Breaking new groundThe site has been blessed, the ground has been broken and today the concrete base was being poured in readiness for installation of the Matai Research module.Based at the Gisborne Hospital grounds, the prefabricated module will house Matai Research's state-of-the-art MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine. The new MRI system will use breakthrough technology developed by Matai chief executive and Auckland University senior lecturer Dr Samantha Holdsworth and collaborators. The technology includes amplified MRI which magnifies tiny motions of the brain as the heart beats. High-end, advanced imagery of the brain, heart and musculoskeletal system will provide a platform from which Matai's researchers can develop new methods to diagnose disease.The General Electric Healthcare 3-Tesla MRI system is expected to be installed in the module later this month. After a month of testing and training, the system will go live in September.“We're bringing in high-tech equipment to an area that would not normally get this,” Dr Holdsworth told The Gisborne Herald in May. “The combination of leading technology and joint research teams will help enable Matai to become a leading centre for medical imaging research.”None
Successful air ambulance fundraiserA fundraising dressage and auction event at Gisborne Riding For The Disabled made more than $1500 for the Starship National Air Ambulance Service.Organiser Karen Bevitt said the day went very well, with riders judged by Paralympic and world champion Jo Jackson.“We have over $1500 and still have some auction items to sell, so I'm very happy,” said Ms Bevitt.“All the riders received a lovely ribbon and photograph taken of them wearing one of Jo Jackson's Paralympic gold medals. “The highest scoring rider of the day was Anna Spence on Seal. “Maria Gobbie Photography sponsored the judges' pick-of-the-day prizes, with photography vouchers for a junior and senior rider. “Those prizes went to Olivia Briant and Ayla McIntosh.”None
Council seeks community feedback on heavy vehicle routes through the cityGisborne District Council begins community consultation today to seek feedback on recommendations to restrict heavy vehicles in the city to a single highway route.The council is supporting recommendations made in a report by engineering consultancy WSP, which considered the social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects of maintaining the current dual heavy vehicle routes through Ormond and Awapuni roads.The report recommends a single highway route and considers Harper Road as the ideal connecting route from the Waimata Valley to the state highway and prefers Hirini Street as the single access route to the port.The results of this community engagement will help inform whether draft provisions for heavy vehicle routes are included in the regional Traffic and Parking Bylaw up for review this year. Acting council chief executive David Wilson said this was an excellent opportunity for the community to have its say on an issue that affects everyone.“There's no doubt that having two heavy freight routes through our city impacts our community significantly,” he said.“We believe that by having a single highway route we can get our freight to port, while reducing this impact. “This isn't an easy discussion to have but with the projected increase of truck numbers on our city roads it's important that everyone gives their views on the routes they should take.”The community will be able to give feedback online at the council website from July 13 until August 7.Community drop-in sessions, where council staff will be available to discuss and advise, will be held at the council's Awarua administration building in Fitzherbert Street from July 27 to July 30 from 5pm-7pm.Council staff will have devices with a new programme they have developed — called Socialpinpoint — to help the public make comments on the proposal.Staff will have hard copies if the public would rather write their comments.Maps will also be available.To give feedback, learn more and to read the WSP report, go to www.gdc.govt.nz and click on the Have Your Say section.None
Low-key sunny vibe at Matariki concertWith all the trouble going on in the world, Modern Maori Quartet would perform a sunny song, said band member Matariki Whatarau at the Matariki 2020 concert yesterday. The creamy-voiced act and the band's banter captured the tone of the public Maori new year celebration under the Town Clock and midwinter sun yesterday. Co-organised by East Coast Music Ltd and Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa (TRoTAK), the event the free concert hosted top acts that ranged from local bands The Ashes, and Supreme Brother Sound, to Ria Hall, Rob Ruha, and The Witchdoctor.The music and the humour was distinctively New Zealand and downbeat.“Another song by another famous Maori. His name is Rod Stewart,” said Mr Whatarau. A man flew a black, white and red tino rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty flag in front of the sound and light technicians' tent as the Maori showband-styled foursome broke into a reggae version of the heartbreak song, I Don't Want To Talk About It.The Witchdoctor's lead singer/guitarist Tyna Keelan, who co-organised the free concert with Athena Emmerson-Kapa of TroTAK, shredded the air with an extended lead break then introduced the drummer.“It's great to have one of the greatest drummers in the world here so I'm going to make him do a drum solo.”Mr Keelan's guitar lead break was followed by an old-school drubbing of the drums the musician clearly relished.Most of the crowd stood or sat in the sun. Kaumatua and kuia took advantage of the comfort of sofas and armchairs in a lounge-like shelter to the left of the stage. The concert was an opportunity to bring everyone together, said one visitor.“It's a time for celebration. I'm a teacher and we've been learning about the stars.”The star she particularly looked forward to though was Rob Ruha.Along with Ria Hall, Ruha joined The Witchdoctor in a song with the message “know our history”. Opa Ria looked forward to seeing all the bands. “It's good to have such top quality music. This is a good thing for the community; to get people out and about.”“It's freaking positive,” enthused Gisborne Girls' High School social science teacher Laurie Harrison.“You have lots of gumboots, it's casual, everybody's happy, and everyone knows everyone.”None
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