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New Zealand Food Safety advises consumers to cook mussels through

New Zealand Food Safety is reminding consumers to thoroughly cook mussels following an increase in cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus around the country this summer.Deputy Director-General New Zealand Food Safety Vince Arbuckle said, “Since mid-November 2021, there have been 31 confirmed cases with 10 people hospitalised with the illness from around the country, and evidence suggests a change in water temperature and conditions may make live mussels more susceptible to the bacteria.“As mussel ...

COVID-19 immunisation starts for 5 to 11-year-old tāmariki

More than 120,000 doses of the child (pediatric) Pfizer vaccine have been delivered to over 500 vaccination sites around New Zealand as health providers prepare to start immunising 5 to 11-year-olds tamariki from today, 17 January. The COVID-19 vaccine used for tamariki has a lower dose and smaller volume than the adult vaccine and is administered using a smaller needle. To be fully immunised against COVID-19 a child needs to get two doses of the vaccine, usually given at least 8 weeks apart. T...

Local News

Two cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Hastings. The first case was announced by the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board on Saturday night, with a household contact of that case returning a positive result on Sunday. The DHB said the first case was being investigated for links to previously reported cases. -------------------- Central Hawke’s Bay last week achieved the milestone of 90% of the population being double-vaxxed against COVID-19. Hawke’s Bay DHB spokesperson Chris McKenna sai...

Fitzsimon Faultless in Dannevirke World Cup

Tegan Fitzsimon is the rider all the POLi Payments FEI World Cup competitors are chasing, after posting her third win from four qualifiers in the penultimate round of the New Zealand league. Today’s victory, at the Metalform Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping Show in Dannevirke, sees her head to the series later this month in a commanding position on the leaderboard.Eleven lined up today to be challenged by both course designer Roger Laplanche and very gusty wind conditions. Just f...

Local News

A Dannevirke service station has been listed as a Location of Interest following a positive case of COVID-19. The Ministry of Health website, updated at 5pm yesterday, listed Caltex Westlow as a Location of Interest on Thursday the 23rd of December between 12.24pm and 1.45pm. Anyone who was at the location between those times are asked to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after being exposed. If symptoms develop, advice is to get a test and stay at home until a negative result is re...

Local News

Central Hawke’s Bay Police are currently investigating a recent burglary at Total Gardening in Waipukurau. Sergeant Neil Baker said Police believe that sometime between Monday 27th and the early hours of Wednesday 29th of December, offenders have gained entry to the Coughlan Road yard and removed several items. He said the offenders would have required a vehicle to be close by. Two terracotta stands - approximately 70cm in height - along with a herb planter were taken, together with a selectio...

Local News

Police have thanked St John Ambulance volunteers and members of the public, along with the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter, for their assistance following two incidents at Porangahau on Tuesday. In the first incident, emergency services were called to an accident involving a motorbike. Senior Constable John Singer said the incident happened shortly before midday when a motorcyclist, who was travelling in a group of three, lost control on a corner on Porangahau Road, near Cooks Tooth Road. He ...

Local News

A 23-year old man was to appear in the Hastings District Court yesterday following a domestic incident in Central Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday night. Sergeant Neil Baker said Police were called to a Nancy Street, Takapau address where it was reported that a knife had been presented.  He said as a result, a 23 year old male was arrested on a number of serious violence and threat charges. The man was held in custody, and Mr Baker said bail would be opposed by Police. He said no serious injurie...

Local News

A pedestrian suffered moderate injuries after being hit by a car on Coughlan Road in Waipukurau yesterday. Emergency services were called to the incident around 4pm. A Police spokesperson said the driver of the car may have suffered a medical event prior to the crash and was transported to hospital. ------------------ Middleton Road was closed following a large grass fire yesterday. Helicopters were brought in to assist local brigades fight the fire. The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council sa...

Local News

The regions health officials are asking locals to Choose Well for health care over the Christmas and New Year period, and to be COVID responsible as more people travel around the country. Hawke’s Bay District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Dr Rachel Eyre said with more visitors in the region it was important people were familiar with the COVID-19 Protection Framework. She said there are three key things to remember at every colour setting of the Framework - Mask, Scan, and Vaccine...

Local News

Two people were seriously injured and another moderately following a crash at Te Hauke yesterday. Emergency services were alerted to the accident just after 2.30pm on State Highway 2, near the intersection with Colin White Road. It is understood multiple motorbikes and a vehicle were involved. SH2 was closed until about 6.30 last night. Two people were treated for serious injuries, and they, along with a person with moderate injuries, were taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital. The Police Serious Cras...

Local News

A number of potholes have appeared on roads around the region following heavy rain this week. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesperson Jaclyn Hankin said crews were doing their best to address the issue, with contractors out in the rain, working hard to ensure that the state highways remain safe for motorists. She said it would take some time to repair all the potholes, especially while the severe weather continues. Anyone who sees any issues on the state highways is asked to call 0800 44 4...

Local News

Central Hawke’s Bay has welcomed a new Police Sergeant. Damion Davies has been a police officer for nearly 15 years, starting on the frontline in Napier. He has worked in a number of areas of police – including CIB, AOS, Iwi and in community policing. Sergeant Davies says he has a passion for rangatahi, and worked with youth groups for a number of years. He says when the CHB position was advertised, he thought it was “him to a tea” with the frontline, community and youth aspects of the j...

Kairakau Road Re-open: One Lane Access to Through-Traffic a Week Earlier Than Scheduled

Kairakau Road is now open to one lane a full week earlier than scheduled, after Central Hawke’s Bay District Council and contracting partner Higgins worked at pace to design and build a new section of road. This follows the unexpected closure of the road at the 7.1km mark after a significant natural land slip took place on Sunday 7 November. Traffic will be controlled by safety signage, a 30km speed limit and priority give-way. Higgins will continue to monitor the lane on a daily bas...

Local News

The New Zealand Transport Agency is in the final stages of assessing the Manawatu Gorge Road to  understand the risk to other users. The road through the gorge has been shut since 2017 due to large slips, and a new highway is under construction. Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis says there is a strong desire throughout the region to have this road made available for recreational use. Waka Kotahi are looking into the safety of the road for recreational users, and is also looking at maintenance and...

Local News

Central Hawke’s Bay Police had a “fantastic result” following a checkpoint in Waipukurau on Friday night. Officer in Charge, Sergeant Neil Baker, said a large checkpoint was conducted on Bogle Brothers Esplanade by Police and Roadsafe HB staff He said over 600 vehicles were stopped between 7 and 9pm, with no drink or drug drivers identified. Mr Baker said it was a fantastic result, and hopefully one which will continue as we move into the festive season and these checkpoints continue. Serg...

Local News

A change to the venue for the the Waipawa Butchery Central Hawke’s Bay Premier Cricket teams T20 game against Cornwall tonight. The venue was originally pencilled in as the Forest Gate Domain at OngaOnga, however has been shifted to Cornwall Park due to this weeks weather.  The game will start at 5pm. This week is Round 4 for the Murray McKearney Memorial Cup, with Central on one win and one loss so far. Central captain Dom Thompson will be a guest on the Centralines Sports Show tomorrow ...

Congratulations Robyn Southwood, New Zealand Recipient of the Royal Mint Award - Recognising outstanding volunteers across the globe

Robyn Southwood has dedicated eight years to motivating and supporting the rangatahi of Central Hawkes Bay College. This December, she is the only New Zealander (and one of only 100 around the globe) to receive a Royal Mint Award; a commemorative coin created to acknowledge the outstanding volunteer Award Leaders of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. The Royal Mint, the Original Maker of UK coins, unveiled the official commemorative to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the Awar...

Local News

The Tararua District Council has issued a precautionary boil water notice for the Eketāhuna Water Supply. The Council said the notice was due to this week’s heavy rain causing the source water to become turbid and non-compliant with the NZ Drinking Water Standards requirements. Three consecutive days of clear tests are needed once the turbidity reduces before the notice can be lifted. The Council said no e.Coli had been detected in the supply, and would provide an update tomorrow. ----------...

Local News

The mobile Covid-19 vaccination van will be in Waipukurau and Takapau today. The van will be parked up at New World Waipukurau between 10am and 2pm, then in Charlotte Street Takapau between 4pm and 7pm. Meanwhile bookings for home visits are once again being taken for this Friday. Anyone wanting to book a visit can phone 0800 153 240. --------------------- Five youths are being dealt with by Police Youth Aid after a house in Waipawa was smashed up recently. Senior Constable Andy Walker said the ...

Local News

Two of the Tararua District Councils’ Service Centres are about to undergo upgrades.Work on the Dannevirke Service Centre will begin later this month, followed by Pahiatua in January.Both buildings require earthquake strengthening – with Pahiatua’s building only at 10% of the New Building Standard, and Dannevirke at less than 34%.Customer service staff working at the Dannevirke Service Centre will temporarily relocate to the Tararua Business Network from December 20th, with the Pahiatua cu...

Tararua Council Service Centres Getting a Facelift

The earthquake strengthening of Council’s Dannevirke and Pahiatua service centres will begin shortly. The objective is to improve the earthquake rating of the Council service centres and to ensure a safe environment for staff and the public. The Pahiatua Service Centre was built pre-1929 and has a Heritage New Zealand classification. After a seismic assessment the building was assessed at 10% of the New Building Standard and consequently deemed as earthquake prone. The planned earthquake ...

Local News

Two people were taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital following a single-vehicle accident yesterday. Emergency services were called to crash on State Highway 2 near the turnoff to Hatuma Road around 1pm. Senior Constable John Flack from CHB Police said a couple were driving home to Gisborne, when the driver drifted to the left, losing control into a stand of shelter belt trees. He said the female passenger received serious leg injuries and the male driver minor lacerations. Traffic was delayed in the ...

Local News

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will remove the temporary speed bumps on State Highway 2 through the Waipawa township. The speed bumps were installed earlier this year to slow traffic while the Four Square store, which was damaged by fire, was undergoing demolition. NZTA said the speed bumps were a temporary measure to ensure safety while the demolition was underway, and are now causing damage to the surrounding road surface, which is creating a new safety risk for motorists. The removal work wi...

Local News

Central Hawke’s Bay’s popular Christmas Tree was erected on the Green Patch in Waipukurau yesterday. A number of community painted decorations adorn the tree, with contributions from Mt Herbert Home, Woburn Home, Age Concern, Waiapu Abbotsford Daycare, Pakeke and the Paul Hunter Centre. Local people are encouraged to get creative and make further decorations for the tree with blank ornaments available from Te Huinga Wai – Knowledge and Learning Hub. Decorations can then be returned to the ...