have, we were just starting the swimming lessons during primary school hours. During one of these swimming lessons one of the teachers [Raewyn Morgan] invited the students to try to play some underwater hockey by just pushing the puck in the bin… Also during my time at the school Raewyn had just been to the Worlds [competition] that year for the under 23 women’s team and was vice captain.

Also, another student and I wrote an article about it in our school newspaper, which further intrigued me.”

She says when she left Awakeri Primary School, Raewyn’s husband Beau Morgan, who had also been there on the day that Phoenix first discovered underwater hockey, continued to develop her love of the sport.

“When I went to Trident, Beau Morgan was a teacher and he had already developed high school underwater hockey teams, which I started to play in at year 9.”

Phoenix says watching her now 17-year-old sister Paris make the team in 2015 proved to her that anything was possible if she put the effort in.

“My little sister Paris was a big reason why I wanted to make the team. As her big sister, I was so proud of her and the achievement she made when she made the under 19 New Zealand women’s team in 2015 at age 15 and being the youngest in the team.

But rather than causing any negativity between the two sisters, Phoenix says the rivalry has helped to make them better players and teammates.

“We’ve always played sports together as we’ve grown up and our increasing competiveness thrives off each other when we are playing in the same team or even against each other. Since I know how my sister plays, being in the same team as her means I link with her really well, and to have a friendly face from home in the pool or at tournaments gives you a sense of calmness when the stress of game scores and finals build up.

“I also have a very natural competitive nature and love playing competitive sports which underwater hockey exemplifies.”

She says she loves underwater hockey and enjoys the camaraderie she has found in the sport.

“It’s a sport that differs so much to other sports I play because it’s the only one where I play sport while holding my breath.

“Because underwater hockey is a minority sport in New Zealand, the underwater hockey community is very tight-knit and friendly. For example, this year I moved to Dunedin to attend Otago University and when I went to the Dunedin club games they welcomed me with open arms, even though none of them knew me personally.”

karla.akuhata@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

ECO CENTRE: Environmental educator Liddy Bakker assists children from Awakeri, who take a turn to have a look into a Department of Conversation trap. Photo supplied

THE Manawahe Eco Trust’s aim to repurpose the area’s former school into a well-resourced ecological centre has taken a significant leap forward with a grant from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust.

The eco trust gained use of the school after it closed in 2010 and has developed a teaching space for delivering a popular hands-on environmental education programme for pre-school to secondary school-age students.

The $34,355 grant from the energy trust’s community development fund will see the disused principal’s house brought up to electrical standard, enhancing opportunities for a wide range of eco-recreation and education activities.

Chairwoman Fran van Alphen said the school house project was a major undertaking.

“It was certainly too big for us to take on by ourselves, so the support of the energy trust is tremendous.

“Our committee feels strongly that bringing the house back into use will draw many of our affiliated groups to the centre and hugely enhance our purpose of securing the area’s unique biodiversity.”

The grant will cover the cost of equipment to provide a power supply, LED lighting, heatpump, smoke alarm and dishwasher.

Energy trust chairman Don Lewell said trustees recognised the important work the eco trust did and were very comfortable in supporting its efforts to provide a safe, warm, energy efficient environment for students, researchers and others who would use the facility.”

Other grants at the trust’s May meeting include: Edgecumbe Development and Improvement Team ($4499 towards sound, lighting and backline equipment for the Oho Ake – Rise Up community concert); Waioeka Marae ($99,960 towards kitchen equipment including various appliances, gas oven, extraction canopy, freezer and chillers); Ohope Chartered Club ($8238 towards CCTV, alarm and fire alarm upgrades); Opotiki District Council ($28,000 towards the installation of a barbecue at Waiotahe Beach and Solar Lights at Pakowhai Bridge and Ohiwa boatramp).

TOGETHER: The expo acted as a place for displaced residents to come together. D5480-30

RECOVERY is the focus for Edgecumbe.

Two events have recently been organised to assist with recovery for flood-affected residents.

On Saturday, a community recovery expo was held at the Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall.

The expo ran from 10am to 6pm, and brought together more than 16 agencies involved in the district recovery from the April flood and cyclone events.

The idea of the expo came from a community hui held last month and was organised by a focus group, which was a result of the meeting also.

Organisations that attended included police, Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Ngati Awa Volunteer Army, Pou Whakaaro, Whakatane District Council and Earthquake Commission.

In addition to displays there was a series of information sessions covering a range of relevant topics such as, insurance, legal rights, managing stress and budgeting.

The previous Saturday, the opportunity to be part of the independent inquiry investigating the infrastructure and circumstances leading to the April flood left Edgecumbe residents feeling satisfied.

A Saturday drop-in session with Sir Michael Cullen, who is heading the inquiry, was held at the Edgecumbe College Hall providing people with the chance to share their thoughts and concerns about the flood.

Rangitaiki Community Board chairwoman Charelle Stevenson said the information-gathering activity was “full noise” as Sir Michael spent five-hours talking to flood-affected residents and different specialists and technicians.

“A lot of them came with a lot of background information, photos and videos that [Sir Michael] was privy to and took copies of.”

Ms Stevenson said more than 40 people attended. Each person or group was given 10 to 15-minutes to speak with Mr Cullen.

“We achieved our objective which was to give people the opportunity to feed into the independent inquiry.

“People looked relieved when they came out.”

Sir Michael said from his perspective the drop-in session also went well.

“People were very clear about what they wanted, what they thought might have gone wrong and what sort of things they want to be done.”

He said a lot of the questions arising out of the drop-in sessions had already been referred to Bay of Plenty Regional Council officials and others for responses.

He attended meetings last week with regional council staff and Trustpower to go through issues.

RECOVERY: East Coast MP Anne Tolley speaks to residents at the Edgecumbe recovery expo after the Government announced new funding for flood recovery. Photo Louis Klaassen D5480-16

THE Government has made extra grants available to help Bay of Plenty farmers and growers recover from the damage caused by April’s storms and floods.

Affected farmers and growers can apply for contributions from the new $200,000 Primary Industries Bay of Plenty Flood Recovery Grant to help with essential infrastructure repair.

“We know that there has been a lot of extra work for Bay of Plenty farmers due to the substantial damage caused by two ex-cyclones in quick succession,” said East Coast MP Anne Tolley.

“While farmers in the region are no stranger to floods, the compounding effects of the April storms was more flooding and wind damage than they would usually expect to deal with and plan for. This is why we classified it as a medium-scale event.”

Mrs Tolley said the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust had informed them that a number of farmers were still finding it a challenge to fund clean-up of some of the destruction.

“The local Rural Support Trust has been doing excellent work with key stakeholders to help co-ordinate and promote rural recovery like hosting events and helping people to navigate services and processes,” she said.

Primary Industries minister Nathan Guy said grants were available for a variety of projects.

“Farmers and growers can apply for a grant from the fund to help with specific infrastructure repair such as re-grassing of pasture, re-sowing of crops, and clean-up of silt and debris,” he said.

“They can use it to cover expenses they have already incurred or to help cover those they have been putting off up to now.”

He said the new funding wass to help those farmers who were most effected.

“This helping hand to deal with some of the extra costs associated with the repair of uninsurable infrastructure will make a difference to those who were worst hit,” he said.

Farmers can contact their local Rural Support Trust on 0800 RURAL HELP to talk about what they need and get pointed in the right direction for further support, information and advice.The funds will be administered by the Whakatane District Council.

The Government also announced $700,000 to further support local businesses, farmers and growers. Inland Revenue waived late payment fees and penalties for those prevented from paying on time due to the floods.

REMINDER: The stickers on the wall are a daily reminder for Te Araroa Wetini of what her son and family house went through during the siege.
D5471-33

THE walls, furniture, clothing and towels at Rhys Warren’s family home are tainted with physical reminders of the 22-hour Onepu siege.

Stickers cover the walls representing the bullets fired during the incident on March 9, 2016, when four police officers were wounded. The walls have been replaced but bullet damage to furniture, clothing and towels remains in place.

It provides Warren’s mother, Te Araroa Wetini, with a daily reminder of what her son and family home went through and reinforces her belief that it could have been prevented.

To make sense of the incident – what led to the 22-hour siege, the gunshots fired and what occurred in the homestead – folders of evidence fill large containers in the home.

Mrs Wetini said she had found discrepancies in public documents and believed police never had a priority of prevention.

She said she had also discovered untrue details and misinformation in disclosure documents – opinions based on the multiple folders of disclosure documents and the physical evidence she saw when she entered her home following the incident.

“I’ve maintained it this whole time, [police] should not have gone into the house.”

An internal police report, obtained by the New Zealand Herald via the Official Information Act, revealed the Onepu siege was the biggest shootout in New Zealand’s history with 46 shots fired and a chain of mistakes which saw the Armed Offender Squad raid the house instead of using tear gas or dogs.

Mrs Wetini said the report stated what she has always alluded to; the incident did not have to happen – police made a mistake, should have stayed out of the house and not allowed an untrained AOS person to take command.

The damage done to the house had traumatised an entire family, she said.

The home at 158 Onepu Springs Road was built by Mrs Wetini’s parents in 1959. It was home to Mrs Wetini and her seven siblings and had sentimental value to them all and the generations that followed.

BATHROOM: Toiletries on the toilet in the same position they were when police fired shots through the wall. D5471-18

Their father died when he was 28, when their mother was pregnant with their eighth child.

“We have all been traumatised by what has happened; we are all new to this.

“This is foreign and doesn’t happen to my family.”

Mrs Wetini said the family were victims too, not the stereotypical people, people made comments about.

“This has never been an alcohol, party, gang or drugs house.

People say we are going to go buy a box and get pissed, but that isn’t who we are.”

Mrs Wetini said the full story hadn’t been portrayed to the public.

“But we are just as traumatised as those who were shot.”

Warren was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, three charges of firing at a police officer and one charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at a jury trial in March.

haylee.king@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

NEW Zealand First Party leader Winston Peters may well have been preaching to the choir during a public appearance at Whakatane’s Liberty Centre on Thursday.

With an estimated 200 people in attendance, Mr Peters squarely placed the responsibility of New Zealand’s woes on National Government policies. Many heads nodded in agreement as he attacked the Government’s recent and historical political decisions, with immigration at the top of the list.

“Remember them saying in January and February [that] immigration will not be an issue in the 2017 election? Well, they’re not saying that any more are they,” he said.

Though New Zealand First currently has two fewer seats than the third-rated Green Party, Mr Peters said the upcoming election was between them and the National and Labour parties.

“We know this election is going to be unique, it’s going to be a three-way fight between National, Labour and ourselves. All the rest are cling-ons,” he said.

When asked if a New Zealand First Government would allow the reserve bank to invest in infrastructure projects, Mr Peters said he believed that type of investment was better suited for the Cullen Fund and Kiwisaver.

But he said that he would revisit the legislation surrounding the reserve bank.

“The first we’d do is change the Reserve Bank Act so the reserve bank monetary policy actually reflects that we’re an export-dependent economy and not some sort of New York stock market,” he said.

He said the New Zealand dollar was overvalued and that situation did not benefit the average New Zealander.

“Every percentage [point] of over-valuation of our dollar hits the hinterland of the Bay of Plenty and Whakatane really bad. It transfers wealth to downtown Queen Street to the money lenders, the banks and insurance companies and out of the provinces,” he said.

In answer to a question about the Treaty of Waitangi, Mr Peters said Maori were being taken advantage of by “elites in the Maori world” who took advantage of the “Treaty of Waitangi industry”.

“In whose name are [treaty claims] made and when do ordinary Maori get anything out of it,” he asked.

He said there were other policies that New Zealand First had prioritised.

“My party tends to concentrate on what Maori really want; decent affordable housing, decent health [care] if they should fall sick, decent education … and a first-world job with first-world wages,” he said.

The meeting was the first in a series organised by Whakatane Grey Power to allow Eastern Bay voters to hear from election hopefuls in the run up to the September 23 election.

mark.rieder@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

OPPORTUNITIES: Whakatane businesswoman Lesley Immink is running for parliament in this year’s election with Gareth Morgan and The Opportunities Party (TOP). Photo supplied

WHAKATANE business woman Lesley Immink has resigned her chief executive role after six years leading the Tourism Export Council NZ to run for parliament in this year’s election with Gareth Morgan and The Opportunities Party (TOP).

Mrs Immink of Tuwharetoa and Ngati Apa descent was born and raised in Kawerau, worked and travelled overseas, and for the past 30 years has lived in Whakatane. She founded successful inbound tour company NZ Educational Tours which was the recipient of numerous tourism, environmental and business sustainable awards.

In recent years, she has been based in Wellington representing tourism interests to government.

Asked why she had decided to stand in this year’s election, Mrs Immink said she thoroughly enjoyed her role with TECNZ, but had been thinking how she could add more value to the industry and her Whakatane-East Coast community.

“Advocating for best practice and policy for tour operators in the past six years has enabled me to get a good insight into how things work in government and the public sector. At times, I haven’t been confident that the right decisions, policy and the speed of implementation is all that it could be.

“A strong focus of the organisation in the past few years has seen us advocating for freshwater quality standards and being up close and personal with the issue, I haven’t been impressed with the Government’s direction in terms of environmental protection – in fact there is little vision, and the recent supposed ‘new’ water quality standards of 90 percent swimmable by 2040, is a ‘smoke and mirrors’ attempt at deceiving the public re the true state of our water quality.”

She said with freshwater being an important issue for the health and well-being of the environment and people, and wanting to represent the region, she decided that perhaps she could do more from inside the camp rather than trying to tinker around on the outside and have the rules continuously change.

“People wouldn’t have been surprised if I’d put my hand up to work with the Green Party, but it was actually a discussion with my husband who liked Gareth Morgan’s direct style that had me looking at policy.

“The policies made practical and economic sense with evidence based solutions and I knew that I’d be proud to advocate for, and defend them,” she said.

The Opportunities Party leader Gareth Morgan said he was “rapt” to have someone of Mrs Immink’s calibre and experience who understood the workings of government and policy development.

“She has a direct and persuasive style and she cares about social inequity and environmental protection. The Opportunities Party (TOP) has been seeking candidates who want to effect change and she will be a great representative for TOP and the East Coast region.”

Mrs Immink said she had a few more weeks of being based in Wellington before heading back to Whakatane to start planning the election campaign which included needing to build a volunteer base of workers.

“I’m pretty excited to get back to the region and work with the community from down the Coast, with Whanarua Bay being a regular family holiday spot, Opotiki, Whakatane, Kawerau and Edgecumbe.”

CRV Ambreed has appointed a new laboratory to enable New Zealand dairy farmers to gain access to further information about Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and Johne’s Disease from their herd testing.

The herd improvement company has announced an exclusive arrangement with Disease Research Ltd, part of the University of Otago.

Dairy farmers will be able to access the extended service and information by herd testing. The service now offers an initial status at herd level, through to individual cow testing.

BVD is considered serious and widespread in New Zealand dairy and beef herds, with DairyNZ estimating annual losses for dairy farmers of about $127 million. Johne’s Disease is an infection caused by bacteria that can affect all ruminants.

PRICES fell at New Zealand’s latest weekly wool auction with some grades hitting their lowest level in more than seven years amid continued lacklustre demand from China.

At the latest North Island auction on Thursday, 37-micron crossbred second-shear wool dropped 30 cents to $3.05 a kilogram from last week’s South Island sale.

This was its lowest level since January 2010, according to agricultural services provider AgriHQ.

Compared with the previous North Island sale a fortnight ago, 37-micron longer fleece crossbred wool was down 25 cents to $2.85/kg.

Meanwhile, 30-micron lamb wool fell 5 cents to $3.65/kg compared with last week’s South Island auction.

In comparison with the previous North Island auction a fortnight ago, 29-micron lamb wool dropped 30 cents to $3.90/kg while 30-micron fibre was up 10 cents, AgriHQ said.

A lift in the value of the New Zealand dollar over the past week impacted demand at the latest auction, analysts said.

The kiwi dollar recently touched a three-month high of 72.22 US cents.

“Market conditions remain subdued with the New Zealand dollar strengthening further and low interest from Chinese buyers dropping prices further,” said AgriHQ analyst Sam Laurenson.

“Next week’s sale in the South Island has no sign of farmer’s stockpiles of wool being released to the market with 8000 bales expected to be on offer. Improvement in the market will be required before these stockpiles make their way into the market.”

Some 73 percent of the 9351 bales on offer were sold at yesterday’s auction, bringing the clearance rate back in line with the season-to-date average, although still well down on last season’s 89 percent clearance rate, AgriHQ said.

The value of New Zealand’s wool exports fell 31 percent to $554 million in the year through April, according to the latest data from Statistics New Zealand.

That decline pushed it down to 19th place in the rankings of New Zealand’s largest commodity exports, from 14th position a year earlier.

CENTRAL Government funding for tourist facilities has been welcomed by Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne.

The announcement by tourism minister Paula Bennett confirming $100,000 would be provided to co-fund upgraded toilet facilities in Te Teko and a new facility in Murupara, was praised by Mr Bonne.

Part of this year’s regional mid-sized tourism facilities grant fund allocations, the amount will be matched by Whakatane District Council.

Mr Bonne said tourism was a fast-growing element in the district’s economy and the funding would play a key role in upgrading the infrastructure available for locals and visitors on two important gateway routes.

“Murupara is the gateway to the Whirinaki Forest and Te Urewera, which are two of the region’s – and the country’s – finest wilderness areas,” he said.

“The new restroom facilities will provide a much-needed comfort stop for the increasing number of travellers visiting these largely untouched natural treasures.

“They will also serve to bring more tourists into the town centre and support the local economy.”

Mr Bonne said the community would be consulted to identify the best location for the new facility.
He said, additionally, the existing public toilet facility at Eivers Park in Te Teko would be extensively upgraded.

“Te Teko is the first township on the well-travelled eastern tourist route from Rotorua and this investment will ensure that visitors’ first impressions of the Whakatane district are positive and welcoming.”

TANEATUA man Michael Andrew Wilson pleaded guilty to 10 of 13 charges involving firearm and drugs when he appeared in the Whakatane District Court last Wednesday.

Wilson pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of cannabis, cultivating cannabis, three charges of possession of utensils for cannabis and methamphetamine, two counts of unlawfully carrying a firearm and breach of bail.

He pleaded not guilty to burglary, assault with stabbing or cutting and threat to kill.

Lawyer Roger Gowing said Wilson had the firearm, without a licence, at his Taneatua home when a family-related dispute took place there.

“His partner has taken possession of the firearm and fired it in the air. He took that away and put it in the boot of his car. “There was nothing to suggest that the firearm is connected in a sinister way to his use of drugs and possession of utensils.”

Judge Louis Bidois said Wilson had a raft of charges before him, committed in the past three months, commonly indicative for people using methamphetamine.

Wilson was denied bail and remanded in custody until July 19.

Other court appearances:

Fresh sentence

RE-ENGAGING with community work worked in Nyoka Atawhai Tamati’s favour after being given the chance to prove her compliance.

Tamati pleaded guilty in the Whakatane District Court last week to a charge of breach of community work at an earlier appearance and was remanded to prove she would re-engage.
Judge Louis Bidois understood that the death of Tamati’s father had a huge impact on her but told her she couldn’t keep using it as a barrier.

“Do it and you will be out of our hair and probation's.”

Tamati’s remaining 111 hours of community work were cancelled and a fresh sentence of 110 hours was imposed.

She was also given a six-month suspended sentence, meaning any further trouble would result in a meaningful sentence.

Jail for breach

FIVE weeks ago Brett Rory Bradley was remanded on bail with a chance to re-engage with community work.

Expected to attend community work on every occasion, unless with a reasonable excuse, Bradley failed to report three out of five times.

Judge Bidois sentenced Bradley to one month in prison.

“I remanded you. I could have [sentenced you] then and there, but I gave you a chance,” he said.

No more mischief

WHEN Harata Jacinta Haturini bought a car, she didn’t pay much regard to the fact it had been stolen.

Lawyer Mark McGhie said his client thought the cheap price for the vehicle was because of mechanical issues.

Haturini pleaded guilty to unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, possession of utensils and breach of bail.

Judge Bidois sentenced Haturini to 80 hours’ community work.

Having relocated to Whakatane from Auckland, Judge Bidois told Haturini to make sure she completed the sentence and didn’t get into any mischief.

Alternative toilet option

NEEDING to go to the toilet, David Kingi entered Pak’n Save to use its premises while he was trespassed.

The Whakatane 36-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful trespass.

Lawyer Mark McGhie said his client didn’t commit a crime at the store and was there to use the toilet.

Judge Bidois pointed out to Kingi there was a public toilet nearby next to the Kope Turf Bar.

Kingi told Judge Bidois he “totally forgot” about the alternative toilet.

Judge Bidois gave Kingi a six-month suspended sentence.

Stepped out

WHEN Tamahou Adam Davis was stepped out, he defended himself.

Davis pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault.

Lawyer Roger Gowing said Davis and a friend were walking when the complainant passed in a vehicle.

Mr Gowing said the vehicle turned around and the complainant stepped Davis out on the footpath before he defended himself.

The Ruatoki 17-year-old and first offender elected a judge-alone trial.

The case was remanded until July 19 for a case review hearing.

Had it all

WHAKATANE man Kenana Hona has been sentenced to “the full raft” in relation to driving while disqualified, Judge Bidois said.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and possession of utensils for methamphetamine.

Hona was found in possession of a glass pipe, straws and a butane torch.

His last driving while disqualified conviction was in June 2016.

Judge Bidois remanded Hona on bail until July 19 for a pre-sentence report to be completed.

Poor choice

WHEN his partner became sick at their children’s sports games, Stephen Leslie Moon said he felt compelled to drive even though he was not legally allowed to do so.

Puriri appeared in court charged with driving contrary to the terms of his limited licence.
His lawyer Gene Tomlinson presented a doctor’s certificate confirming that blood test results showed Moon’s partner could have been suffering from headaches.

Mr Tomlinson said Moon drove less than a kilometre down the road before he was pulled over by a police officer. At the time, Moon was three days from receiving his licence back after it had been suspended.

Judge Bidois sentenced Moon to 100 hours of community but did not impose any disqualification of licence.

Bad history

WITH history for violent offending, Galvin Jarno Winiata signed up with a Whakatane social service provider to help him deal with some of his issues.

Winiata pleaded guilty to common assault when he appeared in court last week.

His lawyer Kim Johnson said Winiata acknowledged that he had issues, which was why he had signed up with Manna Integrated Services.

Judge Bidois said Winiata had notched up several convictions for violence including injuring with intent to injure in the past two years.

“And now here you are continuing to be an angry man.”

He sentenced Winiata to 160 hours of community work and ordered him to pay $300 in emotional harm reparation to the victim.

“You touch her or someone else again and you are going to end up going to jail.”

Guitar smashed

SMASHING a guitar over his dad’s head earned Anthony Takiari a hefty sentence of community work.

Takiari pleaded guilty to assault with a blunt instrument and breach of bail when he appeared in court last week.

The charges related to an incident that took place between Takiari and his dad, following a disagreement.

Judge Bidois said Takiari became frustrated and smashed his dad’s guitar over his head, causing a 7cm laceration.

“It is a relatively serious incident. The family is supportive of you and has failed to provide a victim impact statement and didn’t want to charge you, but the reality is that you can’t go around doing this to people.”

Takiari’s father is a musician and the $800 guitar has been replaced.

Judge Bidois sentenced Takiari to 240 hours of community work and ordered him to pay emotional harm reparation of $300 to his dad.

Two times

TWO violent incidents that occurred on the same day resulted in Dylan Grant Arthur appearing in court last week.

Both incidents involved his partner, with the first occurring while she was trying to retrieve the keys from a car. Later on in the day Arthur used coins as a weapon to hurt her.

Judge Bidois said Arthur had a previous conviction for assaulting the victim.

“The relationship is over and that is in her best interest, considering you have assaulted her three times.”

He sentenced Arthur to 100 hours of community work and ordered him to pay $200 in emotional harm to the victim.

Just leave

JUDGE Bidois told William Tilly Reneti that even if the woman with the protection order turned up at his house, he should leave.

Reneti pleaded guilty to one charge of contravening a protection order last week. Judge Bidois convicted and discharged Reneti but told him he would continue to return to court if he did not stay away from the victim because he would always be considered responsible if they argued.

“If police are called and they decide that what has happened has caused emotional harm then you will be arrested.”

40 more hours

EVEN though he had finished his hours, Gordon Rewiti Rua received a further 40 hours because he had continuously breached during his initial sentence.

Judge Bidois said his poor record dictated that he be sentenced to a further 40 hours of community work.

“You had better do it. You now have a breach on your record and you are going to lose your liberty if you don’t do what you are meant to do, so just get the 40 hours done.”

Suspended licence

WHEN Richard Peter Bailey appeared in court, he pleaded guilty to one charge of driving while his licence was suspended, five counts of wilful damage and breaching community work, as well as community detention.

Judge Bidois sentenced him to one further month of community detention.

Drink driving

GARETH Wepiha Wordsworth pleaded guilty to one count of driving with excess breath alcohol after he returned a result of 704 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for driving is 250mcg.

Judge Bidois sentenced him to four months’ community detention, which meant he would be required to be home between 9pm and 6am everyday, and 180 hours’ community work.

Wordsworth was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

QUIET: Matipo Place was quiet yesterday while checks are ongoing for asbestos in some of the street’s houses. Photo Louis Klaassen D5517-26

SOME homeowners displaced by the Edgecumbe floods are becoming frustrated at hold-ups in the rebuild while checks are done for asbestos.

But insurers said the tests needed to be done to ensure the safety of tradespeople working on the flooded properties as asbestos was widely used in many homes built up until the mid-1980s.

Tony Lester said work had come to a halt on his Matipo Place house a few weeks ago after an asbestos survey was done. He said he had spoken to his insurance assessor this week but there was still no word how long it would take for the results of the testing to come back.

“They checked for asbestos two weeks after the flood … and that came back clear. Then they did another check six weeks later and I have not heard anything.”

He said several houses in his and neighbouring streets were in the same situation.

He said builders had stripped the floor of his house, and then “disappeared”.

Mr Lester said he feared it would be Christmas before they could move back into their house.

“There is hold-up after hold-up.”

He said houses in nearby Puriri Crescent had been tested only late last week.

At 28 Tawhara Place, Megan Cobden had come back to check the progress at her house. She said the floors and half the walls had been stripped, but asbestos tests and drying out of the interior still needed to be done.

Sarah Annett said she had received an email from her insurance company stating that builders could not continue the work on her Rata Avenue house and she would have to find new builders.

An Earthquake Commission spokesman said EQC was continuing to remove silt from around sections and underneath houses in Edgecumbe.

“Work has been delayed at some properties where asbestos testing is being carried out by the private insurers,” he said.

“The clean-up work will resume once EQC has received the certificates of clearance confirming that the asbestos has been removed.

“EQC is also liaising with WorkSafe NZ and the local council to ensure the safety of its staff, contractors and customers as work continues in the area.

She said she believed this was also because asbestos checks were being done.

IAG’s manager senior loss adjusting Gary Byrnes said the insurance company was conducting visual inspections of 130 stripped-out properties for mould and asbestos-containing materials.

“The checks are required to identify whether antimicrobial treatment is required to treat the mould and schedule necessary treatment and also to reassess whether any of the affected materials contain asbestos which would therefore need to be replaced,” he said.

“This will give a better repair outcome for our customers and ensure the health and safety of those tradespeople involved in the ongoing refurbishment or repair work,” said Mr Byrnes.

“Whilst we understand the need to move quickly for those flood-affected homeowners we must also balance our role in keeping the community safe during the clean-up as well as the health and safety of tradesmen.

“IAG is unable to complete the refurbishment/repair work until the necessary asbestos survey has been completed.”

He said he expected the bulk of the surveys to be completed within a three-to-four week period that had been scheduled with builders.

Mr Byrnes said that once this process had been completed, IAG would be in a position to provide customers with an expected time frame to complete their repairs.

He said customers were being updated with the progress.

Mr Byrnes said IAG had found some homes with asbestos-backed vinyl, asbestos material in wall boards (behind log fires), in some stippled ceilings and in exterior cladding.

IAG insurance encompasses State and AMI brands and  through intermediaries, the Lumley and NZI brands.

Another insurer, FMG, said it had only two properties with asbestos-based materials in them.

“These were dealt with efficiently by certified testers and removers allowing us to continue on with repairs.”

It said its builders, Sabre Construction, had come across no further issues around asbestos.

kathy.forsyth@whakatanebeacon.co.nz

PETITION: Councillor Mike van der Boom, deputy mayor Judy Turner and councillor George Johnston listen intently as Scott Saunders presents to Whakatane District Council his petition calling for more pedestrian crossings in Ohope. Photo supplied.

A PETITION calling for the installation of pedestrian crossings in Ohope has gathered nearly 300 signatures.

The petition, organised by Ohope resident Scott Saunders, was presented to the Whakatane District Council earlier this month and will be considered by the projects and services committee.

Mr Saunders, who is legally blind and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, said he was motivated to start the petition after realising that he was not alone in feeling concerned over the lack of pedestrian crossings in Ohope.

“I was struggling to cross every single time and it felt like a matter of life or death,” he said.

“Then I noticed that others, particularly children and rest home residents, were also having difficulties. There is a lot of foot traffic in the area and in summer, there is a lot of road traffic.

Crossings would provide a degree of safety, not just for the disabled, but for children and the elderly as well.”

After recognising he would have to show community support for the idea, Mr Saunders hit the streets and began gathering signatures.

“Ohope Beach Care’s resthome residents also voiced their concerns and have been very supportive, but it was interesting to see that it wasn’t just Ohope residents who were interested in this, but others who also drive on Pohutukawa Avenue and Harbour Road.”

Deputy mayor Judy Turner has applauded Mr Saunders’ actions and agrees there are some particularly challenging parts of both the roads he mentions.

“This kind of public feedback is vital to our community. We are currently partnering in the Whakatane Ki Mua visioning project, and the more input we get from residents the better,” she said.

“Having lived in Ohope, I’m very familiar with the issue, and I agree it is not just about disability but is a wider community concern.”

She said the difficulty was identifying the best possible locations for crossings, as there were some genuine complications from a road engineering perspective.

“That’s not to say we can’t find a solution though, and I’ll be working with the chair of the project and services committee, councillor Andrew Iles, to get something done to advance this.”

TARGETING unsafe in-car behaviour was a checkpoint focus for Whakatane police last week.

Eastern Bay road policing manager Ray Wylie said police undertook a checkpoint at Landing Road on Friday morning, targeting in-car behaviour and distractions such as cell phone use and unrestrained occupants.

During the one-and-a-half-hour session, police issued 27 infringement notices.

“Thirteen people were unrestrained,” Mr Wylie said.

“Four drivers were caught using a cellphone while driving.”

Ten tickets were issued for other traffic offences including breaches of graduated licence conditions.

One driver was apprehended for driving while disqualified.

Police would continue to target the behaviour to ensure drivers were not distracted, but concentrated on driving.

Mr Wylie said the ongoing campaign was to reduce the number of crashes in the Eastern Bay.

“There are too many nose-to-tail crashes in the area and a lot of that comes down to a lack of reaction time and not concentrating on the road.”

BUILD: A group of people work on building different sections of the multizone glass house which will be a key feature for the Kawerau Urban Food Forest. Photo supplied

FRUIT trees are on their way to Kawerau, the first lot purchased for the Kawerau Urban Food Forest project.

Co-ordinator Hannah Edwardson said the project was shaping up nicely, despite some difficulty assembling the multizone glass house.

A group of people spent two-days assembling the glass house but when they reached half way, they realised some parts were wrong and had to be sent back for exchange.

Tomorrow, the group would take another crack at assembling the glass house, which was purchased from New Plymouth.

The glass house, trees and equipment were funded by BayTrust who gave $20,000 toward the food forest project.

Ms Edwardson said any day now, 30 fruit and nut trees would arrive for planting at the two-hectare Monika Lanham Reserve food forest.

The trees include apple, feijoa, tangelo, nashi, nectarines, plums and persimmons, citrus fruits and a nut variety including almond and hazelnut. They are part of the canopy layer, one of seven layers of the food forest required for a permaculture system.

Four workshops were held to decide which trees to plant and where.

Senior students from Kawerau South and Kawerau Putauaki schools took part in a planning session to learn about the food forest and help choose the trees.

Their ideas were taken to a community workshop when fruit, nut, native and nitrogen fixing trees were confirmed for the project.

Before planting takes place in July, Ms Edwardson needs to map out where the trees will be planted but instead of marking an enlarged map, she plans to go on site with equipment to physically see what will go where.

The exercise is planned for July 6 and will involve 40 people.

haylee.king@whakatanebeacon.co.nz