A 54-year-old Gisborne man was arrested by Central Hawke’s Bay Police earlier this month after a young woman was allegedly sexually assaulted while travelling on an InterCity Bus.
Senior Constable Andy Walker said the 19-year-old woman was on her way to Napier when the alleged incident took place.
He said the man sat down beside her, and began touching her on the leg, and not taking no for an answer when she told him not too.
Mr Walker said the man moved to the seat behind her, the man took her handbag.
When the bus stopped in Waipukurau, the woman hopped off the bus and made her way to the Police Station.
Mr Walker said Police caught up with the man, who had also hopped off the bus, and when arrested he had stolen property on him from Unichem Pharmacy.
The man has been charged with indecent act, indecent assault, shoplifting and theft, and was remanded in custody.
He was due to reappear in Court yesterday.
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Around 200 local school children took part in a Ki-o-Rahi tournament at Russell Park yesterday.
The traditional Māori game has made a comeback in recent years, with yesterday’s tournament part of Matariki Celebrations.
The day began with a Powhiri, before competition got underway.
Results from yesterday :
Years 5-6
- 4th place – Otane
- 3rd place – Terrace
- 2nd place – Waipawa
- 1st place - Omakere
Years 7-8
- MVP – Savannah from Terrace School
- 4th place – Omakere
- 3rd place – St Josephs
- 2nd place – Waipukurau
- 1st place – Terrace
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A cash injection from the New Zealand Tourism Infrastructure Fund totalling $738,057 will provide much-needed upgrades to ageing infrastructure and leisure facilities across Central Hawke’s Bay.
Every year the fund provides up to $25 million to develop tourism-related infrastructure in popular regional destinations facing pressure from tourism growth.
The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council applied to upgrade carparking, water supply and a viewing platform at Pourerere Beach Reserve; to install a motorhome septic dump station at Takapau; and for enhancements to toilets and signage at Otaia/Lindsay Bush Reserve carpark.
In partnership with Mana whenua, Council also applied for funding to connect Rongomaraeroa Marae to the wastewater system.
All four applications were successful.
Mayor Alex Walker said being able to get external funding for projects such as this was very welcome.
She said funding through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund will ease the burden of core infrastructure investment that we are having to face up to in Central Hawke’s Bay.