Hawke’s Bay news in brief: Diversion next week for southbound SH51 lane closure

Road users in Hawke’s Bay are advised to take the overnight one-lane closure on State Highway 51 into account when traveling next week.

From Monday, May 6, crews will complete repair work at the intersection of SH51 and Waitangi Rd as part of a planned maintenance programme.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said while this was not part of the current safety improvements, completing the work at the same time would minimize the chance of delays at a later date.

The southbound lane of SH51 between Awatoto Rd and Farndon Rd will be closed nightly between 8pm and 5am, starting on Monday 6 May and ending at 5am on Saturday 11 May.

During these overnight closures, access remains open to residents and businesses in the area.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advised people to add 20 minutes to their journey or avoid the area during this time. A signed diversion will be available.

Dates depend on variables such as weather and may change at short notice.

Hot rodders and auto parts swappers

It’s a petrol and motorbike paradise in Hawke’s Bay this weekend, with the Marineland Street Rod and Kustom Klub rolling through the area on Saturday, and on Sunday there’s a Hawke’s Bay Vintage Car Club Back to Basics car swap meet at the Meeanee Speedway pits .

The hot rod club had a lengthy run and swap meet weekend, but the swap meet became too big for its resources and was last held by the club in 2019.

The date was picked up by the vintage club, which is organizing the event for the third time. It starts on Sunday at 9am.

Lotto player wins second division prize

One lucky Hawke’s Bay Lotto player won a whopping $18,211 after winning Lotto Second Division in Wednesday’s live Lotto draw.

The player purchased the ticket via the MyLotto app and was one of 14 to claim the prize.

Another person in the Tasman region also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $35,202.

Lotto said there are also 75 additional $10,000 cash prizes to be won with Lotto NZ’s Mother’s Day promotion, which launched last week.

All Triple Dip tickets purchased between Sunday 28th April and Saturday 18th May 7.30pm will be entered into the draw to win.

Reclyffe Bridge closing times confirmed

Hastings District Council has confirmed the times the Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge will close for maintenance work on the bridge deck.

There will be a complete closure on Sunday, May 5, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Three days after this closure, VMS signage will be installed and on the day traffic will be diverted via Meeanee Road to SH2,” Hastings District Council said in a statement on social media.

Pedestrians can still use the bridge during the work and emergency vehicles can still cross the bridge in the event of an emergency.

“The contractors need good weather to complete the work. So if it is wet, maintenance work will be postponed to the next available dry Sunday (ideally Sunday May 12),” the statement said.

Ākitio Rural Fire Station was broken into

The Ākitio fire station was broken into last week and several items were stolen.

Police received a report of a burglary in a rural area in the Tararua District on Monday morning.

It is believed the burglary took place between 9am on April 14 and 1.30pm on April 28.

A police spokesperson said items were taken and did not know exactly what was missing.

A post on a community group on Facebook said the Ākitio Fire Department was broken into and boots, torches and identity badges were stolen.

Social media comments on the post outlined the outrage the community felt over the burglary, with one commenting: “Lowest of the lowest targeted emergency services.”

While another asked where money could be donated to help.

Napier Police investigating school burglary

Napier Police are investigating a burglary at Onekawa School.

Two brand new charcoal black shade sails covering a sandpit and outdoor stage were removed from the school grounds sometime between the start of the school holidays on April 13 and at noon on Sunday April 28.

Senior Sergeant Craig Vining said police were appealing to the public to help restore the shade sails and urged everyone to be vigilant on social media.

“What kind of person steals shade sails from a school? They are there to protect our children from the sun and as a community we must reject these types of egregious violations,” Vining said.

Police asked anyone with information that could help locate the sails or identify those responsible to come forward and speak to police.

You can provide information by telephone or online via 105, quoting file number 240430/1240.

Hawke’s Bay wine industry experts go on exchange

Three members of the Hawke’s Bay wine industry have become the first recipients of the Great Wine Capitals Knowledge Exchange Program.

Ryan Fraser, Vineyard Manager at Paritua Vineyards, Sara Macdonald, Assistant Winemaker at Sileni Estates, and Gavin Dalton, Assistant Winemaker at Brookfields Estate, will travel to the Great Wine Capital of Adelaide, South Australia, to discover more about sustainable practices that can move forward helping their own operations and the Hawke’s Bay wine industry as a whole.

The Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange (OKE) program is designed to encourage mutual knowledge exchange within the esteemed Great Wine Capitals Global Network and each grant is worth $3,000. It is a program only available to those working within a Major Wine Capital.

Recipients will undertake tailor-made trips, connecting with key industry, regional and education stakeholders.

Upon their return, they will all share what they have learned with the wider Hawke’s Bay wine industry to ensure the knowledge gained is shared across the region.

A key focus for each of the recipients is the sustainability of vineyard management and wine production.

Police release name of pedestrian killed in Dannevirke

Police can now release the name of the pedestrian who died after being hit by a car in Matamau earlier this month.

He was 43-year-old Christopher Michael Connell, from Masterton.

The incident happened around 3.20am on April 15 between Okane Rd and Tataramoa Rd.

“The police extend our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time,” the police statement said.

The police investigation into the circumstances of the accident was still ongoing.

Sustainable Hawke’s Bay is seeking candidates for the Youth Committee

Sustainable Hawke’s Bay establishes a Youth Committee for young people who are enthusiastic advocates and want to take action to make a difference

Sustainable Hawke’s Bay youth board member Zoe Solomon said they are looking for people between the ages of 12 and 24 who are passionate about sustainability, biodiversity and resilience.

“Are you part of the generation that in the coming years will be tasked with protecting our environment, politically, practically and passionately? Join the Sustainable Hawke’s Bay Youth Committee and make a real difference today for our region of tomorrow,” Solomon said in a statement.

Interested people can contact Dana Hartley by email at [email protected] for an application form.

New CEO for Napier Taiwhenua

A prominent adviser to the Auditor General is returning to Hawke’s Bay as tumu whakarae (chief executive officer) at the Māori authority in Napier, Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui a Orotu.

He is Mat Mullany (Ngāti Pārau, Ngai Te Ruruku, Ngāti Matepu, Ngāti Hawea, Ngai Te Whatuiapiti, Kuki Airani), who has worked in the public and private sectors for almost twenty years and has also served his marae and hapu of Ngāti Kahungunu, of which the Taiwhenua is one of the six constituent authorities.

He delivered the first Te Ao Māori strategy to the Auditor General’s officer and established an advisory body of Māori leaders in the office.

He had previously worked at Deloitte and has experience at the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Education and Te Arawhiti, the Ministry for Māori-Crown Relations.

In a board capacity, Mat has served as a trustee of the Mana Ahuriri Trust, the Ngāti Pārau Hapū Trust and Waiohiki Marae.

Taradale Intermediate team representing Hawke’s Bay at NZ Kids Lit Quiz

Four students from Taradale Intermediate School will represent Hawke’s Bay at the national finals of the NZ Kids Lit Quiz after winning the Hawke’s Bay heat.

The school fielded four teams in the 28-team competition held on April 12, with Olivia Coulthard, Emmi Edwards, Tai Eady and Millie Schulberg making up the team to close the event.

“The team of four trains every Thursday morning at 7.45 am in the TIS Library. We are very proud of them, especially as our kura has represented the Hawke’s Bay region on a number of occasions,” said teacher Vinka Donkin.

The national finals will be held at the National Library in Wellington on June 15.

Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank is looking for volunteers

The Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank would like to reassure the public that they are still operating normally.

They continue to receive collections large and small from many different people, groups and organizations, allowing them to digitize with improved and more efficient equipment.

Much effort will be placed on collecting photographs, stories and documents in a joint project with Radio Hawke’s Bay, which will record oral information to document Cyclone Gabrielle.

This will be a long-term undertaking and they expect much more information to come in the coming years.

The Knowledge Base is also expanding its operations to other areas including Central Hawke’s Bay, Taradale and Wairoa.

They hoped to double current numbers and bring in remote volunteers to help with digital, transcribing, proofreading and online research.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like to know more, call Linda at 06 833-5333.