Back to Blog

Local News

Waipukurau’s Countdown Supermarket was closed for business yesterday due to a refrigeration issue.A Woolworths NZ spokesperson said a leak from heavy overnight rain on Sunday caused a loss of power to the refrigeration plant at the store.Work to create a safer and better-connected main street in Waipawa is in full swing, with the construction of “trial improvements” set to get underway from next month.In 2022, the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council was one of 1...

Local News

A person was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital following a serious twovehicle crash at Te Hauke yesterday morning.The accident – involving a motorbike and a car - was reported to Police around 9.30am, which left State Highway 2 closed until just after 3pm. A Police spokesperson said one person was flown to hospital with critical injuries from the crash, which was near Colin White Road. Traffic was diverted along Middle Road while the scene was cleared, and an inves...

Local News

There have been no reports of any major damage from yesterday morning’s strong earthquake centred near Porangahau.The magnitude 5.2 shake was only 10km deep and was centred 20kmwest of Porangahau.Fire & Emergency NZ reported no callouts as a result of the quake, and Central Hawke’s Bay District Council Chief Executive, Doug Tate, said they had received no reports of damage.Yesterday Council engineers were sent to check the Makaramu Bridge which connects Porangahau to ...

MetService launches push notifications for New Zealand's most extreme environmental conditions

From today 25 January, Kiwis will be able to subscribe to receive notifications to their mobile phone when MetService issues a Red Warning for our most severe weather or if there is an Extreme Fire Danger risk. The partnership with Fire and Emergency New Zealand will help Kiwis be aware of and ready for our most extreme conditions. All that is required is to have the free MetService NZ Weather app installed on your mobile phone and the location specific notifications enabled. MetService Head of ...

Local News

Many were woken from their sleep following a strong earthquake centred near Porangahau early this morning.The magnitude 5.2 quake, located 20km west of Porangahau at a depth of 8km, was felt at 3.18am.Felt reports have come in from around the lower North Island, with more than 5500 people reporting on Geonet’s website.There have been a number of aftershocks since the initial quake, the biggest measuring 4.1. In a social media post, Geonet said there would likely be more aftershocks.The Central...

Local News

1500 tickets were sold for last weekend’s walk through the new Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatu-Tararua Highway. The fundraiser was organised by the Woodville Lions Club, with the majority of tickets selling out before Christmas. Most people opted for the 12-kilometre option for the chance to see how construction is progressing on the new highway, which is due to open mid-2025. Sunday’s “walk” was the fourth organised, with plans for further such events before the road is opened. Centr...

Local News

With Thursday’s weather forecast looking inclement, this weeks Surfing for Farmers has been pushed out a day. Organisers say the event, which is free and open to anyone over the age of 18, will still be held at Porangahau Beach but on Friday from 4pm.Structural concerns have seen the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council restrict the Makaramu Bridge in Porangahau to light vehicles only. Engineers inspected the bridge, which connects to Te Paerahi Beach, on Monday and found deterioration on a ...

Local News

Three shearers smashed the three-stand, eight-hour world shearing record last week. Hemi Braddick, Flynn Harvey, and Ray Kinsman began their attempt at Pohuetai Station near Dannevirke at 7am Friday. They surpassed the 1610 tally that was set back in 2017 with 35- minutes to go, finishing with 1745 just after 5pm. Braddick, who is from Eketahuna, had a personal tally of 599, with Harvey 581, and Kinsman shearing 565. Locals wanting to have their say on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Councils’ cur...

Local News

Waipukurau’s main street and other parts of the CBD were flooded yesterday afternoon following a heavy thunderstorm.Metservice had issued a Thunderstorm Watch for Hawke’s Bay and Tararua District yesterday afternoon, with about 40 to 50mm of rain falling in Waipukurau in the space of half an hour around 4.30pm.Main street business, Rural Accountants, posted a video on social media of the flooding coming up to its front doors.Central FM is aware of businesses in surroundin...

Local News

The second Shear4U fundraiser held at the weekend has so far raised more than $70,000 for charity – with further donations still coming in.The 24-hour event was held in Masterton at the weekend, with funds raised going to the Rural Support Trust, Gumboot Friday and Farmstrong.Organiser Dan Billing said it was another great event, with 6963 sheep shorn over the five stands.He said people can still donate until the end of the month via the Shear4U Givealittle page or by messaging their Facebook ...

Toxic algae identified in Tukituki River

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is urging swimmers and dog owners to stay alert for toxic algae in the Tukituki River after multiple blooms have been identified near Walker Road in Central Hawke’s Bay.Regional Council Water Quality & Ecology Monitoring Team Lead Jordan Ellmers says toxic algae poses potential health risks for people and dogs if touched or ingested.“We’ve had a spell of long, hot days in Hawke’s Bay - river levels are dropping, and water is moving slowly, creating the ...

Local News

Three shearers will take on the eight-hour strong wool ewes world record in Dannevirke this Friday.Hemi Braddick of Eketāhuna, Flynn Harvey from Kaitaia, and Dannevirke-based Fairlie shearer Ray Kinsman will make a challenge on the current record, which stands at 1611.The World Record attempt will be held at Pohuetai Station near Dannevirke.The trio have been preparing for more than a year for the attempt.------------------Tararua District Council is working to ensure the Akitio water supply ca...

Local News

The OngaOnga Golf Club was broken into last weekend – with hundreds of dollars of green fees suspected to have been taken.A member noticed the break-in on Sunday morning.A Club spokesperson said a window into the office area was smashed, and the green fees box ripped from the wall. The spokesperson said ordinarily there would be up to $1000 in cash in the box. Nothing else appears to have been taken in the break-in, which occurred sometime Saturday night or early ...

Local News

A man received critical injuries following a motor vehicle accident near Patangata at the weekend. Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Middle Road and Elsthorpe Roads just after 1.30pm Saturday. The 59-year-old man was treated at the scene before being flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital and was later flown to Auckland City Hospital. The Police Serious Crash Unit was called to the scene, with the road closed for about five hours. Fire appliances from Norsew...

Four local Police staff and a civilian were recognised at a special award ceremony on Tuesday.

The ceremony was attended by Police Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers, Hawke’s Bay Police Area Commander Lincoln Sycamore, CHB Mayor Alex Walker, and Te Taiwhenua o Tamatea Chair Jenny Nelson-Smith.  Karen Olsen-Mills was recognised for 28-years-service to Police. Sergeant Neil Baker, the officer-in-charge of CHB Police, said Karen “is the glue that holds the station together”, and has “impressive local knowledge, professionalism, and integrity”. Three constab...

Review: Waipawa M&D Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Pantomime

Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of attending the final dress rehearsal for the Waipawa M & D’s latest production held at the Waipawa Municipal Theatre.The curtain rose the song “Do You Believe in Magic” filled our ears and we were greeted with a stage full of cherry-dancing children in classic costumes setting the scene perfectly to welcome the audience into two hours of pure entertainment sure to leave you in fits …“Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs” A modern twist on ...

Local News

Police spent most of yesterday at a home in Waipukurau after a woman was seriously injured following a suspicious house fire.Fire & Emergency NZ were alerted just before 4am to the fire at a property in Woburn Street.Police said a woman was found at the address with serious injuries and was taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital by ambulance.A Police spokesperson said they were making inquiries into the cause of the fire and how the woman came to be injured.A scene guard was in place while investig...

Local News

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council says possum control is still the responsibility of landowners until such time as its programme transitions to professional contractors.Last December, and following community consultation, the Council voted to amend the Regional Pest Management Plan and to consider funding the use of professional contractors for possum control.Regional Council spokesperson Mark Mitchell said the move to a contractor model is parked for now, as the Regional Council focuses on cyc...

Local News

A man is in a stable condition at Hawke’s Bay Hospital following a motor vehicle accident near Otane on Sunday.Emergency services were called to the crash, at the intersection of College Road and SH2, around six o’clock Sunday night.The man’s car was the only vehicle involved in the crash, and he was treated for serious injuries by ambulance staff before being taken to hospital.-----------------Waipawa’s annual Spring Festival and Duck Day held last weekend was a huge success.Organiser P...

Local News

Southern parts of Tararua District are in for a windy day tomorrow, with Metservice issuing a Strong Wind Watch for areas south of Woodville.The Watch is for the 14-hours from 6am to 8pm tomorrow, where forecasters say northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.Northern parts of Tararua, along with Hawke’s Bay, are also expected to get strong winds for a time tomorrow.-------------------With a large crowd expected in Waipawa tomorrow for the annual Spring Festival and Duck Day,...

Local News

The Centralines CHB Wakely Shield side has booked a place in the plate final today following a win over Wairoa yesterday.Yesterday’s game saw CHB have a 12-10 lead at the half time break, with first half tries scored by James Anderson and Nick Kuklinski.In the second half, tries were scored by Cleveland Walker, Ollie Merridew, and Mac Ward to give CHB the win 29-15.Today, in the Leahy Plate final, they will play the new Mana Kotiro team with kick-off at midday at Tareha Reserve in Taradale.---...

Local News

One person was injured after a car rolled at the intersection of High and Swinburn Streets in Dannevirke last Friday.Police, fire, and ambulance were called just after 1pm.One person was treated at the scene by Hato Hone St John ambulance paramedic with moderate injuries.------------------Representatives from the companies planning on building a windfarm near Pahiatua will hold a drop-in session for members of the public tomorrow.Yinson Renewables and Aurecon NZ are proposing the wind farm be bu...

Local News

A windy day is on the way with a Strong Wind Warning in place for Tararua District, and Strong Wind Watch for Hawke’s Bay.The warning for Tararua covers the period from 9am to 6pm today, with forecasters saying severe northwest gales could reach 120km/hr at times.The watch for Hawke’s Bay covers the area south of about Hastings and came into effect at 9 o’clock last night.Strong winds are expected until about 6 o’clock tonight.-----------------Central Hawke’s Bay and Dannevirke shared ...

Local News

A good win for Central Hawke’s Bay over Wairoa on Day 2 of the 2023 Ross Shield Tournament.The game between the two was the first of the day yesterday and saw CHB hold a 19-nil lead at half time with Central adding another ten points in the second half to take the win 29-7.Lockie Singer scored two tries and kicked two conversions for CHB, with the teams other tries scored by Blaze Parker, Ben Mackie and Kingi George.The win means CHB will hold the Tino Amato Trophy for the next 12 months.Other...

Local News

The 2023 Ross Shield Tournament kicked-off yesterday.CHB had the opening game of the tournament against current Shield holders Napier.Napier used the wind well in the first half of the game and held a 40-nil lead at the break and were able to add another 31 points in the second half, to win 71-nil.In the second game, Hastings West beat Wairoa 31-5.Game three was between Dannevirke and Hastings East, with Easts holding a 14-5 lead at halftime.Final score – Hastings East 35, Dannevirke 5.Day Two...