The Government is investing $36.8 million into waterfront and visitor projects that will help transform Whakatane and the wider eastern Bay of Plenty region, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today.

The investment in three projects, through the Provincial Growth Fund and the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, will help build the local economy, create hundreds of jobs, attract future investment and unlock tourism and cultural and commercial opportunities across the district.

The investment will support the development of a new commercial boat harbour, revitalisation of the riverfront and town centre, and the development of a new visitor hub and cultural centre.

“These projects are part of the Whakatāne Regeneration Programme jointly developed by Whakatāne District Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa to boost their marine and tourism sectors,” Mr Jones said.

I’m particularly pleased to make this announcement of Government support for this town and region following the recent Whaakari/White Island tragedy. We back our regions in times of need.”

The Boat Harbour Development project will receive a $19.6m PGF investment made up of an equity stake loan and grant. The Whakatane Riverfront Revitalisation project will receive a $9.6m loan and the Ngāti Awa Kainga project will receive a $7.6m investment via a Crown equity stake in the development.

“The harbour development will give commercial users in Whakatane better facilities that will increase the economic returns of the wharf as a critical asset for the local community.

“To be situated on a 10.9ha block of Maori freehold land, it will address the need for more berths and offer better protection from the dynamic river environment,” Mr Jones said.

“The Riverfront Revitalisation Programme is a vital part of the overall regeneration programme that seeks to establish a world-class, small town destination.

“It includes a significant upgrade to the riverfront promenade and the remediation and improved accessibility of the existing town wharf.

“The Kainga project will see the Whakatane Army Hall transformed into a visitor hub that will be the focal point for cultural and historical storytelling, retail, and a space for training, meetings and civic events.

“I’m confident these developments will create a sense of vibrancy and optimism in the community, create 453 new direct and indirect jobs by 2030 and provide permanent benefits for the town and the region,” Mr Jones said.

Te Rahui Lands Trust, Ngati Awa Group Holdings Limited, Te Runanga o Ngati Awa and the council are excited for the future ahead.

Ngati Awa Group Holdings Limited (NAGHL) chairman Paul Quinn said the community was still recovering from the impact of the Whakaari tragedy so this announcement was gratefully welcomed.

“This is an important opportunity for NAGHL to work with the trust and the council as we find ways to contribute, lift productivity and participate in the regional economy together,” he says.

Whakatane Mayor Judy Turner said the collaboration represented a defining moment for the region and signalled an incredible opportunity for economic development and  transformational uplift across the whole district.

“The benefits of both projects to local business and the community are huge. This is about working in partnership and identifying ways we can realise our long-term aspirations for our people,” she said.

“Whakatane is home to two of the three largest aluminium boat builders in the country. The investment in a new boat harbour will allow us to deliver the fit-for-purpose infrastructure to drive more growth and employment in the marine and tourism sectors.”

“Transforming the town and riverfront areas will increase private sector investment and create a vibrant town centre for our community to enjoy, as well as supporting Whakatane on the journey to become a world-class small-town destination for tourists,” she said.

It is estimated that through these two projects a total of 930 jobs could be created by 2050 with at least 450 of those roles operational in the next decade.

Te Runanga o Ngati Awa chairman Joe Harawira said the Kainga project would provide a physical ‘heart’ to the Whakatane town centre and complement the riverside regeneration aspirations.

“Kainga will promote and celebrate our unique heritage, culture and stories. This new destination will support iwi, wider community, recreational and commercial activities and create a gathering place for manuhiri (visitors) and locals.”

Te Rahui Lands Trust chairman Brian Simpson said the trust would play a lead role in the boat harbour development.

“This is a historical moment for us as we undertake this work in partnership to realise our collective goals,” he said.

“For us, it’s about taking a balanced approach. As kaitiaki we will ensure that the mauri of our whenua and the river will be enhanced by the project while also creating a development that will provide a sustainable solution for the marine sector.  The project will deliver intergenerational outcomes for our owners, hapu and the wider Whakatane community.”

This announcement secures funding to key catalytic infrastructure projects that are seen as essential to unlocking the Eastern Bay of Plenty’s economic future, said Mrs Turner.

“It’s an exciting time for the whole Eastern Bay. We are delighted at the opportunity to co-invest with central government to accelerate these investment opportunities and the benefits they will bring to our region,” she says.

KEYS will be turning in a brand-new suburb in Kawerau in the coming months as the council’s lifestyle village quickly progresses.

Work has started on the first six homes in the Kawerau District Council’s Porritt Glade lifestyle village and the council has been officially registered as a retirement village operator.

Mayor Malcolm Campbell said 54 people had already expressed interest in the proposed 29 units and he expected there would be “quite a rush” when they come on the market.

“At this point in time it’s one of the biggest developments we’ve started in the town for over 30 years, so I think that’s pretty positive stuff,” said Mr Campbell.

“There’s been a lot of interest, the Mountain View Rest Home next door has a huge waiting list. We’ve had inquiries from Gisborne and once this gains traction, we may need to start looking for more sites.”

Registering as a retirement village operator is a legal requirement for the council to run a retirement village and provides security to potential buyers.

The council will be appointing Covenant Trustee Services as the village’s statutory manager.

This is the same trust that is the statutory manager for Mountain View Rest Home next door to the council’s lifestyle village.

The council is now putting together a marketing package for potential buyers, which will include how to secure one of the first six units with a 10 percent deposit. The package will be available by the end of March.

The cost to purchase an Occupation Right Agreement has been set at $310,000 and purchasers will also be required to pay an annual fee of $6,400 to cover rates, insurance, gardening and mowing, exterior maintenance and the fee for statutory management.

The council hopes the lifestyle village may ease some of the pressure on the town’s housing by moving older residents out of homes and into the village, therefore freeing up homes for rent or sale.

“We’re still in catch up mode when it comes to the affordability issue for housing,” said Mr Campbell.

“The average house price in Kawerau, it’s still way below anywhere else in New Zealand.

We’ve been catching up, 112 percent in a decade, it should probably be 212 percent.

“We need to get more rentals here, that’s the biggie for people.”

Mr Campbell said it had been a slightly frustrating experience dealing with the bureaucracy of building on a previous reserve and registering the council as a lifestyle village operator.

“If we had known all of the pitfalls for a local authority to take on an initiative like this — we were one of the first in the country to do so — we probably would have run for the hills,” he said.

“There has been a lot of frustration and I know some managers have been pulling their hair out. But I am proud of the council and good on them, they have done a good job.”

The first six units are expected to be completed in early June this year; the marketing information will soon be available at the council offices at Ranfurly Court.

WHAT first appeared to be an “impossible dream” has now been realised as construction of the Whakatohea Mussel Opotiki processing plant began yesterday.

Whakatohea Maori Trust Board chairman Robert Edwards said it had been a long, long journey to get to this point and the mussel farm and processing plant had once seemed like an “impossible dream”.

“We have been rowing this boat through high weather, low weather and in sunshine,” he said.

“This is just another step in our journey.”

The mussel processing plant was made possible with a $19 million investment from the Provincial Growth Fund in late 2018.

Mr Edwards said the plant would be one of a kind and would enable the company to create four kinds of mussel products including oil and powder.

He said it was hard work to get to this point in the project, as some people with less of an appetite for risk were against the proposal but he thanked regional economic development minister Shane Jones for “persevering with this ground-breaking kaupapa”.

“This was just a dream when we arrived,” Mr Edwards said.

“Today it is no longer a dream, it is a reality.”

Mr Jones was present at the blessing of the plant site on the corner of Otara and Waioeka roads on Friday, along with representatives from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Opotiki, Whakatane and Kawerau district councils.

There had been some ill-feeling towards Mr Jones prior to the blessing being held from some members of the Ngati Ira pakeke due to his previous comments labelling their people “hillbillies” and “hapu hoodlums”.

However, at a powhiri held at Opeke Marae prior to the blessing, Mr Jones apologised for his comments and this seemed to be accepted by those present.

Mr Jones said the people of Whakatohea were to be commended for following through with the kaupapa despite roadblocks, frustrations, rejections and irritability.

“You were tenacious and never gave up,” he said.

“This kaupapa has the blessing of all politicians of any merit in parliament. As a Government we are standing behind this factory. This will set Opotiki apart. Who knows what could happen once the harbour is in existence?”

Whakatohea Mussels director Ian Craig said the blessing was the “culmination of 20 years of hard work”.

He said he had been living in the area for 43 years and when he first arrived Opotiki was “pumping”.

It then lost its bacon, dairy and clothing factories before “every other Government department” also left the town.

“This is our chance to make Opotiki great again,” he said.

Whakatohea Mussels chief executive Peter Vitasovich said what would be processed on site would be exported to the world and the business would bring hope to future generations of Opotiki.

Following the speeches, Mr Jones, Whakatohea Mussel representatives, Opotiki District Council representatives and others present participated in a light-hearted turning of the earth ceremony.

When completed, the mussel plant is expected to create 200-full time jobs in the region.

WHAKATANE has become the latest district in the Eastern Bay to benefit from the Provincial Growth Fund following major announcements in both Kawerau and Opotiki.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones was in Whakatane on Friday to announce the Government is investing $36.8 million in three waterfront and visitor projects that will help transform the town and the wider Eastern Bay region.

Whakatane Mayor Judy Tuner said it was the biggest thing to happen in the town for over 40 years.

The investment will support the development of a new commercial boat harbour, revitalisation of the river front and town centre and the development of a new visitor hub and cultural centre.

Mrs Turner said the funding represented a huge opportunity for economic development in the district by creating a “fit for purpose” marine and tourism industry.

“This will completely transform our town,” she said.

“This will lead to jobs and prosperity for our district. It is the boost that will take Whakatane on a journey to become a world-class small-town destination for tourists.”

Mrs Turner said the three projects would create more than 450 jobs by 2030 and more than 900 by 2050. She expected the projects to bring $80 million in local GDP growth per annum.

“The benefits of both projects to local business and the community are huge. This is about working in partnership and identifying ways we can realise our long-term aspirations for our people.”

The three projects were made possible with collaboration from Te Rahui Lands Trust, Ngati Awa Group Holdings, Te Runanga o Ngati Awa and the Whakatane District Council.

Mrs Turner said she was committed to the partnership between all entities going forward and that they would need each other for the “incredibly exciting” work yet to come.

This includes working with local education providers to create a marine school offering classes such as marine welding.

The Boat Harbour Development project is receiving a PGF investment of $19.6m made up of an equity stake loan and a grant. The Whakatane Riverfront Revitalisation project will receive a $9.6m loan and the Ngati Awa Kainga Project will receive a $7.6m investment via a Crown equity stake in the development.

Mr Jones said the harbour development would give commercial users in Whakatane better facilities that would increase the economic returns of the wharf as a critical asset for the local community.

It will be built at Keepa Road directly to the left of the Whakatane Bridge on land that belongs to local iwi, the Department of Conservation and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The Riverfront Revitalisation Programme will be a significant upgrade to the riverfront promenade and will upgrade the existing aged wharf.

As part of this, the large carpark behind The Strand on Kakahoroa Drive will be transformed into a riverfront park with a plaza space, there will be a new riverfront promenade with a shared path and the existing jetty will be removed to return the river’s edge to its natural space.

The wharf will be enhanced but will instead act as a drop-off point for boat passengers with docking provided by the new boat harbour development.

The Kainga project will see the Whakatane Army Hall transformed into a visitor hub that will be the focal point for cultural and historical storytelling, retail, a space for training, meetings and civic events.

Mr Jones said he would like to congratulate the key partners in the project for working together and making it a reality.

The investment represented what the PGF was all about – rededicating money created in the regions back to the regions.

“I would like to congratulate you all on your leadership and tenacity,” he said.

“I’m particularly pleased to make this announcement of Government support for this town and region following the recent tragedy at Whakaari. We back our regions in times of need.”

Mr Jones said although the eruption dealt a “mighty blow” he was impressed at how the community rallied together following the tragedy.

Ngati Awa Group Holdings chairman Paul Quinn said the investment would provide a launch pad and bring new enthusiasm going forward from the tragedy.

He said when they first bought White Island Tours two years ago it employed “half a dozen” people of Maori descent but within a year had lifted that number to 25. He said the company was keen to continue in this direction.

“We see these projects as vital going forward.”

Te Rahui Lands Trust chairman Brian Simpson said it was a momentous achievement and a day of celebration for all involved.

WITH hand sanitiser selling out of stores and re-selling online for massive mark-ups,

Whakatane’s Bonbon Factory has developed a product that has them busier than at Christmas.

Co-founders Josh Edlin and Stephanie Peacock said as Covid-19 continued to put pressure on sanitiser demands internationally, inquiries from customers sparked the idea of developing their own.

“Basically, it was through necessity. A lot of our customers were asking online if we made a hand sanitiser because we make soaps.

“The surface spray is one we have developed here because when you’re going to the supermarket and you’re touching trolleys and door handles, there was no real way to combat what was on there and so we decided to come up with the spray,” Mr Edlin said.

The surface spray contains 70 percent alcohol and was available in lemon cheesecake and buttery vanilla scents. Mr Edlin said the company was selling more than 1000 units a day.

“We put this up thinking it was a nice thing to do and we wanted to see how it would go online and for our retailers, but as it’s turned out we’ve struggled to keep up with demand.

“We only put it up on Friday and now we’re selling over 1000 units a day.

“Even here at our little shop there were people waiting outside before we even got there to open the door, just for their hand sanitiser,” Mr Edlin said.

Employees for the small cosmetics company travelled to Auckland on Tuesday to source raw materials needed in order to keep up with demand because couriers couldn’t supply them in time.

“We’re all very busy trying to manufacture and distribute as much of this as we can, we’re all over the country and Australia trying to procure the raw ingredients so we can keep making it and getting it out to our retail stores.

“We’re getting calls every day from our pharmacies and stores asking, ‘when can we have it on our shelves’, the demand is huge.”

Mr Edlin said it was just two weeks ago that they were speaking to staff about the impending economic effects of Covid-19 as sales were down and cutbacks were a reality for the company.

“As this thing develops there’s more and more retail spenders falling very sharply and people are only buying essentials, they’re not buying what you could call luxury items, and they’re really rationing down.

“We noticed a big downturn over the past month for our retail sales which is really scary to the point of potentially having to make staff cutbacks,” Mr Edlin said.

“Now this has come on and we’re actually busier than we are at our peak season around Christmas time, so we’ve gone from a point of potentially having to lay off staff to actually taking more on.”

Online store customers from all over the globe have attempted to buy the product, however, Mr Edlin and Ms Peacock are focusing on meeting local supply demands first

“We want to provide our people with it and there is demand from Australia to stock it in their stores as well but we’re just going to supply our New Zealand market and help out where we can.”

Mr Edlin said it was a priority to keep the product accessible in terms of pricing.

hazel.osborne@thebeacon.co.nz

THE massive Hui Ahurei a Tuhoe 2020 – which draws 15,000 people from across New Zealand and Australia – has been postponed.

Participants were expected to arrive in Waimana and Whakatane before Easter for the kapa haka and sports event, however, festival organisers said they had postponed the event after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Sunday that people coming from overseas would have to self-isolate for a period of 14 days.

The travel restrictions will be reviewed in 16 days; however, chairman Matt Te Pou said the priority was for the health and safety of people.

“It’s very clear that the virus came from outside New Zealand. Our kaumatua, kuia and young tamariki (children) are more susceptible to contracting the virus, and we as an iwi have a responsibility to look after them,” he said.

Mr Te Pou said it had been made very clear by the Government and ministry of health the steps that needed to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease and they were taking the situation very seriously.

The practices of hongi, Hariru (exchanging of breath), greeting each other with a kihi (kiss), whanaungatanga (sharing together) and manaakitanga (hospitality) has temporarily come to a halt, however, Mr Te Pou said these measures would keep everyone safe.

“We assessed the public health risk to our people and made this decision to address their safety and contain Covid-19.

“Our decision is a critical step in Aotearoa-New Zealand’s response to keep transmission rates low.

Forty-eight kapa haka teams will meet to discuss holding the event at a different time, Mr Te Pou said. “It might be later this or it might be next year, we really don’t know at this point.

“It’s a great disappointment as many people had been working tirelessly and voluntarily to prepare for the festival.

“We want to thank them for their commitment which has always been inspiring,” Mr Te Pou said.

Corona cancels out youth summit

EVENT managers and cultural advisers have cancelled He Rangatahi, He Anamata (Our Youth, Our Future summit) due to be held in Taneatua today.

Toi Kai Rawa Trust chairman Tamarapa Lloyd said the trust members and committee apologised for any inconvenience it might cause but said in light of the Covid-19 outbreak wanted to take a precautionary approach.

“While we accept that some may view a possible cancellation as an overreaction we are in unprecedented territory and as health and safety is our ultimate priority, a cautious approach is the safest course of action at present,” Mr Lloyd said.

“The event will take place later this year,” Mr Lloyd said, “but we can’t say just yet until we have all the information in.

“We will let everyone know when we can,” he said.

delilah.whaitiri@thebeacon.co.nz

KAWEAU has celebrated its Maori history when naming its two new subdivisions at Porritt Glade and Central Cove.

Kawerau District Council enlisted the help of its kaumatua Te Haukakawa (Boycie) Te Rire when naming the two new roads and he suggested names which reflect the rich history of the area.

The new road through the lifestyle village at Porritt Glade will be called Piripiri Crescent, while the new road at the Central Cove subdivision off Bowen Street will be called Tiwhatiwha Crescent.

Mr Te Rire told elected members that local tangata whenua knew the Tarawera River as Te Wai o Maruka. The course of the river changed following the Tarawera eruption so that it now flows further away from Putauaki maunga than it once did.

He said historically the Kawerau area experienced a debris flow that deposited a lot of rocks and boulders from Putauaki on to the site of the lifestyle village development, some of which have now been uncovered by contractors.

Mr Te Rire said the local people named the area Piripiri, the place where the boulders come together.

He then told elected members the Central Cove subdivision was historically part of a route used by Maori to get across the river.

He said glow worms on the rocks at the edge of the river would create a glow like paua shell which would then guide the way for travellers in the dark.

The people therefore considered the rocks as guardians who made it safe for them to get to their destination. They named the place Tiwhatiwha after the guiding light given off the rocks.

Mayor Malcolm Campbell said it was important to know the history of places and that everyone should know what happened in the past.

While the road names were easy for elected members to agree to, the road type of Tiwhatiwha Crescent wasn’t due to limitations on road type names.

Councillors had originally wanted to name it Tiwhatiwha Central so it would also reflect the fact that the subdivision is on the site of the former Central School, however, Land Information New Zealand advised this wasn’t an option.

Councillors could then choose between Ara or Te Ara Tiwhatiwha or Tiwhatiwha Crescent or Loop.

“It is perplexing that central is not acceptable,” said councillor David Sparks.

“It’s stupid bureaucracy, who decides these things?”

Deputy mayor Faylene Tunui said the emphasis should be on the road name not the road type and it was more important that Tiwhatiwha be included.

As the chosen road type wasn’t allowed. The council is considering erecting a plaque in the subdivision to remember its history. The korero with Mr Te Rire also raised some anomalies with other road names in the town.

Te Ariki Place was named after Tuwharetoa’s grandmother, Hine Te Ariki. Mr Te Rire said

“Hine” should be part of the road name to make this clear. Similarly, Mawake Road was named after Tuwharetoa’s father and the full road name should be Mawake Taupo.

Councillors were all in agreement the road names should be changed but felt it would be better to simply change the road sign rather than the name as “how it was written on the sign was the most important”.

They were also concerned that people who had been living on the roads for years may not like the names being changed.

However, chief executive Russell George advised that the council may not legally be able to do this and may have to formally change the names as well as replacing the signs.

A report will be prepared for councillors on the legal implications of changing the road names before a decision is made.

WHAKATANE residents can be assured their council is doing all it can to ensure services continue should the threat from Covid-19 become a reality.

Whakatane Mayor Judy Turner said the Whakatane District Council was preparing for the potential impacts of Covid-19 and was taking advice from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health, which is the lead agency for the response.

As part of its response, the council is encouraging residents to become familiar with, and start using its online services where possible.

Residents can find all the services they can access online on a specially created webpage, Whakatane.govt.nz/services/do-it-online.

Payments for rates, parking tickets, dog registrations and sundry invoices can be made here, reducing the need for the public to interact with council staff.

Residents can also lodge applications for building and resource consents, register their dogs, check job vacancies and join the library, which offers rentals of ebooks.

It is also possible to submit various requests, book a facility, make a complaint and get updates and news.

The council suggested members of the public should check this page first to see if their needs could be met online before going into council offices. The council’s website will be updated regularly as more information comes to hand.

Already the council has some staff in precautionary self-isolation after returning from overseas and is carrying out trials and testing systems for staff working remotely as part of its business continuity planning.

The council is also evaluating how to provide other services in a rapidly evolving situation as well as installing signage in all public facilities including public toilets, community halls, swimming pools, museums, libraries and customer service centres.

Council communications and engagement manager Alex Pickles said as things were evolving rapidly, the council was focusing a lot of energy into preparing and both supporting and keeping abreast of Government-led initiatives and developments.

The Government has also developed a new website, which is now the main information source for the nationwide response.

This can be found at www.covid-19.govt.nz

WHITEBAIT may soon be getting some respite with the creation of a haven on the Whakatane riverbank.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council contractors are working to create the whitebait, native fish and wading bird habitat upstream of the Whakatane River directly across from the Whakatane Mill.

The habitat is one part of a wider project, which will see stock removed from the riverbank, improvements to the habitat of native species and improvement of public access for recreation.

Regional council rivers and drainage operations manager Bruce Crabbe said the first stage of the project would be the excavation of a series of small interconnected ponds close to the river edge to provide whitebait and native fish habitat.

“The ponds will be connected by small channels to the river where tidal fluctuations will regularly refresh the ponds system,” he said.

“The ponds are located alongside a low-lying wet area that already has good wading bird habitat.

“The aim of the ponds is to provide safe, off-stream habitat for adult whitebait so there is a good population of adults for spawning.

“We expect this improved habitat will support an increase in the population of whitebait and eels.”

The regional council had previously leased out the river edge land to allow grazing to manage the berm area between the flood protection stopbanks and the river.

Mr Crabbe said while this process had worked reasonably well, the regional council was looking to trial a different approach with aims to increase the environmental and amenity values of the area.

“For the area downstream of the Awatapu Lagoon outlet, we will be progressively retiring the area from stock grazing and we’ll mow or cut and bale hay occasionally in the area to keep pasture under control,” he said.

“Revenue earned from the hay operation will offset costs of habitat improvements and periodic mowing of the stopbank.”

The regional council is also working with the Whakatane District Council to improve public access and amenity value in the area and the excess soil produced from the ponds excavation will be used to improve the walkway/cycleway between Ferry Road and the Whakatane Rowing Club.

The ponds excavation and track building will continue over the coming weeks and native plant species will be planted over winter.

The pond works are expected to cost about $20,000 and Mr Crabbe said this was well within existing flood protection budgets.

KAWERAU Mayor Malcolm Campbell has expressed concern the nearly $20 million promised to Kawerau through the Provincial Growth Fund might be cancelled through a change of Government.

Mr Campbell urged staff to “get cracking” on the projects before the general elections in September.

“If the projects aren’t up and going before the potential change of government, what then?” he said.

“Mark my words, that money will go. We’ve had a politician promise it to us, but he might not be here by the end of the year and that promise will mean nothing after the elections.”

Mr Campbell told staff and Kawerau District councillors at Tuesday’s regulatory and services committee meeting that he had spoken to National opposition leader Simon Bridges about ensuring the promise would stand following the elections.

Last month, regional economic development minister Shane Jones gave Kawerau a $19.9 million cash injection from the PGF into three key projects, including a long-awaited container terminal, an industrial roading extension and a 1.6 kilometre off-highway road to connect industrial land with the container terminal.

“Congratulations to all involved who secured that $20 million for us, but we need to keep our foot on the accelerator now, we can’t go to sleep,” Mr Campbell said.

“I would like to hear weekly updates on how those projects are progressing; it’s so important and I want to see action.

“I don’t like KiwiRail and they probably need a kick to get them going. I don’t want any more excuses or fob offs, let’s get going.”

Kawerau council economic and development manager Glenn Sutton said construction of the roading infrastructure on land owned by the Putauaki Trust had already begun.

He said the off-highway road was a “more interesting process” as there were multiple trusts involved and there had been several meetings held to come to an agreement. Some trusts were happy to sign-off on the project while others were still working through the process.

Mr Sutton said there was also a Maori Land Court process to work through with this project, but staff were already getting the necessary consents ready.

There were also safety concerns expressed by Mercury Energy and First Gas as the proposed road would run alongside their gas pipes.

“First Gas would like a certain distance between their pipes and the road,” Mr Sutton said.

Mr Sutton said there was no reason construction of the rail sliding couldn’t start and he would expect this to be completed within six months from the start of construction.

“There are already new clients keen to use the terminal, they’re ready to go as soon as it is built,” he said.

The council resolved to have weekly updates on the progress of the projects and to hold extraordinary meetings if necessary.

Eastern Bay teachers in lockdown in Peru

TWO teachers from Whakatane are stuck in a Peru hostel in full lockdown with armed guards in the street making sure people leave their accommodation only to purchase necessary supplies.

Naomi Courtney-Tennent, 30, a teacher at Awakeri School, and her fiancé, Nicolas Christie, 27, a teacher at Whakatane High School are holed up at Selina Hostel in Miraflores Peru.

“The borders are closed,” Ms Courtney-Tennent told the Beacon yesterday. “We were due to leave the day before the borders closed on Monday. We had a flight to Colombia which we hoped to use to give us more time to fly to Los Angeles and then home.

“However, when we got to the airport, they only let Colombians board that flight. We then looked at alternatives for getting home that day before the border shut at midnight. There was nothing available.”

Ms Courtney-Tennent said there were armed guards in their street.

“We are not allowed to leave our hostel bunk room except to get food or medical supplies.

There are armed army members on the streets and guards at every shop entrance.”

Peru has locked its borders to travelers both in and out. It has entered a quarantine period, restricting human rights of free movement.

She said they were trying to get information to New Zealand because there were indications Peru might let some repatriation flights go ahead.

The only advice they had received was from Travel Safe, and that was to listen to local authorities.

“We also get emails saying we need to get home while we can, despite the fact that we can’t. It sounds as though Peru Government would probably be willing to let countries come and receive their citizens, but we haven’t heard anything about plans for this from New Zealand.”

There was concern that food and medical supplies could run out.

“[Yesterday] morning we tried to go and get face masks but couldn’t at four different pharmacies. The hostel has closed the common kitchen, so the non-perishable food we stocked up on is now not able to be used (pasta and rice). They’ve also closed all common areas, so we must eat in our rooms with no plates or cutlery.

“There is now a curfew that no one is to be out between 8pm and 5am. If you are out and not going straight to the supermarket or pharmacy, you are stopped.

“The situation seems to get stricter each day. We certainly want to be home at this time.”
Latest figures from Peru reveal there are 145 cases of Covid-19.

“There is a group on Facebook of a handful of us that are stuck. We also know of a friend stuck on the Galapagos Islands. There are hundreds of Australians stuck too.”

Ms Courtney-Tennent said they both took a year of leave in February planning to travel until getting to the United Kingdom in May and then work there for the rest of the year.

“Of course, now if we can get home, we’re not sure what the rest of the year will look like. Priority one is just getting home.”

kathy.forsyth@thebeacon.co.nz

WHAKATANE District Council is asking residents to stop flushing wet wipes – including those labelled as “flushable”.

The plea comes a week after Opotiki District Council asked the same of it’s residents.

The increased use of sanitising wet wipes as people try to protect against Covid-19 has led to two costly pump blockages in Opotiki while it is only a matter of time in Whakatane.

Whakatane District Council manager three waters Tomasz Krawczyk said he understood keeping everything clean and sanitised was very important, but the increased use of wet wipes had created a major problem for the council’s sewage system.

“In order to avoid sewer blockages and overflows into our streets, gardens and waterways all wet wipes, even those labelled “flushable” should be disposed of by putting them in rubbish bins and not flushed down the toilet.”

Mr Krawczyk said so far staff had avoided blockages by being proactive, but they could already see wipes building up in pump stations and screens.

Sewage overflows are not the only risk blockages carry; they can also affect the health of staff deployed to clear them.

“Trying to manage with less staff and working in isolation, we would like to avoid blockages and spills requiring more staff to work together,” said Mr Krawczyk.

“Despite the lockdown council will provide all essential services but the community is asked to help and avoid clogging the sewage system by disposing of wipes into rubbish bins.”

Opotiki District Council said in a statement it had had two pump station blockages in just over a week due to wet wipes being flushed.

It warned that if there was a storm and the pump was blocked there could be a loss of service for some time and severe overflows.

Both councils said only the “Three P’s” should be going down the toilet – Poo, Pee and (toilet) Paper.

It is important to note that the Ministry of Health recommends, where possible, it use soap and water over wipes and sanitisers to keep your hands clean

EASTERN Bay councils pre-empted the Government’s lock-down closing their non-essential services days before it was announced.

Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki district councils have closed all their non-essential services including their civic centres, libraries, museums, i-SITES and swimming pools.

Kawerau District Council has also announced there will be no more recycling services.
Kawerau communications manager Tania Humberstone said instead all residents are asked to put all their recycling into their 240-litre green-waste bins. These will be collected as per the usual green waste collection schedule.

“These measures are to minimise the risk to our recycling staff and all those associated with the waste stream,” she said.

All other waste will continue to be collected as usual.

Whakatane’s total closure of non-essential services came the day after it said it would be limiting services.

Whakatane communications and engagement manager Alexandra Pickles said the council’s early move was about not only protecting the public but protecting the staff.

She said many council staff were in the at-risk bracket being over 65 years old or immunocompromised.

Yesterday morning, she said the council was looking at what these staff could do to continue working such as cleaning and maintaining council facilities.

However, she noted that the situation was quickly evolving.

This was evidenced that same afternoon in which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the country would be moving into threat level four.

Mrs Pickles said the council was in the midst of creating a scheme to ensure staff did not go without pay and did not have to use up their leave.

All three councils will now only be operating strictly essential services only.

This means all libraries, museums, swimming pools, recreation centres, town halls and sports grounds will be closed.

Councils are now encouraging people to get in contact with requests for service by phone or online.

Youth Voice

Shannon Hutching-Bell

Whakatane High School

COVID-19 is arguably the most prominent topic at the forefront of global media.

The virus has made headlines in almost every media article; from online posts linking it to memes of the beverage, YouTube videos of customers fighting for hygienic products ahead of possible lockdowns, to serious reports on symptoms and how to be prepared.

These actions and reactions debate how seriously people understand what Covid-19 is.
With cancellations of events already changing the scope of 2020 for many and the possible closure of schools, I began to wonder if it was an overreaction, or if it was, in fact, necessary on New Zealand’s behalf.

Questioning the reason generating such hysteria – is it overhype by the media? Constant discussion? Social media allowing us to connect to the outer world? Having no known vaccines or cures available?

After pondering such ideas to gain a grasp on why this pandemic seems more relevant than any other before, the simple answer is that there is no vaccine.

Which is true; however, it is not entirely the only reason.

An unconventional concept for the fright is that the contagiousness are not restricted to a minority and it impacts those regardless of status, wealth, accomplishments, race, gender or age – meaning that all people around the world are vulnerable to the virus.

Evidently, celebrities have caught the virus, causing mass astonishment and discussion of how it can affect anyone.

In comparison to previous pandemics and epidemics that have occurred within the last decade, Covid-19 has drawn the greatest amount of attention.

For instance, the spike in Ebola during the mid-2010s in West Africa; although it was relevant in the news, Western society largely ignored the threats of the outbreak as its spread was limited.

Similar to the Samoa’s recent measles outbreak, with the lack of reaction despite the number of deaths it caused.

Deliberating if the action being taken towards Covid-19 is in consequence of how the virus may/will affect New Zealand and the world as a whole, one wonders whether it is an act of selfishness of western society, to take measures only when it could affect oneself or one’s country rather than on a global scale.

AN interruption in internet services through large parts of Whakatane yesterday was the last thing schools needed as they finalised last-minute details for a four-week shut down.

Schools across the region were until late yesterday notifying families that they would be closed as they followed a Government directive to shut down all non-essential services.

Sports clubs were also emailing and posting notices on Facebook that they would be closed.

As of today, schools are shut for all children, except for children of parents providing essential services, to allow them to organise childcare.

However, the schools will be shut to everyone, including students of parents working in essential services, from midnight on Wednesday.

The shutdown is for four weeks for schools as well as non-essential services.

Schools have been preparing for a possible shutdown and last week practised and put into place plans for students to distance learn though Google Classroom.

However, the distance learning plan was disrupted when internet access was down in many parts of Whakatane for most of yesterday.

Whakatane Intermediate School principal Mike Webster called for understanding from families, saying “with internet access currently down in the area and the final stages of the planning occurring, the work will not be readily available until today at the earliest”.

The school was also making resources available for those without internet or device access for collection tomorrow.

“The school looked into making its devices available to those without them. Due to the pace at which the decision to close was made, we are not in a position to do this and we do apologise for that.”

Mr Webster informed families that teaching staff would provide enough learning activities for about three hours maximum of focused learning time a day.

“This is so each student can still have sufficient breaks and down time where they can do other activities. We believe that this is the best way to manage the students’ learning while we are under closure.”

Mr Webster said staff and the school’s leadership team would be available online during school opening times.

“These are very uncertain times and quite frankly are quite frightening. I urge you to follow the recommendations recently announced and keep yourselves, your friends and your whanau safe.”

The shutdown by schools comes after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday afternoon that the alert level for Covid-19 had been lifted to alert level three and would increase to level four tomorrow.

New Zealand had 102 cases of Covid-19 by yesterday afternoon including one case in Rotorua and another in Tauranga.

Ms Ardern said community transmission was a possibility in New Zealand now and “staying at home is essential”.

All non-essential businesses are also required to close from tomorrow. This includes bars, restaurants, cinemas, playgrounds, cafes, gyms, pools, museums, libraries, and any other place where the public congregate must close their face-to-face function.

Over the next 48 hours as we move to Level 4, takeaway services must move to close their operations.

Essential services will remain open, including police, hospitals, emergency services.

Supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies, service stations, access to essential banking services will all be available, however, the public has been urged not to go to the supermarket unless they have immediate needs.

Essential services will need to put in place alternative ways of working that ensure physical distancing of staff of two metres or use personal protective equipment.

All indoor and outdoor events are banned, and police will be used to enforce the bans if required.

The prime minister also announced the Government was freezing rent increases and the wage subsidy cap had been lifted to $9.1 billion.

Ms Arden said yesterday workplaces must over the next 48 hours implement alternative ways of working.

For students and families. the school term break will be brought forward, while students at home will still be continuing with lessons through Google Classroom.

The prime minister reiterated what self-isolation meant.

“You can leave your home for fresh air, a walk, exercise. To take your children outside. But remember the simple principle. It must be solitary. We are asking that you only spend time with those you are in self isolation with. And if you are outside, keep your distance from others. That means two metres at all times. This is the single most important thing we can do right now to stop further community transmission.”

Travel around New Zealand will also change.

“Over the next 48 hours, people will need to get home, be it locally or throughout the country. We have asked all air transport providers to ensure social distancing for that period. After 48 hours we will be moving to air travel only applying to the transport of people undertaking essential services and the transport of freight.

“Public transport will also begin to transition over the next 24 hours will only be available for those working in essential services, for medical reasons, and to move essential goods.”

Ms Adern said every case of Covid-19 would continue to be traced and testing would continue.

“In the short term the number of cases will likely rise because the virus is already in our community. But these new measures can slow the virus down and prevent our health system from being overwhelmed and ultimately save lives.”

kathy.forsyth@thebeacon.co.nz

TE UREWERA remains off bounds for all visitors and iwi leadership are urging people to take heed.

With the coronavirus alert level rising to four today, forcing the shutdown of all non-essential businesses, tourist attractions and schools, iwi across the region have been spurred to act.

Access to all huts, campgrounds, walks, freedom camping in Te Urewera have closed to the public and include Lake Waikaremoana and the great walk.

Te Urewera Board and Te Uru Taumatua chairman Tamati Kruger said the exclusion included all huts, back-country huts, designated paid campgrounds and freedom camping areas.

It also included the use of boat ramps, and the Department of Conservation-managed Waikaremoana Holiday Park.

“The prime minister has asked all New Zealanders to return to their homes. After that, travel within New Zealand will face significant restrictions except for workers in essential services,” he said.

Tuhoe kaimahi (helpers) will be checking tracks, huts and campsites in Te Urewera, and assisting all visitors who are currently still in the area, to get home.

“The health and safety of manuhiri (visitors) and tangata whenua (native people) is paramount to Te Urewera Board and Tuhoe. We must play our part as all New Zealanders in order to contain the spread of Covid-19,” Mr Kruger said.

“We must emphasise that Te Urewera is not suitable for self-isolation. If you do not live in Te Urewera, while the country is at level four alert, you must not be in Te Urewera. The prime minister has urged, and we emphasise, that people must stay at home and self-isolate locally.

“This is a national civil defence emergency and a health and safety threat affecting the entire community of Te Urewera and the country. We see Te Urewera as a single living system, and tangata whenua and manuhiri have a special place in it. Our role as kaitiaki (guardians) of Te Urewera, in this case, means keeping people safe and ensuring this closure is respected.” he said.

delilah.whaitiri@thebeacon.co.nz

THE Bay of Plenty Regional Council has suspended public consultation for its annual plan in light of the current Covid-19 precautions.

It has also suspended public consultation on its proposed Resource Management Act changes but will continue with public consultation on its Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws.

Regional council chief executive Fiona McTavish told councillors at yesterday’s meeting that they were currently living in “extraordinary times” and public consultation on these would not be appropriate.

She said the changes to the Resource Management Act were minor and there would simply now be no change.

She told councillors that instead of consulting on the regional council’s annual plan the public would be provided with an information document of all the proposed changes.

Recommendations would then be brought back to the council for consideration in June.
Deputy chairwoman and Western Bay of Plenty councillor Jane Nees asked what would happen with consultation on key matters such as public transport.

Ms McTavish said the council would begin consultation as soon as it could.

“It depends how fast we come back from Covid-19,” she said.

Tauranga councillor Stuart Crosby asked if the council could stop public consultation under the requirements set by the Government.

Ms McTavish said the council was not required to consult on its annual plan, only its long-term plan.

She said public consultation would be continuing on the Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws as they were an essential public service.

Under the proposed 2020 bylaws, landowners will need to apply for prior written authority to undertake activities that may have a detrimental effect on the regional council’s assets.

There are also proposed rules specifically for ploughing and fencing activities.

When these activities are carried out in close proximity to the stopbanks, particularly those in the lower reaches of the Kaituna, Rangitaiki and Tarawera Rivers, they could have a detrimental impact on the integrity of those stopbanks.

There are also four new proposed floodways in addition to the Rangitaiki in the Eastern Bay. These are Waioeka, Mangorewa, Waingaehe and Ngongataha.

Regional council chairman and Eastern Bay councillor Doug Leeder said in a statement that these bylaws were a core function and would continue to be a focus for the council even when the country headed into a level four Covid-19 alert.

“In parts of our region, the bylaws are key to ensuring the safety of our communities,” he said.

“People will continue to be consulted to ensure these bylaws can be approved later this year.

“However, we are acutely aware that our communities will have different matters on their minds over the coming weeks and months, so we have made the decision not to consult on our annual plan, but to ramp up our consultation later in the year on our long-term plan.”

A WHAKATANE student on a scholarship to a United States university is adapting to self-isolation and distance learning after a whirlwind week in which she had to leave the country when her college shut down.

Anais Magner, who is doing a degree at Mount Holyoke College, arrived in Whakatane last Wednesday and went into self-isolation at her Ohakana home.

“The past week and a half has felt like a month,” she said. “It was crazy.’

Her college, she said, was part of a consortium of five colleges and students could take classes across the different institutions.

She said two of the colleges announced the previous Monday they were closing and lessons would be done online.

“On the Tuesday everyone was talking about it, saying ‘oh my god, what is going to happen’, and then Tuesday night our campus announced it was going to close,” Ms Magner said.

“It was crazy, I was working in the dining hall and everyone was freaking out, there were people sobbing their eyes out.”

She said students were devastated because they would miss graduation as universities in America finished their year in May and shut for the spring break before re-opening in September. Some exams also had to be cancelled.

Ms Magner said she spent days sorting out her life and arranging storage for her belongings.

“And then I also had to figure out flights at the last minute.

“I had flights booked in May and I was trying to move them forward, but I couldn’t get through to the call centre. It was so overwhelming, both mum and I spent like maybe a total of 10 hours on hold.’

Ms Magner said she ended up booking another flight on Qatar Airways and stopping over in Doha.

“The entire week was a whirlwind; all my professors were like ‘we have never had to do this before, we have no idea what is going to happen’.”

She said one of her professors was very understanding and said students could compete three assessments before May, but he wouldn’t make them take part in lectures online.

“That was such a relief.

“With that same class I was supposed to sit a mid-term and he was ‘mid-term is cancelled’.”

Ms Magner said she was also studying Chinese, which was a very speech-intensive class.

“They have set up lectures and slide shows we have to go through, and responsive things where I read out a dialogue and they give us feedback on it. They have also set up Q&A hours that span all of our time zones.”

Ms Magner said she had friends from all over the world, including Morocco, Nepal and Ghana, and from around the States, who were in a similar situation to her.

About 27 percent of the students at the 4000-student college were internationals.

Ms Magner said initially students thought they had a bit longer to leave, but the situation was changing rapidly, and the college was advising that the faster they got out the better.

“And then the Saturday just before I went, they said, ‘if you leave a 10-mile radius from campus you are not allowed back on campus’.”

Ms Magner said she was lucky to get a shuttle to the airport as everything was shutting down.

Her flight was unusually empty as people reduced air travel. “Those flights are normally jampacked.”

Ms Magner said she was in self-isolation in the guest suite of their island home.

“It was hard because first thing I wanted to do when I saw my parents and brother was give them a hug, but I couldn’t, and I know they really wanted to – it took a lot for all of us to take a step back.”

kathy.forsyth@thebeacon.co.nz

POLICE were called to the Whakatane Holiday Park yesterday as some visitors objected to leaving.

Camping grounds are being shut around the country following a directive from the Government that only essential services can continue operating during a shutdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Quentin Cole said he and his partner had been instructed to leave the Whakatane District Council-run campground by 5pm last night.

“With my situation, and probably for about six other people here, we actually have got nowhere to go,” he said.

He said he and his partner were planning to pack kiwifruit.

“However, there are people who are allowed to stay here if they have been here for 50 days or more, and they are going to keep the toilets open for them, even if they are self-contained.”

Mr Cole said he had spoken to someone at the council on Monday and they had assured him they would not just get kicked out.

“How do we keep ourselves hygienically safe when we don’t have access to fresh water and facilities.

“Surely the council should just lock the campground down and not allow in any further people.”

Whakatane District Council spokeswoman Alexandra Pickles said the council had been forced to ask campers in camping grounds, as well as freedom campers, to leave.

“We have had a directive from central Government that all campgrounds have to close to the public,” she said.

“We do have some semi-permanent people who would otherwise be homeless, so they have been allowed to stay, but there are some who have been asked to move on.

“Most people have agreed to do that as per the instructions. However, a few people have put up a bit of a protest.

“It is a challenging time for everyone and we just ask everyone to be kind, to be co-operative and considerate.’

Meanwhile Ohope residents and freedom campers Sue and Adrian Wright were back home with their motorhome yesterday after having to cut their trip short.

“We had to cut it short because of the lockdown. We weren’t in a hurry to come home, we were going to stay down in Wellington for a week,” Mr Wright said.

The couple said they came across scores of travellers on their four-day trip and travellers were very nervous.

“Aged people are very nervous,” Mrs Wright said. “Anyone aged around 70 in a motorhome said they just wanted to get home.”

The couple said they stayed in a campground in Taupo that was packed.

“It was mainly New Zealanders trying to get back to where they are from. A lot were elderly, 70-plus, and they were really nervous,” Mr Wright said.

“It shows you the panic mode, people are really on edge.”

He said they came across many international visitors in the lakes district around Rotorua.

They were all in motorhomes and they were wondering where they would go.

However, Ohope Top 10 Holiday Park and Surf and Sand manager Mark Inman said some parks were still open to self-contained motorhomes.

He said they were classified an essential service and were open for business with precautionary measures.

“The only way you can stay in the park is if you are self-contained. All our blocks are closed.

“They have got holiday parks that will take them as long as they are self-contained, and the majority of those campers should be self-contained.

“Cambridge Top 10 is another one that is open because they are close to the airport.

Mr Inman said the park had a management plan in place to mitigate any risk of further spread of the virus, including international visitors remaining self-isolated for two weeks, their motorhomes being self-contained and ensuring two metre distances were kept between people.

“As a community we have got to look at how we come together and support those in need as well, rather than just shut your doors.

“Can you imagine if you are in a country and everything is being shut down around you and you have got nowhere to go.”

Mr Inman said the campground had taken a massive hit with 699 bookings for the Easter weekend having to be cancelled because of the shutdown.

kathy.forsyth@thebeacon.co.nz

A Whakatane flower shop owner has thousands of dollars of fresh flowers and plants all selling at hugely discounted prices this morning in a bid to clear the stock that won’t survive the shutdown.

Tracy Dixon, of Savvie Florist on The Strand, has a huge range of plants for sale on the pavement now.

She said she had recently had deliveries of fresh flowers for weddings.

“I had three weddings booked, one went ahead but three were cancelled,” she said.

“There are fresh flowers that have been made into bouquets and they are half price for only $30.”

“There are on-trend plants, such as stringer pearls, and flowering plants.”

Ms Dixon said she would be open until about lunch but was unsure about the afternoon.

She said she had an eftpos machine and cash for sales out on the pavement.

Apart from pharmacies, the florist appeared to be the only store still open this morning on The Strand.