Tararua will move into a Restricted Fire Season from this morning.
Fire and Emergency NZ said Tararua, along with Mahia Peninsula and the Wairoa Coastal Strip would join Central Hawke’s Bay and Rural Hastings in a restricted season from 8am today.
Hawke’s Bay District Manager, Ken Cooper, said a restricted fire season means anyone wanting to light an open-air fire will need a permit.
The restrictions come as it continues to get hotter and drier throughout the East Coast.
Mr Cooper said the fire danger is increasing, making it easier for a fire to spread and get out of control.
Anyone requiring a permit can apply for one at www.checkitsalright.nz.
Ken Cooper said there are also some activities people can do while in a restricted fire season, with the best way to check, and stay safe, is to use the ‘can I light a fire tool’ on checkitsalright.nz.
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Dannevirke has recorded a COVID-19 positive wastewater sample.
The Ministry of Health said on Saturday that the positive result was from wastewater tests taken on the 26th and 27th of January.
ESR is testing the town’s wastewater weekly, along with Eketahuna, Pahiatua and Woodville, which all returned negative results last week.
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Two men had to be rescued after their boat capsized at Blackhead Beach on Saturday morning.
Emergency services were alerted to the incident just after 8.30am after the boat capsized about 300 metres offshore.
Both men were wearing lifejackets but were unable to swim back to shore, according to Police.
A member of the public equipped with a flotation device swam out to the men.
The rescuer was attached by rope to another person onshore.
One of the men was located and taken back to shore, with an inflatable boat picking up the other and taking him back to shore.
Police said neither man required treatment, and commended the efforts of rescuers.
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The Waipawa Butchery sponsored CHB Premier Cricket team booked their spot in the final of the Murray McKearnery T20 Memorial Cup with a win over Taradale on Friday night.
Played at Forest Gate Domain at OngaOnga, CHB won the toss and sent the visitors into bat first.
Taradale managed 100 for the loss of 9 wickets in their 20 overs.
In reply, CHB played well, finishing on 104-4 to take the semi-final.
Central’s Scott Schaw said his team was stoked with the win, and to make the final on the 18th of February.
Schaw scored 38 runs off 35 balls, an effort he said he was “pretty pleased” with.
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A passenger bus from Napier to Wellington last Friday has become a location of interest following the detection of a positive COVID-19 case in Palmerston North.
This afternoon, the Midcentral DHB said Intercity Bus IC6367, which departed Napier at 1.50pm on Friday January 28th and arrived in Wellington at 7.45pm that night, is considered a location of interest.
A MidCentral spokesperson said although the positive COVID-19 case disembarked in Palmerston North, all passengers on the entire trip to Wellington are considered close contacts.
It is believed passengers disembarked in Hastings, Central Hawke’s Bay, in the MidCentral region, and in Wellington.
Prior to catching the Wellington bound bus, the positive passenger had travelled on InterCity Bus IC6965 from Gisborne to Napier. That bus left Gisborne at 9.30am on Friday January 28th, arriving in Napier at 1pm.
Anyone on either of the two buses must self-identify by calling the COVID-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or registering here https://bit.ly/RegisterLO .
Close contacts are also required to stay home and get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.
MidCentral DHB setup a pop-up testing centre outside the Dannevirke Community Hospital yesterday.
Anyone requiring a test in Dannevirke today is asked to contact the Barraud Street Health Centre to book one in.
