Back to Blog

Local News

A car stolen from Wairoa was destroyed by fire in Dannevirke early yesterday.  Fire & Emergency NZ were called to the fire on Otanga Road just after 3am.  A Police spokesperson said the vehicle had been stolen from Wairoa sometime after 8pm on Sunday.  ------------------  The Mayors of Tararua and Wairoa say a study to look at the effects of forestry on their communities is not “anti-forestry”.  Last week the Forest Owners Association said the two Mayors ha...

Local News

It was nearly an all Central Hawke’s Bay final for Hawke’s Bay Netball’s Super 8 competition. Semi-finals were played at Pettigrew Green Arena on Saturday, with Central Sports Vet Services playing All In Elusive in game one. All In were heavy favourites after being undefeated during the round-robin competition but were pushed hard by Central. Central fought back in the second half of the game, after being down 27-24 following the first two quarters. Scores were tied 48 all in the final two...

Local News

A Heavy Rain Watch remains in place for Central Hawke’s Bay this morning. Periods of heavy rain, which could approach warning criteria, are expected until around 9am today. Metservice says the heaviest falls will be about coastal hills. A Heavy Rain Watch for the Tararua District was lifted late last night. ------------------ A precautionary Boil Water Notice for residents connected to the Dannevirke town water supply is to be extended out to next Monday. The Tararua District Council issued th...

Local News

Voting papers have been delivered for the Central Hawke’s Bay Consumers Power Trust election. Eight candidates have put their names forward for the seven places on the Trust for the next three years. Changes to the Trust Deed this year mean power consumers get to vote for all of the positions. Previously, three positions were appointed by various parties. Current members Alastair Setter, Marcus Peacock, Libby Tosswill and Karen Middelberg are all standing for re-election. Catie Avery and Callu...

Local News

The Metservice has issued Heavy Rain Watches for both Tararua and Central Hawke’s Bay from tomorrow. In the 24 hour period from 9am tomorrow, Hawke’s Bay can expect heavy falls of rain, and forecasters say rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria. For the Tararua District, periods of heavy rain are expected from 9am tomorrow until 1am Friday. Rainfall amounts may also approach warning criteria in the district. ----------------- The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has launched a free eas...

Local News

Potential warning amounts of rain are forecast in Hawke’s Bay and Tararua later this week. Metservice forecasters say a low affecting central and northern New Zealand, bringing a low confidence of warning amounts of rain for the two areas. Hawke’s Bay and Tararua may also experience strong winds from the south to southeast, and Metservice says there is low confidence of these winds reaching severe gale. Meanwhile a Strong Wind Warning that had been in place for the Tararua District was lifte...

Local News

Magpies head coach, Mark Ozich, has announced a move to Australia next year. Yesterday he said he had accepted a full-time role with Super Rugby team the Western Force, and would leave the Magpies at the end of the 2021 season. Ozich became involved with the Hawke’s Bay team in 2017 in an assistant role, before securing the head coach position later that year. Hawke’s Bay Rugby Chief Executive Jay Campbell said Ozich had formed an outstanding culture at the Magpies and said he was universall...

Local News

The Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is encouraging locals who haven’t booked, but want to get a COVID-19 vaccine at one of its two drive-in clinics, to simply turn up. The clinics are being run at the CHB Rugby & Sports Club in Waipukurau between 9.30am and 4pm today and tomorrow. On the ‘bookmyvaccine’ website, there are no appointments showing as being available for tomorrow, however DHB spokesperson Andrea Jopling says there is capacity for about 600 vaccines each day. She says peop...

Local News

Central Hawke’s Bay Police are investigating damage done to a metal crusher over the recent COVID-19 lockdown period.  Senior Constable Andy Walker said the crusher has been parked up for quite a while near the Waipawa Golf Course, and has been inactive due to Chilean Needle Grass concerns.  He said someone – who he suspects may have been younger people – threw stones and smashed all the dials and air cleaners on the machine.  The fuel cap had also been removed, an...

Local News

CHB and Tararua Police are generally happy with how locals stuck to the COVID Level 4 and 3 lockdowns. Senior Constable Andy Walker said in CHB said people were generally pretty good. He said Police did have a number of calls from neighbours about parties next door, and from essential businesses where customers had refused to wear masks In Tararua, Senior Sergeant Dave Fraser said the majority of people stayed at home unless absolutely necessary, but Police did issue some infringement notices to...

Local News

Two COVID-19 drive through vaccination clinics will be held in Central Hawke’s Bay this week. The clinics will be open on Friday and Saturday at the CHB Rugby and Sport Club in Waipukurau. Anyone over the age of 12 can get their vaccinations done at the drive-through clinics. The HBDHB says booked appointments will be prioritised, however some walk-ins or drive-though vaccinations may be available. The drive-in clinics will run between 9.30am and 4pm both days, with bookings able to be made by...

Local News

COVID-19 vaccinations are being ramped up in local areas.  In Tararua, the Tararua Health Group is adding extra clinics for those wanting to get the vaccine.  Tomorrow morning, there will be a clinic at the Barraud Street Health Centre, and the Health Group will also hold clinics at The Hub on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  Each clinic next week will have capacity for between 120 and 135 people.  Meanwhile the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is looking...

Local News

There has been a major change made to this years Hatuma Half Marathon – with it now being run as a virtual event. The 2021 Half Marathon was due to run as usual on September 19, however COVID-19 restrictions have prompted organisers to make the change. Sport Hawke’s Bay Co-ordinator Nicky Heremaia said the current form means the event can only be held under Alert Level One, and with the uncertainty around whether or not we would be at Level One, the committee that runs the event decided to c...

Local News

The Tararua District Council is working with ratepayers who may be struggling to pay rates instalments due to COVID-19 and lockdowns.  The current rates instalment was due yesterday, and Council has extended applying penalties out to October 1 for those who could not pay online.  The Council says ratepayers whose income may have been reduced as a result of the Level 4 lockdown should contact its Revenue team to work out a plan.  ------------------  Waipukurau’s&nb...

Local News

Over 20,000 people received a COVID vaccine in Hawke’s Bay last week.  Hawke’s Bay DHB vaccination programme lead Chris McKenna said it was a mammoth and outstanding effort from the teams of vaccinators operating throughout Hawke’s Bay.  The vaccines were delivered at either a general practice, pharmacy, marae or church based-clinic or from one of the DHB’s mass vaccination clinics.  Chris McKenna said the total number of vaccinations delivered in Hawke’s Bay w...

Local News

Local residents are lining up for COVID-19 vaccinations.  Choices and the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board held a clinic in Porangahau on Saturday, with hundreds turning up to receive their vaccine.  The DHB’s Super Clinic in Waipawa was also full yesterday.  In Dannevirke, in drive-in vaccination clinic was run on Saturday in a collaboration between the Tararua Health Group, Ngāti Kahungunu, Māori Wardens and the Mid Central DHB.  More than 65...

Local News

The Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Day Appeal has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 Level 4 restrictions. Due to be held today, Daffodil Day is the Society’s biggest fundraiser. Despite the cancellation, the public are still being encouraged to donate to the Cancer Society via the Daffodil Day website, or via major sponsor, ANZ’s website. Local Cancer Support Group spokesperson, Margie Hewitt, said hopefully they can do something towards fundraising when there is a return to Alert Level...

Local News

A 17-year-old Napier youth has been arrested after a Police car was rammed in Waipukurau yesterday.  Local Police were responded after a car allegedly taken in Napier was reported to be travelling to Waipukurau.  The vehicle was located, and police tried to stop the driver in Peel St, but the driver allegedly fled through the centre of town.  Due to safety reasons, the pursuit was abandoned.  The vehicle was then found in Mt Herbert Road, and it ...

Local News

The Ministry of Health says 20 people in Hawke’s Bay are self-isolating after being identified as being contacts of current COVID-19 cases. A map highlighting the current outbreak of the Delta variant of COVID showed there were people isolating in the region. None of those isolating has returned a positive test, according to the Ministry of Health.-----With COVID 19 restrictions forcing the cancellation of community drop-in sessions over the Governments Three Waters Reform proposals, the Centr...

Local News

With today marking day seven since going into COVID Level 4 Lockdown, Central Hawke’s Bay Police say they are pleased with how locals have responded to the “stay home” message. Officer in charge of CHB Police, Sergeant Neil Baker, said so far there have been no infringements or prosecutions to date for COVID breaches. He said officers have been stopping and talking to people who are out and about, trying to educate and work with them to discuss the lockdown rules. Mr Baker said Police know...

Local News

Local areas have moved to a COVID Level 4 lockdown. The lockdown came into effect at 11.59pm last night, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying it was for a three day period at this stage.Within minutes of the Prime Minister’s announcement, local supermarkets and bottle stores were extremely busy with shoppers filling trolleys for the lockdown. Extra staff was brought in to Waipukurau New World to help.Owner Gerard Kennedy said staff worked overtime and came in on their day off to assist, a...

Local News

Just over $600,000 has been received to fund upgrades at two local beaches. The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council made application to the New Zealand Tourism Infrastructure Fund for upgrades at two summer tourism hotspots – Kairakau beach and Pourerere Beach. The numbers of people visiting the two beaches over the summer period is putting pressure on ageing and inadequate infrastructure. Council received nearly $210,000 to upgrade the toilets at Pourerere Beach, and $404,000 to support an...

Local News

Central Hawke’s Bay have retained the Trevor White Memorial Trophy. Three games of junior rugby were played against Dannevirke at Central Park yesterday – with all three games won by Central. CHB Junior Rugby spokesman Tim Hamilton said the U9’s won 15-10, the U11’s won 27-17, and the U13’s won 30-10.-----The Magpies retained the Ranfurly Shield following their game against Otago in the Bunnings NPC on Saturday. The Magpies won 34-10, after leading 14-7 at half time. Head Coach Mark Oz...

Local News

Tararua District Council staff are currently working to identify the cause of unexplained loss in water at the Dannevirke water storage dam. The suspected leakage became apparent in mid-July, and it is estimated that between 15 to 30 litres of water per second has been leaking. The Council says the immediate priority is to confirm the source and cause of the leak so that efficient and effective repair works can be planned and undertaken as soon as possible. The Council is working closely with t...

Local News

Tickets have gone on sale for the 2021 Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival. More than 70 shows make-up this years programme, which runs for two weeks from the 16th of October. Be Open is the theme for the 2021 Festival, with a range of art forms, including theatre, music, dance, opera, comedy, family events, visual arts and a weekend of literary events. The Festival programme, along with event tickets, are available online at www.hbaf.co.nz.-----The driver of a vehicle that crashed into a bridge last n...