Local police are urging people to follow instructions to stay home to ensure the lockdown period achieves its goal. In partnership with Whakatāne District Council and local iwi, several public roads have been closed as traffic volumes and people converging continue to increase. The closed roads include: Maraetotara Road; Burma […]
First Tauranga Hospital COVID-19 positive case discharged “in awe” of care received
The first COVID-19 positive patient treated and discharged from Tauranga Hospital has praised healthcare staff for the exceptional and compassionate care received. “How do you thank people for having a life?” said the person who was discharged yesterday. The patient, who cannot be named or otherwise identified for patient privacy […]
Rat poison left on lawn
A Whakatāne woman has been left shaken after discovering rat poison and ham shavings on her front lawn. Hillena Parsons, who lives near Sullivan’s Lake, believes the poison was intended for her much-loved German Shepherd Rocco. “I got up this morning, looked out my window and saw something on the […]
Work to repurpose PGF funds begins
The Provincial Development Unit is working through applications and projects to see where Provincial Growth Fund money can be repurposed for initiatives deemed more critical to fighting the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. “We need to be throwing everything we have at […]
Theft from Kohanga during lockdown
Te Teko Kohanga Reo kaiako Lorraine “Lolo” Hale has called out the low-lives who stole from the kohanga during the first week of the nation’s Covid 19 lockdown. Hale expressed her anger and disappointment in a Facebook post, describing the theft as a violation of “our babies papatakaro (play space).” […]
New closing time for Whakatāne COVID-19 assessment centre announced
The Whakatāne COVID-19 assessment centre will be opening from 9am-4pm daily starting this Thursday (9 April). The new opening hours mean the Community Based Assessment Centre (CBAC) at the Whakatāne War Memorial Hall will be closing two hours earlier than it had been previously. Bay of Plenty Community Based Health […]
COVID-19 assessment centres to launch in Ōpōtiki and Kawerau
COVID-19 assessment centres are this week being launched in Ōpōtiki and Kawerau. The “Pop Up | Drive Thru” centres both open on Thursday (9 April) and will each operate three days a week going forward until further notice. Ōpōtiki will run on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am-2pm, whilst Kawerau […]
The Hub camp closed
The temporary overnight camping area established at The Hub last week has now closed. All those who were staying at the Hub have now been found alternative accommodation. Welfare staff from the Council’s Emergency Operation Centre have been working with other agencies and accommodation providers to make this happen. Portaloos […]