Dr Sandy Adsett was born in 1939 on the family farm in Raupunga, a small Kahungunu (Ngāti Pahauwera) community just north of Wairoa. He has become known as a champion of Māori art and arts education, a master in the art of colour and what curator Reuben Friend calls ‘contemporary kōwhaiwhai’. Adsett co-founded Toihoukura School of Māori Art and Design in the mid 1990s alongside Sir Derek Lardelli and Steve Gibbs, and has worked on marae restoration projects in Wairoa and Tairāwhiti, as well as notably on the Rongomaraeroa Marae in Te Papa. The touring exhibition ‘Toi Koru’ developed by Pataka and currently on display at the Tairāwhiti Museum brings together a significant body of work by Adsett spanning six decades of his career - from the late 1960’s to today. ‘Toi Koru’ presents a unique opportunity to view the breadth of Adsett’s formal and conceptual experiments in painting, traversing between popular cannons of western art history such as abstraction and cubism and customary and contemporary Toi Māori. Throughout Adsett’s practice one thing that remains steadfast is his sophisticated ‘expansion on the principles of kōwhaiwhai’ as detailed in the exhibition wall text. Not only does the artist challenge older attitudes towards kōwhaiwhai as secondary to carving but he also contextualises kōwhaiwhai and its importance within contemporary Māori art. Adsett alongside a handful of his contemporaries paves the way for younger generations of Māori artists to work with the conceptual rigor and logic of kōwhaiwhai, as a visual language unique to Te Ao Māori. ‘Toi Koru’ opens with three small works on board from 1969 titled ‘Tutu Tahi’, ‘Tutu Rua’ and ‘Tutu Toru’. Ironically, as Adsett recalls in an interview with Reuben Friend for Art News - when these paintings were first made and one was offered to the old Gisborne Museum for exhibition, the director positioned Adsett’s ‘Māori abstraction’ behind a doorway as it “clashed with the other works.” In these early works colourful amoebic forms swirl and unfurl across the three paintings. While these early works speak to the western abstraction and the experimentation into form and colour through application of paint, they also speak to Māori art and thought - and to the entanglements of creation, navigation and whakapapa within Te Ao Māori. In works such as ‘Arihia 1’ (1976) the fetal, hei tiki forms of ‘Tutu Tahi’, ‘Tutu Rua’ and ‘Tutu Toru’ germinate and sprout into koru and mangopare. In ‘Tukotahi’ (1987) the bulbous and embryonic forms of koru - like growing kumara - are reminiscent of some of the first preserved examples of kōwhaiwhai painted on hoe waka which propelled Māori navigators across the pacific to these lands some 500 years before europeans. Steve Gibbs has written extensively on this history of kōwhaiwhai, looking at the drawings of waka hoe by Sydney Parkinson, the artist on James Cook’s ship, of the hoe waka that were exchanged with Tupaia and Cook by Māori in 1769. In Adsett’s later series ‘Te Template’ (2011) thick border lines of black, red and white paint pour into carved out koru, these sharp forms can't help but also speak to the art of whakairo and of Adsett’s formal training under renowned tohunga whakairo Pine Taiapa. Throughout ‘Toi Koru’ the principles of kōwhaiwhai pervade, not only in traditional forms seen adorning the tāhuhu of marae, but also in the traditions of Māori thought; the conceptual and philosophical realms in which positive and negative space work to co create the configurations of kōwhaiwhai -  reminding of the Māori creation story and the fertile darkness of Rangi and Papa pressed together, where their children were born and their necessary separation to create Te Ao Marama. Throughout the works in the exhibition lines strike through dark borders and pierce the interiors of paintings, rupturing and shattering contained space, likewise koru wriggle free and push their heads out of the prescribed confines of the canvas. Like aho tapu  - the sacred thread - the first and most important line of a weaving pattern, Adsett’s work is generative, the S shape of the manawa line - the central line in kōwhaiwhai - occurs repeatedly in ‘Toi Koru’ at different scales and formations giving way to the proliferating koru that sprout and grow from this central line birthing and protecting the young. Toi Koru runs until August 4th 2024 at Tairāwhiti Museum. Be sure to check it out! Story by Georgina Watson Image supplied

It’s hard to imagine the bright and bubbly woman in front of me was near death at one point. Tracy’s work at Tairawhiti Community Voice is led partly by her own experience, after a life threatening infection caused an injury to her brain twenty years ago. It was during her recovery that she noticed there were gaps in services and she was forced to advocate for herself, even just to get the sickness benefit. The stress of having to fight for what you need when you’re unwell can hinder your recovery. Tracy was lucky to have good family support, but some people don’t have that. People are given pamphlets in hospital when they’re discharged, says Tracy, which is helpful, but not so much when there’s  a lower level of literacy. Our health and social system is complex for anyone to navigate, and even the people working within those services can find it hard to know what services are available for their clients. Tairawhiti Community Voice (TCV) has been around since 1990 (when it was established as GISCOSS). In simple terms, TCV coordinate and facilitate hui between social services, and provide a monthly newsletter. Often there are no definitive lines between health and social services; in some cases they cross over.  Alzheimer’s NZ, Blind Low Vision NZ, and Deaf Aotearoa for example, are all social services for people with health differences or disabilities. When you consider the journey from hospital to GP to community nursing to social services, information can be lost between referrals. Especially when every service has a different way of storing and passing on information. Like, some use electronic referrals, some, fax (yes it still exists) and some verbally. Communication between all services is important for continuity of care and to prevent confusion for clients. Most of these smaller social services are based in Gisborne, but some are as far away as Hastings. It’s unsurprising that people often don’t even know they exist. TCV organise monthly hui, getting all of the services together at the same table, to discuss news and issues in services and their referral system.  They keep the lines of communication open. Tracy tells me that a Muscular Dystrophy NZ rep drives from Napier to attend these hui and finds it beneficial to meet and share information with at least twenty other organisations around the same table. That goes for Workbridge too. To be honest when Tracy is telling me about some of these organisations I haven’t heard of them, even though they’ve been running locally for 30 years. That’s why Tracy thinks it’s important to have a monthly newsletter for services but also a social media page to keep the public updated and informed about different services and what is available to us. You can find them on Facebook. Tracy is always interested in hearing from people who have experience gaps in health or social services locally. If you’re looking for support with something and there is no service to suit that need, you’re welcome to pop into TCV. TCV hopes one day to be a part of a community hub with good accessibility and parking for people with disabilities, sharing with all of the smaller social services in one building. Such a place would be beneficial in times of emergency such as last years’ cyclone. A place where people can come if they don’t know where to go for help. One point of call and a more affordable way forward for smaller services reliant on donations and funding. TCV is currently on the look out for someone interested in local advocacy, and the social sector. You can find Tracy at Tairāwhiti Community Voice at 340 Palmerston Rd or email her on contact@tcvhub.co.nz.

It was the late 80s, and I was five years old. My life was dominated by boldly patterned colourful skirts, and roller-skates. Those roller-skates were a big part of my identity. I remember strapping them on my feet in place of shoes every morning. My sister and I would skate down to Central School and spend hours skating around the smooth concrete. I learnt to navigate all the cracks in the footpaths, memorising the places with the smoothest concrete. I still remember how it felt to ride across the different surfaces; concrete, wood, tiles; the awkward step-skate required to traverse gravel, grass or carpet. I even had my own ‘work arounds’ to deal with No Skating rules; by lightly stepping in my skates people were less likely to notice them, and I’d tie my shoes together by the laces, and have them slung over my shoulder in case I was caught. I was obsessed. If anyone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I confidently replied “an ice skater”. I had all the self-assurance of a small child with limited understanding of how climate works. I can still remember the disappointment of learning my dream wasn’t going to be possible due to the lack of ice in Gisborne. Thanks to a couple of young Gisborne women, there is now a regular outlet and encouraging space for all of the wheely dreams and obsessions of Gisborne skaters of all ages. Sisters Adriana and Angel Hoogland are the organisers of Gizzy on Wheels, a weekly skating event held on the basketball court at the YMCA. Held in the basketball court, the smooth flooring lends itself perfectly to roller-skating, the kind of surface I could only dream about when I was a child. Two years ago, Adriana Hoogland attended a travelling roller disco that came to Gisborne. Adriana enjoyed herself so much and was disappointed it was only a one-off event. Following the roller disco she took to her skates more often and skating around town, she took the comments of passersby on board.. “my kid loves skating but there’s nowhere good for them to roller-skate” “I used to do that when I was young, I wish I could get back into it”. The more Adriana thought about it, the more she realised how much Gizzy needed something like this - a regular skating space for the community. And she knew that it was something she wanted to be involved in! So it was this idea that Adriana took to Startup Weekend organised by the Tāiki e! crew. She pitched the idea for a regular skate event and with the team that formed around her idea that weekend, created a business plan. Following the weekend, she took the concept home to her sister Angel, and together they honed the business plan, as they continued to practice their skating, fine tune their skills and moves. In August 2023 Gizzy on Wheels was born. A couple of weeks ago my daughter and I turned up to the YMCA court filled with young skaters gliding around to pumping pop music. It was easy to spot Adriana and Angel in their green ‘Gizzy on Wheels’ t-shirts (newly designed by Urban-Era-Designs and now available to order!). They moved seamlessly between demonstrating moves and taking less confident skaters by the hand for a lap around the orange cones. I managed to wrangle my almost-four year old into her skates (which we happened to have just been given a couple of days before). I took her onto the floor, awkwardly walking her around before she was swept up by Adriana and Angel and guided around the court. She loved it and after a short break, was keen to get back out there, alone! She fed off Adriana and Angel’s confidence and was stoked to be able to be independent. The evening was energy-filled with a blend of free skating and guided tutoring. There were games - Traffic Light, Statues and Freeze, which are not only fun but also teach the skills required to skate, start, stop, and fall … with dignity and grace. My daughter was reluctant to leave and upon waking the next morning asked when we could go back to ‘the roller-skating’. While she is still working out what days of the week are, I get the feeling it may be a long wait between Fridays. Gizzy on Wheels is held at the YMCA, Fridays, 5:30 - 7pm. It is open to all ages and abilities and costs $10 on the door. Numbers are limited so it pays to arrive early. By Emma Carlyle Pics Sarah Cleave

Tōnui Collab Three 1-day workshops, 9am - 3pm each day, held at Lawson Field Theatre (next to GDC on Fitzherbert Street). Their workshops encourage children to explore the diversity of STEMM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga Māori through the experimentation and creation of animation, engineering, game development, robotics, coding, virtual reality and more! Monday 22 April - Virtual Reality Tuesday 23 April - Game Development Wednesday 24 April - Coding and Electronics Caters for 7-13 year-olds. Cost is $50 per day. For more info, contact admin@tonuicollab.com or by phone 0800 886684 Book here: https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops The Y Oscar Summer Holiday Programme A variety of fun activities every day, from 15 - 26 April (closed Anzac Day) at YMCA Oscar House - 153 Disraeli Street. Caters for 5-13 year-olds and costs are from $45 per day with options to add on Breakfast Club and Aftercare Programmes ($10 each). For more info, contact Max at 06 8679259 Ext: 03 Find more info about the calendar of activities here: https://ymcagisborne.org.nz/oscar/ Find registration form here. Riverview Treks and Pinehollow Riding School Holiday Programme Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open 15 - 26 April (closed on Anzac Day) from 9 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road but they have limited spaces in a van for pick-up and drop-off at the Tav Restaurant. (Pick-up is at 8:45am and drop-off at 4pm.) Participants need to wear appropriate footwear (gumboots or closed-toed shoes), and bring a spare change of clothes, lunch, and water. Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $65 for the day. Email pinehollowridingschool@gmail.com to register. Payments are via bank transfer (acct: Pine Hollow 06-0637-0264724-00). For more info, ring Jacquie on 0277491629 or message her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks Gisborne Gymnastics Club Holiday Programme During the school holidays, the Gym Club offer unstructured play and activity sessions, Preschool Open Gym, and Competitive Holiday Gymnastics times. Location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road). Cost is $20 for all sessions. See timetable for offerings. Caters to ages: 5+ (except Friday morning Preschool Open Gym which is preschool ages only) Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes 30-min swimming lessons with an instructor held at Elgin School Pool. Cost is for all the daily lessons for the week. Week 1 (Monday 15-Friday 19 April) -- $60 Week 2* (Monday 22-Friday 26 April) -- $48 *no lessons on Anzac Day Caters to 3+ years. Book or find more information by email: comet.libbyd@gmail.com by phone: 0274 156 728 East Coast Museum of Technology ECMoT are home to technologies of the past, like stationary engines, amateur radio, computers & games, vintage cars, firetrucks and much more! They’re located at 67 Main Road, Makaraka, Gisborne. They welcome people of all ages. Entry is $10 per adult, $5 for seniors/students, $2 for primary/secondary students. Under 5s are free. Over the school holiday period, ECMOT is open Sunday 14 April Sunday 21 April Sat & Sun 27 & 28 April Reach out for more information by email enquiries@ecmot.org.nz. HB Williams Memorial Library (all events are free) April 13 – 28 He Puna Kōrero Reading Challenge Read for two hours and go in the draw to win one of four prizes up for grabs.  For ages 0 – 18 years. Pick up a challenge bookmark from the library or see www.gpl.govt.nz for details Opens April 17 Tūhura Tuarangi - Aotearoa in Space Tūhura Tuarangi is packed with hands-on interactives to play, build, launch, and explode with your whole whānau. April 13 – 28 ANZAC Treasure Hunt Search the library for hidden clues to solve the mystery message.  Pick up form from the children’s desk.  For ages 0 – 18 years. WIKI TUATAHI | WEEK ONE April 15 Monday - 10.30am Tōnui Collab Fun STEMM workshop for ages 7+, 20 spots only based on a first come first served basis. April 16 Tuesday - 11.15am ANZAC Storytime Join the children’s team as they read through the ANZAC books from the shelves. Suitable for all ages. HB Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright Street April 17 Wednesday - 10.30am Arts and Crafts Various arts and crafts for children and caregivers to get crafting.  Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  This is a self-lead activity. April 18 Thursday - 11.15am ANZAC Storytime Join the children’s team as they read through the ANZAC books from the shelves. Suitable for all ages. WIKI TUARUA | WEEK TWO April 22 Monday - 10.30am Waiata Mai ANZAC edition As we get ready to commemorate ANZAC day the children’s team has compiled a bunch of songs of the time.  Join the team for an ANZAC sing-a-long.  Suitable for all ages. April 23 Tuesday - 11.15am ANZAC Storytime Join the children’s team as they read through the ANZAC books from the shelves. Suitable for all ages. April 24 Wednesday - 10.30am Poppy Crafts Origami poppies, poppy art and more.  Suitable for ages 7+  Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  This is a self-lead activity. April 26 Friday - 10.30am Tōnui Collab Fun STEMM workshop for ages 7+, 20 spots only based on a first come first served basis. Arty Farty School Holiday Programme Nurture children’s self-expression through art, music, dance and drama. The holiday programme is held at Kaiti School (enter via Montrose St). Caters to 5-10 year-olds. Options for $30 half day or $50 full day bookings. Book via Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kidscreationstationz For more info, contact: kidscreationstationz@gmail.com or 021 045 8113 Ocean Rhythms Surf Camp There are a few spots left if you've got groms keen to spend time in the water surfing. Located at Midway or Northern Makorori (depending on weather). If you need a wetsuit and board, they’ve got you covered with an add-on rental option. The price is $410 for the 5 days of surf camp (full week signups only). If you are looking to buy a wetsuit check out Sequence Surf Shop and their variety of suits! Caters to 6-13 year olds. For more information and to book, email oceanrhythmscoaching@gmail.com or message them on facebook here. Sisterson Lagoon Tuesday 16th April come along to Sisterson Lagoon between 10am and Noon come for a walk, spot a piwakawaka, or give a hand with pulling some wild iris. We might even plant some plants. We'll have some biscuits, and a cuppa tea, but it wont get more fancy than that. Bring some gloves, a hand saw, or some loppers, or just come for a walk. If you haven't been before, we are on MacDonald Road - a left turn just after the railway crossing opposite from Ravensdown. Eastwoodhill Arboretum Creative Kids Days The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum have two Creative Kids Days to entertain and inspire the kiddies. Suitable for ages 5 - 12years Children must be accompanied by an adult. These workshops are free to partake in but please book in advance with Rosie, as spaces are limited. Contact Rosie on 06 863 9003 or rosie@eastwoodhill.org.nz Normal arboretum entry fees apply: Adults $15, Seniors $12, under 16’s $2. Wed 17th April - Silhouette Art Drop in anytime between 10am - 1pm to create some nature inspired silhouette art with collected foliage and spray-painting techniques. Friday 26th April - Autumn Nature Window Art drop in between 10am - 1pm and we’ll be creating some Autumn Nature Window Art with collected foliage and layering techniques. Tairāwhiti Museum Rangatahi Activities at Tautua Village Ngā kai hāpai rangatahi youth council are hosting fun activities during the holidays for all rangatahi in Te Tairāwhiti come join the activities, learn a pacific dance, get creative. All rangatahi are welcome in this fun and safe space. Drop in and check it out. Tautua Village is located at 100 Grey Street, Level 2. Tuesday 23rd April & Wednesday 24th April 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

As women who surf, many of us understand the essence of our harmony with the sea. The feeling of fulfilling dewy dreams at dawn, wet lidded and wet suited. You could say that the water is a motherly realm of resonance, waking within us the memory that we are a part of her. Her swelling and dissolution, her shine and her shadow, her grandest peaks and her greatest falls. Amongst our early morning head-dips, the illusion of our separation is cleansed. Thus, from our very first dance with a wave, we are bewitched. Feeding from all of her grunt and her grace, served as surging reminders of the fire that burns inside of us too. It is only natural that a love affair should ignite. To me, surfing is an act to tell the world that I adore her, and a way for her to say it back. However, despite this inherent romance, surfing has, at times, felt like a boys club. Where condensing, masculine energies have stirred a stiffness within me. And although I believe gender binaries to be an illusory thread stitched cunningly into the veil of separation, there are times when I can not deny the unbalance in energetic motion. Where the disconnection between the sea and me becomes stronger, and creates an abrasiveness that stunts my flow and tells me that I do not belong. Fortunately, this experience has been softened and soothed by my good friend, and lifelong surfer, Hannah Kohn. Only at the beginning of my surfing journey, many of the sweetest fruits in my floundering I owe to her. Representing Aotearoa in the 2024 ISA World Longboarding Championship over in El Salvador, Hannah has never failed to show me just how far not being afraid to take up space can take you. Hannah’s achievements have been realised by her courage, creativity, focus and initiative. To watch Hannah surf is to watch as the petals of your own earthly connection unfold. Her takeoffs’ are a portal, dragging us ever-closer to the infinite depths of the human soul. The waves she catches are a thrilling, seemingly prophetic expression of beauty and a cinematic depiction of the universe loving itself. It seems as though she can feel the ocean as it breathes and has learnt its language long ago. This sixth sense provides her with the ability to both dance the delicate dance, and rip the radical rip. I am obviously very much in awe of your unwavering commitment and what you have accomplished in your craft so far. How do you think 15 year old Hannah, with dreams in her heart, feels right now? At 15 I wouldn’t have been caught dead on a longboard. I wouldn’t have been caught dead on any alternative board, it was 3 fins or nothing. So although I know she would be proud and stoked, she would definitely rip me out for being on a longboard. Well, as you now know, surfing has many different, ever changing pathways. Just like the moana. How would you describe your experiences surfing on a longboard versus a shortboard? The feeling that you get after a good surf on whatever craft is the same. I have just as much peace no matter what craft I’m on, but you have more consistent satisfaction from longboarding. There’s less pressure and because you’re catching lots of waves you’re less frustrated. Whereas, when you’re shortboarding you can quite often come in only catching one good wave and it’s really frustrating. With longboarding, I don’t get the same adrenaline that I get with shortboarding. I’ve never had that adrenaline pumped up feeling that I get on a shortboard. They’re kind of two different energies; If I’ve had a bad day where I’m feeling sad or flat, I’ll go longboarding. If I’ve had a bad day where I feel angry, I’ll reach for my shortboard. There’s a lot more energy release in a way. I find balance in both, but if the waves were better I would always choose a shortboard. I think there’s more variety in shortboarding. There’s more unknowns, more obstacles and things to overcome. But when you’re longboarding you’re generally in more of a glide with what’s going down. Beautifully said. What other words of wisdom do you have for any kōtiro or wahine interested in surfing, but are perceiving a block? To someone who is struggling to get better: It’s about consistency and being prepared to be humbled. 80% of the progression is confidence. Often less is more, especially when it comes to logging. To someone who is struggling to get started: Go for it. Don’t be afraid, no one is watching you. Surfing is an individual sport and everyone is doing what they want to do. But, if you can, get a friend to go with you. It helps with everything. Having a mate to share it with is massive, especially if it’s a girl mate. Have a laugh and always smile when you come up from a wipe out. And finally, embody your surfing, do what feels good for you and own it. And it is this embodiment of her craft that makes her surfing so mesmerising. You just know that this symbiosis has been written in the surfing stars and is an honour to watch as her name is emblazoned in her own light. If just one other wahine can also be touched by her power, I feel as though the surfing world will be one step closer to finding balance. So, if you’re on the cusp of entry, I welcome you to take the plunge into the wet lidded wake. Story by Jessie Blade Photograph by Margherita Visconti

Our region is faced with some big decisions over the next three years and our elected Councillors want to check in with locals about them. Every three years, Council goes through the Long Term Plan process to identify the community’s priorities for the following 10 years. This year it's a bit different, our Council has been given the authority to put a recovery focus on just the next 3 years. The 2024-2027 Three Year Plan sets out the tough financial situation we are facing in the aftermath of far-reaching damage from the severe weather last year, as well as what our options are going forward. We’re looking at a $1.1 billion recovery bill for our infrastructure alone. The Three Year plan(3YP) sets out the harsh reality of continuing rising costs and a massive workload, meaning Council can't fix everything with the current budgets, or complete it all within three years. The plan covers the recovery work and services Council will focus on, how we'll pay for them, and what this means for rates and debt. The important thing to know about this process is that our voices, our feedback IS taken into account by our council, it is indeed vital, in helping shape a place we can all be proud to live in. Community conversations are underway but there’s still time to join the one being held at Gizzy Local on Thursday 4 April from 5.30pm. We’ll have Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga and Councillors, Debbie Gregory and Colin Alder all here. Council staff will also be present to speak to some of the issues we’re particularly passionate about: Jo Noble, the Director of Sustainable Futures, Phil Nickerson, Manager Solid Waste, James Baty, Director Internal Partnerships and hopefully Michele Frey, the Director of Livable Communities. Feel free to bring the kids, we’ll have toasties toasting and art stuff to keep them busy. If you can’t make Thursday, here’s a full list of where Council will be and when: https://www.gdc.govt.nz/council/public-notices/council-notices/community-conversations-calendar Read the draft plan and if you want to submit here’s the link: https://participate.gdc.govt.nz/2024-2027-three-year-plan Submissions close April 19. Nau mai Haere mai. At Gizzy Local, 64 Lowe St Thursday 4 April from 5.30pm

Waikanae Surf Club was packed with a motley crew if there ever was one. There were folks from forestry, iwi, farming and a few others, like scientists and engineers, all here to discuss Tairāwhiti freshwater: It’s dirty, it’s got actual human crap in it, we take too much, and often it’s not safe to swim in our water. To put it lightly, we've got problems. I’d been invited by Gisborne District Council (Council) to observe a ​​freshwater advisory group session and share this meeting of minds with the rest of you. Why is this important? The group is tasked with helping the Council develop the Tairāwhiti Regional Freshwater Management Plan by debating and recommending changes, and every drop of freshwater is caught up in this plan. "For years the Council come and told us what we can do, how we can do it, end of story," Stan Pardoe said, one of the community advisors, there to share his two cents with the Regional Freshwater Advisory Group. Stan has a unique perspective and yet has the ability to speak for much of the community, cutting through demographics and seeing the world through many eyes. A farmer, father, grandfather, fisherman, leader and storyteller. In Tairāwhiti he’s mustered 30 years of farming experience, was the chair of Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust and deputy chair for Te Runanga o Turanganui-a-Kiwa, and that’s just a few of his personalities. Today he’s one of the many locals helping advise the Council on Tairāwhiti’s Freshwater Plan. Stan says what is happening today is refreshing.Stan says Council used to issue commands without listening. “Not this time around. They actually want to come and talk to us and get some ideas. And it’s a game-changer.” He says Council is taking the time to connect with the public and get feedback on plans. "We won't have all the answers. There'll be some things we're going to disagree with there, but at least we're willing to share information." Still, he’s been around long enough and sat through enough hui to be realistic. "Whether it'll affect the policy either regionally or nationally, that's in the lap of the gods. But this group will give it a good thrashing." To say the group has differences is an understatement. From political parties to how they take their tea, there is a different take on key freshwater issues for each of the members, but there’s no doubt they all share a deep love for Tairāwhiti. And today they’re here to discuss our fertile flats, rivers and bush, all underpinned by one resource: freshwater. The Troubles with Our Water Gisborne faces a multitude of issues when it comes to freshwater. High levels of bacteria often make our rivers unsafe to swim in, depriving us of the simple pleasure of taking a dip on a summer's day. Slash from pine forests finds its way into waterways and onto our beaches, posing risks not only to the ecosystems but even taking the life of an 11-year-old at Waikanae in January 2023. The region's aquifers, a crucial source of freshwater, are under pressure from horticulture. Unsustainable extraction practices have taken a toll, threatening the long-term availability of our water. Hope on the Horizon: The Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan The answer to these challenges is a review of the Regional Freshwater Plan (part of the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan). This review aims to be the turning point for the health of our rivers and a comprehensive blueprint that guides how the region will manage its freshwater resources. This plan aims to address our issues related to water quality, the quantity people take, and everything else. Which obviously encompasses a lot of issues, and takes a lot of work. The Review's Evolution Good things take time. Today’s Freshwater Plan can be traced back to 2012. To say there have been bumps along the road would be an understatement. The plan has taken into account thousands of submission points and even some brushes with the Environment Court, High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. After over a decade of work, 2023 marked a new era in the freshwater saga. Council has been working on the review for the past two years and recently announced our Regional Freshwater Plan. It was then the Tairāwhiti Regional Freshwater Advisory Group was born. The group was established to advise the Council from a community perspective. The advisory group will meet a total of 12 times, discussing the likes of our aquifers, forestry practices, and water quality and quantity concerns, completing their work towards the end of 2024. Te Mana o te Wai: The Guiding Principle The fundamental principle guiding the review is Te Mana o te Wai, which emphasises the importance of water. Under Te Mana o te Wai, or mana of the water, protecting the health of freshwater is paramount, as it safeguards the environment and the well-being of the community who uses it. The advisory group is a key part of the review. Their voices are being heard, and their concerns addressed. The review aims to bring about positive changes that the community wants, like cleaner, safer rivers and sustainable aquifers that our growers can access. The result will be safer, more pristine waterways, with better rivers for swimming, fishing and the rest. But like all things, it will take time. A century of degradation cannot be undone overnight. From Review to Reality "I'm the generation who can tell the stories of the mahinga kai (a food-gathering place). We used to catch the tuna, we used to catch the whitebait,” says Stan. “When you've drunk the water from the river, you learnt to swim in the river, you rode your waka in the river. I am the river and the river is me,” says Stan, riffing off a whakataukī from Whanganui. "Now we're doing all this work, with the restoration that's been done, I think I'll live long enough to see my river coming back to what it used to be and I can go and show my mokopuna where we caught the eels, how to prepare them. “Ka tangi te waiata, te weka - We will no longer hear the calls of the weka on the Turanga flats.” Tairāwhiti’s freshwater challenges are being met with optimism and action. The Freshwater Plan review aims to resolve the region's pressing issues, ensuring that Tairāwhiti’s freshwater remains a precious taonga for generations to come. The community's involvement is pivotal, making it a collective effort to safeguard the region's most vital asset – freshwater. By Jack Marshall

I sat down with Ricky Boyd, the architect and builder of the Gisborne Beer Fest. As well as getting all frothy about the event to come, we went in some unexpected directions. We talked about how you grow something to be beautiful, strong and sturdy. Hopefully you’ve seen the posters and have it on your list to purchase tickets for the Easter Saturday celebration of the humble drink that’s had a bit of a glow-up in recent times. Ricky has planned some serious fun in store for us (more about that in a sec). Indeed we collectively thirst for a long weekend and a good time. But did you know the do-goodery that’s also afoot? The Gisborne Beer Festival occupies a nuanced niche in the landscape of food, drink, and music festivals. This beer festival might not be what you think, especially if you associate beer with skulling and smashing cans on your forehead. Like most “vices,” beer has a reputation that precedes it, namely the aforementioned burping, keg-stand variety that prioritises quantity over quality and an ultimate goal of unambiguous intoxication. But that’s Beer’s cringey past. Modern Beer culture still likes to have a great time, but there’s been a shift to quality over quantity, moderation and balance, and even technological breakthroughs that let beer drinkers enjoy low or no-alcohol beer with all the same complex flavours as their boozy siblings. “With Craft Beer, which is what we promote,” says Boyd, “that’s all changed. We want to educate people about beer. For people who know beer, they get it. They love it. With this festival, we’re hoping to reach the people not in the know.” What’s to know? you ask. “It’s all flavours. It’s trying to taste the black currant underneath this milkshake IPA. Someone’s added lactose to a sour beer and it tastes like mango and you can’t figure out how they did this and it tastes amazing. Or it tastes like a dessert. They’re making beers taste like flavours now. If you’re into your food and your flavours, Craft Beer is right up your alley.” You can see the incredible line-up on their website, which includes our local friends Sunshine Brewery alongside other great Craft Beer brewers from all over Aotearoa. (They’ll also have wine from local wineries Matawhero and Spade Oak, as well as canned wine from Uncommon and canned cocktails from Fling.) The way to facilitate this flavourful good time has changed too. “We don’t promote quantity. We promote quality. Spend the same amount of money but buy 3 or 4 really nice beers… and maybe some zeros to compensate for the extra oomph you get from some of the stronger craft beers.” This is the changing face of modern beer drinking. Rather than mowing through a box of mainstream beer, enjoy the charm and delight of craft beers’ inventive flavours. And savour the yummy mouthful that tastes like your money remaining with the Aotearoa locals who brew this special beer rather than going offshore where mainstream beer money goes. The Gisborne Beer Festival will have a range of flavours and strengths with plenty of low- and no-alcohol varieties. Maybe you’ve seen this new face of drinking, the increasing number of your friends showing up to parties with low-alcohol drinks, the lack of raised eyebrows at someone’s low-alcohol choices. As we know, Beer Culture wasn’t always this understanding or enlightened. There was a blatant judginess that pushed drinking to excess. Ricky outs his mates with his version of this shifting tide. “Guys on my soccer team turn up with zeros. And no one teases them. Whereas five or ten years ago, you would've got teased.” Oh, I know, Ricky. I know. Introducing our local beer drinkers and outlets (where great beer is sold) is still very much the focus. But what changes each year are the particular ingredients of the Good Times spell. Ricky, a musician by trade, always starts there. This year there are four musical acts, all of whom “will serve this market very well. In the beginning I followed the desire to hear my friends’ bands play.” And that really hasn’t changed much. Good thing Ricky has so many musical friends. The list of bands that feature at the Gisborne Beer Festival grows and grows. This year the music kicks off with local favourites, Pray 4 Summer and The Rabbits, both bands who bring energy and a catalogue of Grunge, Indie, Punk, Rock, something for everyone and perfect for the festival. Our younger music fans will likely know Marlin’s Dreaming, a Dunedin-band based in Auckland, playing sold out shows in Aotearoa and abroad and who are, in Ricky’s words “a real hit with the kids.” And rounding up the line-up are Kita, who make genre-blurring mega sound that needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. If you’ve been lucky enough to catch these musicians in Tairāwhiti this past summer, you’ll be excited to see their name on the posters. Ricky’s roving festival won’t settle down until they’ve found just the right home. This year, he thinks the Soundshell will tick all the boxes for them – it’s got the necessary infrastructure and is close to town so we can easily get home or carry on somewhere local, like Smash Palace, when the Beer Fest winds down. And thanks to Ricky and his persistence and fine tuning, this year’s Beer Fest is shaping up to be the best yet. He’s brought back international buskers, Sean and Heidi, who stole the spotlight last year with their captivating accessories like stilts, unicycles, chainsaws (yep), fire (also yep). They’re the perfect sparkle to accompany the fizz in your cup. Another innovation that launches this Beer Fest – the Silent Disco. Walk into this weirdly quiet jumble of dance moves and you’ll find duelling DJs rocking the party. But you have to put on one of the 40 headsets to take it in. Choose your channel and dance all your best moves. Myself and Gizzy Local’s Sarah Cleave were exploring the appeal of the Silent Disco. For me, there’s something wonderfully goofy about someone watching me dance with abandon and joy but without my Silent Disco soundtrack. It’s that exact goofiness that will give me licence to shirk any pressure to be cool and instead just enjoy. The invention of the Silent Disco is perfect for that old adage: Dance like no one is listening. Ricky’s vision is strong: draw people together with top-tier Entertainment while keeping beer on the main stage. Possibly surprising is his goal to give us all a chance to re-calibrate our relationship with modern beer culture, see the big wide world of craft beer, and even change drinking habits for the better. Like a keen gardener who sees the perfect blank space for something beautiful, has an eye for pruning and the muscle to brace something against a strong wind, he is growing something big and sturdy. The Gisborne Beer Fest is on Easter Saturday (30 March) starting at 12pm. Get your tickets for the Gisborne Beer Fest here: https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/11240? Story by Sarah Holliday Pocock Photographs by Strike Photography Gisborne Beer Festival

Environment Hubs Aotearoa is conducting research alongside Massey University into community responses to last year’s Cyclone Gabrielle, and it's got to be said that the aims of this research are dear to our heart here at Gizzy Local! What we witnessed here in the Tairāwhiti was an incredible rallying by our community in the aftermath of the cyclone. In many locations and aspects of the wider response, it was our Marae, our community organisations, and individuals who were able to act quickly and effectively and made a huge difference to affected peoples’ experiences. Environment Hubs Aotearoa wants the importance of that mahi carried out by individuals and citizen-led community organisations to be recognised, and to understand both HOW and WHY they filled the gaps in the official response. The results of their research will inform Central and Local Government, and Civil Defence on how to better support community responders, and how to build more resilient and empowered communities for the future events we know are coming. Environment Hubs Aotearoa is a national network that supports community and environmental resilience. Many of their hubs acted as emergency response centres during the Auckland Anniversary Weekend Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle last year. They recognise that affected communities have already been inundated by researchers but know that their independence from government means they can take a critical look at the official response, and ensure the voice of the locally-led community sector is heard. They will involve communities in co-designing the recommendations from the findings, and will use these findings in their ongoing advocacy work, pushing for positive change in our communities. This research begins with a survey, and they want to hear from those impacted or who helped with response efforts. You can find the survey here, and if you have any other questions, these FAQs might be helpful.

It's that time of year when the Gizzy Local team start to look at different horizons and imagine new, slightly more connected and happily active versions of ourselves and the women and girls in our lives. That's because in late Feb, we start noticing events popping up under the banner of ‘Well Wāhine Week’… We start to think, could I do Parkour? What is going on with my hormones? Are the waters of Turanga calling me for a swim or a paddle? Somehow the answers to all these questions are the same: "I'd like to find out." This year we have a conveniently well-placed staff member to remind us about the Well Wāhine Week good stuff. And by she, I mean me, Sarah P. Yes, full-disclosure, I also work on the awesome Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti team putting together Well Wāhine Week, which is about to kick off for its 4th year, bright and early on Friday morning. In these times, and of course I mean the "Covid Times" and the "Weather Event Isolation Times," it's a treasure having a thing to do that feels like a diversion from the everyday. Interestingly, in the first 3 years of Well Wāhine Week's young life, these "times" are all she's ever known. The first two cautious but exciting years of Well Wāhine Week occurred under the cloud of Covid. And both times, SGT reached out to providers and community members and found that yes, people wanted the opportunity to get out and do something a little different. Similarly, post-Cyclone Gabrielle, where it was possible, wāhine wanted a break, a chance – ever so briefly -- to put their wellbeing and fun physical activity back into their day. But why had we lost that? Why was it missing in the first place? There's a trove of evidence that points to disengagement from sports and other physical activities, often from around the age of 14 years old. There might be expectations to prioritise helping the family out with childcare, or we may no longer have time for such things as school performance and work responsibilities begin to loom large. Often puberty feels like it brings with it a less athletic body, what with curves and periods. Some champions of our gender charge out into the world of sport or other physical pastimes, strong and undeterred. For many though, the prospect of being active – in front of anyone - just isn't fun anymore. Back in 2019, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti pulled together local champions of sport (coaches, fitness providers, teachers, and of course participants, both young and young at heart) to address some of the barriers that face women and girls. Having seen the success of the recent women's-only surf festival, Salty Sirens, that blended fun and competitive surfing with other platforms to connect, like yoga and music, the champions were inspired to try something holistic. Well Wāhine Week was an idea borne of those conversations. So SGT called out to providers with this idea. If we could make it easy and cost-effective for you to offer something for wāhine and kōhine, for free, would you? And the answer was yes! Over the last four years, our SGT team have learned a lot about what the barriers are and what wellbeing looks like for girls and women. And so you'll see the Well Wāhine Week calendar full of events that fit in the colourful garden of "Wellness." There are have-a-go sports of all sorts, there are meditative practices, there are informative sessions that teach about our bodies, sessions that keep alive indigenous practices, and many more. There are sessions delivered in settings built and natural all over Tairāwhiti, including a calendar specific to the East Coast. One of the most beautiful things I've seen from turning up to dozens of Well Wāhine Weeks over the years is how quickly women and girls who are strangers, warm up and become fast, if just brief, friends. Many women turn up solo to these sessions (they're that inviting!). Within the first few minutes, strangers are laughing together and on a little journey of discovery and fun. Participants find the all-women environments safe, judgement-free and empowering. If you get the formula right, the magic happens quickly and on repeat. What's the formula? Well Wāhine Week takes the cost, pressure, and intimidation out of the equation. Some activities are proactively, some might even say aggressively, child-friendly so mums can bring their little ones to be looked after while they get down to the business of improving their own wellbeing. It’s exciting to see providers using this week to try new things and learn about what works for the wāhine of our varied communities. To quote the OG Gizzy Local Sarah (Cleave), "These events are all about awakening dormant parts of ourselves, connecting with fellow wāhine, and having some laughs along the way." The beauty of Well Wāhine Week is that you can just find out. Girls, women and non-binary people of our community, go try something just for kicks.  And then look on the calendar for another thing to try. Flick through the photos to see a snapshot of week's. And there's even a calendar for rangatahi. To learn more about the kaupapa, view the full calendar of events and to register, visit sportgisborne.org.nz/well-wahine. Sarah Holliday Pocock

Crop swapping is a celebration of abundance and sharing.  Crop swapping encourages the growth (pun intended) of sustainable communities through connection, knowledge sharing and friendship. Crop Swapping is about mindfulness and presence. It's about nourishing goodness and it is kindness in action. Gardening has been a steady part of my world for 60 plus years. As expected, life happens and things change: jobs, homes, situations, income, people, stability, relationships, health, geography, arrivals and departures. This is not a comprehensive list, by a long shot and as we know changes are generally good for growth - although sometimes it's hard to see it at the time. A constant has been the fact that wherever you are you can find some soil, plant a seed or a seedling and with a bit of love, something will grow that will sustain you. Has gardening kept me sane? Yes! I am retired now and as I spend more time growing, there is always something to share and new things to learn. I first learnt about local crop swaps while visiting a friend in Matamata. The kaupapa just made complete sense. I looked for a Gisborne crop swap group, but didn’t have any luck so decided to start one. Crop Swap Gisborne is now going from strength to strength via a Facebook page and word of mouth. We meet to share what we have with others. Everyone is welcome; friends, seasoned crop swappers, visitors, first timers and old timers. We meet on the first Sunday of each month at Makaraka School car park and start our swap meeting at 2pm. Makaraka school has generously allowed us to meet there. We usually set up in the shade of the tree and are mindful of leaving the space the same way we found it. How it works: - Arrive before 2pm and set up your bringings for others to see and have access to. This can be on the tarp provided, or you are welcome to bring a fold up table or anything else that works for you. - Chat, mingle and view. - At 2pm there is a welcome and introduction. This is also a space for anyone who wishes to talk about what they have brought along. - After the welcome we mindfully take a bit of this or a bit of that. It is not a direct swap, just redistribution of gardening related goodness.  We fill our basket, share knowledge and stories. No money is exchanged. Contacts are made and new friends are found. - At around 3pm we have a brief group kōrero, clean up, and head home with any of our leftovers, new stuff to plant, eat or use, and most importantly a happy heart. Some ideas of what we swap: Fruit and vegetables, plants, seedlings, seeds, eggs, egg cartons, garden pots, herbs, fresh bread, garden shed cleanouts,  seedling trays,, honey, preserves, chutney, pickles, books and magazines, flowers, cuttings, succulents, baking, house plants, tools, trees, worm wee, animal manure. Hopefully we’ll see some of you there this Sunday! Story by Jeanie McCallum Images supplied

Merle Walker is the superhuman behind many of our big community events here in Turanganui-a-Kiwa. Town Clock parties, Walter Findlays Fire in the Sky, last year’s Kiwiana Christmas Wonderland events to name just a few of them. This week we all get to enjoy another of Merle’s efforts in the form of Tū Whitia | Stand and Shine - a community event being held to commemorate Cyclone Gabrielle and the resilience of the communities and Iwi of Te Tairāwhiti. This Saturday you’re all invited to the Soundshell for what sounds like a heap of fun! Merle has done a great job lining up some fantastic entertainment to cater to a very diverse range of tastes. The local lineup includes the winners of last year’s Smokefree Rockquest ‘Dad’s Garage’, who will play alongside another rangatahi band Eleventh Hour, local favourites the Volt Thieves, Oceanspace, Rob and Alley Matete, DJ Murdarah and the Gisborne Brass Band.  Scribe and Tami Neilson are heading to Turanga to headline the day, both generously waiving some of their fees to support the kaupapa and show their aroha for our community. There will be heaps to keep the kids happy with face painting, bouncy castles, water slides and treasure hunts. Pukus will be catered to by food vendors and a free sausage sizzle, and for the frothy and active amongst us, Primal Fitness have a treat in store! Merle says that when she was wondering about what kind of fun she could add into the mix, she immediately thought of ‘Top Town’, the iconic travelling game show that screened on local television from 1976 to 1990. While health and safety wouldn’t allow for half of the physical challenges that the teams from across rural New Zealand engaged in for that series, Brian Horwell at Primal Fitness has put together a super fun Top Town event that will prove entertaining for participants and spectators alike! If you’d like to enter a Top Team team, register at the event by 3:30pm. Tū Whitia | Stand and Shine runs from 3 - 8pm, at the Gisborne Soundshell. It’s for the whole family, so don’t forget the sunscreen, your warmies, and leave your smokes, vapes and alcohol at home. Free buses will be running from Tokomaru and Tolaga Bays: Departing Tokomaru Four Square at 2pm, returning 8:45pm. Departing Tolaga Fire Station at 2:45pm, returning 8:45pm. See you there whānau!