Social agencies sharing a connectionConnexions is the name for a mini hub of social service providers based in new shared facilities in Palmerston Road.The newly-named Stroke Tairawhiti, Brain Injury Gisborne, Tairawhiti Community Voice and NevaAlone medic alarms share the premises with Troy Wheeler Contracting and invited mayor Rehette Stoltz to officially open Connexions.Stroke Tairawhiti administration manager Judy Livingston said her agency had outgrown its previous premises and “put the idea together” with its new partners.The hub provided a collaborative working and co-operation base for the agencies.There were huge benefits for all parties with shared knowledge and resources, reduced overheads and operational costs, peer-to-peer support, sharing of networks and better exposure to the public.There was “real synergy” between the social providers and a shared economic benefit.The agencies leased the premises backed by financial support from Troy Wheeler Contracting.The building had been extensively renovated with significant business support in terms of goods and services.Stroke Tairawhiti co-ordinator Caroline Callow said the new premises gave the various agencies a welcoming high profile to passing traffic.“We’ve had several walk-ins since we opened.”She said the new premises matched the development of Stroke Tairawhiti which had moved from a stroke support and social-type organisation into more of a stroke rehabilitation role.Troy Wheeler Contracting project manager Arron Lazarus said most employees of the civic and roading contractor were based on the East Coast, but he liked his new office “in the heart of Gisborne”.
Hotter and wetter forecast from NiwaTairawhiti can expect above average temperatures with a good chance of above average rainfall as well over the next three months according to Niwa's three month climate outlook report.Niwa points to higher than normal pressure and drier conditions likely, with moist, sub-tropical disturbances expected to reach the country occasionally, particularly the North Island and northern South Island.“These systems can cause areas of heavy rainfall and flooding in the December-February period,” the report states.“Marine heatwave conditions formed near the northern North Island and northern Tasman Sea during November. “Unusually warm seas in other coastal regions may develop into a marine heatwave over summer. “Air temperatures are very likely to be above average in all regions of the country with elevated humidity levels from time to time, particularly in the North Island.”The Niwa report said there was a 75 percent chance Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa would have above average temperatures, so very likely it will be warmer than usual.“There is a 40 percent chance rainfall totals will be above normal, 35 percent chance they will be near normal.“Episodes of heavy rainfall are possible through the season in those regions, which could increase the chance for flooding events.” None
$400,000 funding for forestry trainingThe future of a forestry training programme here is secure for the next two years thanks to funding from the Government's One Billion Trees Programme.Eastland Wood Council's Generation Programme has been given $441,000 from Te Uru Rakau (Forestry New Zealand).“It is fantastic to strengthen our relationship with Te Uru Rakau through this kind of support and to see them invest in forest industry training like this,” said Eastland Wood Council chief executive Kim Holland. “It means we can continue to develop the programme to ensure it meets industry needs. This recognises the success of our Generation Programme in providing skills and people to our industry work-ready. The industry and contractors are snapping up our trainees — that says so much.”The heart of the programme revolved around health and safety, ongoing training and plenty of mentoring to give candidates the best possible chance of success.Te Uru Rakau acting director of forest development, grants and partnerships, Annie Hindle, said programmes like the Generation Programme were needed to ensure there were trained people, ready to go and aware of the hazards of their work.“We are proud to support the Eastland Wood Council in their efforts to provide contractors with work-ready employees by investing in the training and upskilling of our forestry workforce.”Ms Holland said Covid-19 had meant a particularly tough year for many but Te Uru Rakau had stepped in to offer support when needed.“Our programme has had to adapt as things rolled out. We established online learning during Covid-19 Alert Levels 3 and 4, and made sure our trainees were all safe when returning to the new normal.”A total of 14 contractors work with the Generation Programme. All of them contract to EWC member companies. “The success of this programme comes through our ability to continue to recruit, even in a very challenging year,” Ms Holland said.She praised programme manager Siobhain Fyall.“It is great we have the continuity of both the programme and the ability to retain the likes of Siobhain and continue to grow the forestry industry relationship with Turanga Ararau whose pastoral care involvement had been crucial to success for a number of candidates.”The programme is now in its third year and on its seventh intake.“There has been an impressive list of achievements this year, with several gaining level 3 qualifications as well as head breaker out tickets, licences, first aid certificates and wheel, tracks and rollers completions. “We have interest in the programme from far and wide, with trainees moving to Gisborne to train with us and then work in local forestry.“We have been blown away by the number of women who are stepping up to take part in the programme. It is great to see and it is making such a difference to people's lives.”Over the three years, more than 60 trainees have been through the programme, with 33 — men and women — continuously employed in forestry, and 14 more moving into other industries. “Candidates see there is massive opportunity within the industry to not only earn good money but also for the career opportunities — the world really is their oyster.”Next year the programme will accept rolling enrolments, allowing people to tap into the training as they are looking for work. “It also means we can place trainees into employment on a rolling basis so the contractors don't have to wait for the end of a cohort.”The practice has already been successfully trialled with trainees who entered the programme with experience but needing to gain tickets.The newly-formed Central North Island Wood Council is in the throes of establishing its own Generation Programme in Tokoroa where they will follow the Tairawhiti blueprint but tailor it to meet the requirements of the industry in their region.“I am very proud of what we have achieved here and we are all looking forward to 2021,” Ms Holland said.None
Do’s and don’ts of helping out in strandingsProject Jonah, the charity dedicated to saving stranded marine mammals, came to Gisborne to teach a class of would-be rescuers. Project Jonah general manager Daren Grover and communications and volunteer co-ordinator Louisa Hawkes advised the class of 24 what to do and what not to do when discovering a stranded dolphin or whale.Mr Grover said it was a great day and the class was fully engaged.“Some of the students shared their own experiences of a whale or dolphin stranding,” Mr Grover said. “There was quite a lot to unpack about people's past experiences at strandings. A lot had emotions of feeling helpless because they didn't know what to do when they spotted a whale stranded on the beach.” Going to the Project Jonah class helped them to better understand what they can do to help. The class covered the anatomy and physiology of marine mammals. They also learned about the role of the Department of Conservation in a stranding.Inflatable whales and dolphins were used to simulate what to do when trying to refloat a marine mammal.“If you find a stranded dolphin or whale always call for help on 0800 DOC HOT or 0800 4 WHALE and follow the advice that is given,” Mr Grover said. Volunteers of all ages attended the training day, including a woman who was a child when 60 sperm whales stranded along Wainui Beach in July 1970.Students said they were glad they had taken part, and they now felt prepared to help in a stranding. All who completed the class had their details put into Project Jonah's database. When there is a stranding and volunteers are needed a text message is sent to those in the region asking if they can attend. Volunteers who are able to attend can reply yes and will be given specific details from Project Jonah. “Some regions have a few hundred volunteers, but here in Gisborne there are about 50,” Mr Grover said.“We are a marine mammal welfare organisation. Our main goal is to respond to marine mammals in distress and help them return to the ocean to live out the rest of their natural lives.” None
The ram sale season got off to a solid start on Friday with the combined sale at the Matawhero saleyards.
It was a sell out, with all 35 rams on offer sold, wi...
THERE was a total clearance in the first of the ram auctions for the season at Matawhero yesterday and two of the 35 rams on offer sold for $1600, including the...
The Ministry for the Environment wants to hear peoples thoughts about phasing out more single-use and hard-to-recycle plastics.
Following the plastic shopping ...
Those wanting to help stranded whales and dolphins have the chance to learn how to get them back out to sea this weekend when Project Jonah New Zealand comes to...
