Stories by Matthew Rosenberg
News
Burials on hold at Gisborne’s main cemetery following cyclone
Gisborne families wanting to bury their loved ones at Taruheru Cemetery are in limbo while the district council monitors issues with groundwater at the site.
'Forgotten we're still stuck': Upset over handling of convoys
Tensions have run high in Tokomaru Bay over the district council's handling of convoys which have proven a life-line to residents needing to access Gisborne.
Forestry company says it's not responsible for damage to Gisborne water pipeline
The forestry company says the damage during Cyclone Gabrielle was unavoidable because of the nature of the storm.
Environmentalists despair at state of Gisborne river following cyclone
A Gisborne environmentalist who has spent 20 years trying to improve the state of a local river says her efforts have been decimated by the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Gisborne council not testing for contaminants in industrial areas following cyclone
Gisborne District Council will not be following Napier's example.
Cyclone Gabrielle: Broken road halting restart for popular school programme
A Tai Rāwhiti education programme that boasts a one-year waiting list has bad news for schools eagerly awaiting their turn to visit.
'We were luckier than most': Gisborne man staying positive despite insurance nightmare
In the two weeks following the cyclone, Peter Clough was busy helping people, and it wasn't until later he discovered his own contents insurance was not actually set up.
'A lot of hurt in this area': Gisborne couple say council let their community down
A Gisborne couple tasked with an eye-watering clean-up feel they were neglected by the district council.
Forestry waste from council-owned plantation big factor in cutting off Gisborne's water supply
Slash and whole trees from Gisborne District Council's joint-venture forest appear to have played a significant role in damaging the city's main water supply during Cyclone Gabrielle.
Civil Defence working long hours in rural Gisborne with no end in sight
A newly formed Civil Defence team working long hours to support affected whānau in Te Karaka are staying positive despite seemingly endless need in their community.
Long road ahead to reinstate normal water supply to Gisborne
Gisborne industries could be waiting around two weeks before they can begin operating again as the desperate state of the city's water situation was hammered home at a meeting.
Tai Rāwhiti resident shares harrowing cyclone ordeal
The Gisborne local stood in horror on his driveway watching the Waimatā River, which had doubled in size, thundering towards the city.
‘Unjust colonial weapon’: Green Party promises to continue fight against perpetual leases
A Green Party politician is vowing to make perpetual leases an election issue as Māori landowners continue their fight to gain back control of their whenua.
'Why do we have to buy back our own land?': Perpetual leases battle continues
Māori locked out of their whenua by perpetual leases are continuing their fight against century-old legislation.
Ministers, stakeholders meet to discuss Gisborne land-use practices
A review of land-use in Tairāwhiti looks likely following a meeting at Gisborne District Council yesterday, but there is some confusion about what exactly was settled behind closed doors.
'Demoralising, heartbreaking': Gisborne nurse describes difficult working conditions
Staff are putting their own wellbeing on the backburner to cope with demand.
Gisborne council proposes beach dog ban to protect at-risk penguins
A popular Tairāwhiti beach will no longer be accessible to dog walkers as the district council looks to protect nesting kororā.
An awa in trouble: Gisborne’s Waimatā River ‘not a quick fix’
A popular Gisborne river that becomes a "liquid slurry of mud" in bad weather is increasingly unusable for recreationalists and wildlife alike, waka ama groups say.
Group raising $800k to maintain KiwiRail line for historic train
A Gisborne train group needs to raise the money for repairs to a KiwiRail line so its fabled steam locomotive can continue its usual route.
Gisborne surf club at 'panic stations' over woody debris
The clearance of woody debris from popular Tairāwhiti beaches will continue this summer following a district council meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Mystery surrounds how long rail bridge was unsafe
A Gisborne rail bridge cannot be used by the city's iconic vintage steam train, but for how long it has been unsafe remains a mystery.
Elusive owner of abandoned boat San Rosa did time for drug offence
The owner of an abandoned boat who has successfully evaded police for the past six months previously spent time in prison for cultivating cannabis to sell.
Kiwifruit rating saga continues: Growers off to Court of Appeal
Golden kiwifruit growers have been granted the right to appeal a High Court decision that will increase their rates for growing the product in Tairāwhiti.
Gisborne mayor supports four-year terms, increased pay
Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz has shown early support for a number of proposed reforms that aim to shake up how local government is done in New Zealand.
Abandoned San Rosa shipwreck finally removed from East Coast beach
An abandoned boat that proved a thorn in the side of both Gisborne District Council and the police has finally been removed from a remote East Coast beach - six months after it washed ashore.