The Kōpūtūtea zone of Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Tairāwhiti District is now in a restricted fire season.
The season began at 8am on Wednesday and is until further notice.
This zone covers Gisborne City and the Poverty Bay Basin, including Manutūkē, Pātūtahi and Ngatapa.
During a restricted fire season, anyone planning to light an open-air fire will need to apply for and obtain a permit, which can be applied for at www.checkitsalright.nz.
If anyone is unclear about whether they are inside the restricted zone, they can enter their address at www.checkitsalright.nz to find out what fire season they are in.
Tairāwhiti District Commander Peter Clark said the change in season for this area was because of the area drying out and the fire danger increasing.
“The fire danger is currently high due to the dry, windy and warm temperatures,” Clark said.
“These conditions are expected to continue for the remainder of the month and, with the increasing number of vegetation fires we are seeing in the area, it is time to make this change.”
Hāngī and cultural cooking fires are allowed in a restricted season, but the public is asked to keep a hose close by and keep them as small as possible, with a 2mx2m maximum.
Braziers, barbecues, open-top cookers or permanent outdoor fireplaces and ovens are also allowed without a permit as long as certain conditions are met.
Regardless of the fire season, Clark said people should also be careful when undertaking heat or spark-generating activities and should keep checking on their previous fires to ensure no re-ignition was possible.
House of Breakthrough’s free Big Day Out returns with food, fun, and more
House of Breakthrough Tairawhiti’s annual Big Day Out is back again this Saturday.
Last year’s free event proved popular with an abundance of free food, music and a car display while Fire and Emergency New Zealand showed how to put out a fire.
Everything including the food is free, said Pastor Norm McLeod.
“House of Breakthrough puts on the free big day out in order to provide a few hours where parents can bring their children and not have to worry about paying big money to entertain them,” McLeod said.
“Everything is free, the icecreams, the rides, the bouncy castles, the burgers, etc, etc.”
Last year litres of ice cream, hundreds of swordfish burgers and hot dogs were enjoyed.
Hundreds of items of clothing were given away, free haircuts were provided.
There were free lucky dips, bouncy castles and “waka” rides behind quad motorbikes,
McLeod describes the Big Day Out as a church team effort “to express God’s love in practical ways.
“Aroha Ki Te Atua Aroha Ki Te Tangata. Love God by loving our people,” he said.
“The Big Day Out is just one of the many ways we seek to do that to our community.
“Besides sharing the love of Jesus with our local community and nation, House of Breakthrough has a global mission to support poor communities.”
The event runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm outside the House of Breakthrough
“It’s such an inclusive atmosphere where parents and children can just have an amazing two hours of free food and family fun,” said McLeod.
Eastland Port water sports sponsorship applications open
Applications are now open for 2025 Water Sport Sponsorship.
A statement from Eastland Port said each of the five selected applicants will receive $1,000 in funding, which could be used to purchase new equipment, for travel expenses or to acquire other necessary gear.
The programme aims to not only support competitive athletes but to encourage them to take pride in their sport and in achieving their goals.
“We value those who take pride in water sports, whether at the regional, national, or international level,” Eastland Port CEO, Andrew Gaddum said.
“We are thrilled to offer sponsorship to athletes, helping them achieve their sporting goals and making our community proud.”
Eastland Port encouraged water sports athletes from across the Tairāwhiti / East Coast region to apply.
Applications can be submitted via Eastland Port’s Facebook and Instagram pages, or by handing them to the front desk at Eastland Port’s office at 2 Crawford Rd.
Applications close at 5pm on Thursday, December 5.
