From F.A.W.C! hiatus, to Napier CCTV monitoring, to GoBay bus security, to HB’s young entrepreneurs, to revamping Animal Shelter, to saving the dotterels, to new Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa directors, to Hawke’s Bay GPs honoured, here’s some notable news you might have missed.

F.A.W.C! takes a hiatus

Due to resource constraints, Hawke’s Bay Tourism has made the pragmatic decision to pause F.A.W.C! (Food and Wine Classic) until further notice to preserve the integrity of the event. 

Since its launch in 2012, F.A.W.C! has cultivated a loyal following, counting 13,000 very loyal F.A.W.C!ers – many of whom have attended every year.

Hamish Saxton, CEO of Hawke’s Bay Tourism commented: “…we are not in a position to deliver the programme this year at the high standards we’ve established, and we don’t want to run the risk of damaging the brand by not meeting our loyal F.A.W.C!ers’ and sponsors’ expectations.”

Napier boosts CCTV monitoring

Napier City Council is introducing night-time CCTV monitoring on a temporary basis as part of its Napier Assist Āwhina Tāngata programme.

CCTV monitoring will be extended to operate overnight, giving Police and the Council better real-time visibility of the city during hours when incidents are more likely to occur. This shift comes in response to increased crime across the CBD and Napier’s shopping areas, with Police data showing a 12% rise over the past two years.

The temporary change will see the existing Napier Assist team adjust their shifts to cover night-time monitoring, while continuing their daytime patrols in a reduced capacity. The arrangement will run until 30 June 2026, during which time Council will review longer-term funding options as part of its next Long Term Plan.

GoBay bus video

Also on the ‘video safety’ front, the HB Regional Council is boosting safety with the rollout of CCTV cameras across 23 GoBay buses. Each bus will feature eight cameras: four inside and four outside, designed to deter anti-social behaviour and improve overall security.

Following several incidents in 2024, the new cameras will help discourage antisocial behaviour, including vandalism, harassment, and aggressive behaviour, ensuring a more respectful and secure travel environment. Each bus will display clear signage to inform passengers that CCTV is in operation.

In case of emergencies, CCTV footage can be accessed live by an external communications centre, enabling faster responses and real-time support for bus drivers and staff.

All made possible by a joint investment from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Go Bus, and Crown funding administered by the NZTA

Support HB’s Young Entrepreneurs

The HB Chamber of Commerce sponsored Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) is thriving.

Sponsored nationally by The Lion Foundation, Young Enterprise inspires the next generation of business leaders, disruptors, and changemakers, helping to create a generation of business savvy and financially competent Kiwis. The program sees senior secondary students start their own businesses, operating with real profit and loss.

YES will have over 70 young entrepreneur teams selling their products and services at the Hastings Market at the Exhibition Hall in the Tomoana Showgrounds on Sunday 10^th August. Gates open at 8:30am and the teams will be there until 12:30pm.

There will be a wide range of products on offer, from food and beverage, handmade furniture, products for our furry friends to apps designed to help people stay connected to Hawke’s Bay. 

YES in Hawke’s Bay is sponsored by Tumu, Pan Pac and the Hastings and Napier Councils.

Animal Shelter to be revamped

NCC will start construction in early 2026 on a new Animal Control Shelter. The new Shelter, with a budget of around $3 million depending on which option the Council settles on, will increase the capacity of the existing facility, improve customer and staff safety and ensure animal welfare needs are better met. 

“The current shelter isn’t fit for purpose and some parts of the building don’t meet modern health, safety and animal welfare standards. Improving our shelter is essential but so is making sure any solution is financial sustainability. By upgrading the shelter we expect cost savings from having up-to-date technology and modern operating systems, which will minimise the cost impact on our rate payers,” says Deputy Chief Executive Jess Ellerm.

Napier has 8,400 registered dogs. Animal control handles 500-800 dogs annually, investigates compkaints, and provides care and shelter for stray, surrendered, seized, abandoned, and dangerous dogs until they are reunited with their owners, adopted, or humanely euthanised where necessary.

Volunteer to Save the Dotterels

Fancy a stroll on the beach for a couple of hours weekly or fortnightly or when it suits you, observing the dotterel nesting season at Westshore and Bayview?

Last year, an international programme from the Max Planck Institute in Germany, began a project on the dotterels, and have ‘banded’ a number of our local birds to track their movements over time. We know the birds arrive at our beach around July and leave again in February.

Our project began about 3 years ago. We work in pairs, with binoculars, and look for nests, eggs, chicks, and adult behaviour. We put pigtails and rope around nests to protect them. We sometimes speak to the public who are interested to know what is going on, who may not see the signs, etc. We record what we observe. 

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa appoints commercial directors

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust, with an asset base of $109.4 million (FY24), has appointed of four new directors to its commercial board, E Tipu, joining current members Renata Hakiwai and Shayne Walker. E Tipu’s assets include commercial forests, Mahia Beach Resort, and the recently purchased Wairoa Star newspaper.

The new directors are:

Wi Pere Mita. A practising lawyer, mediator, and consultant with extensive commercial, public, and not-for-profit experience. Fluent in te reo Māori, Wi Pere brings deep cultural fluency and a strong track record in asset optimisation and economic development.

Philip Te Hau. With over 40 years in the travel and aviation sectors, Philip brings significant experience in governance, leadership, and technology-driven business solutions. Currently active in the redevelopment of Morere Hot Pools, he adds valuable insight into regional economic development and iwi partnership frameworks.

Craig Barrett. A Chartered Accountant and partner at Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, Craig has over 15 years’ experience in governance across both Iwi and non-Iwi entities. His strategic and business advisory background strengthens the board’s commercial acumen.

Darren Beatty. An expert in investment management, Darren supports Māori organisations in accessing capital and navigating large-scale renewable energy projects. He brings valuable expertise in feasibility, planning, and global investor networks.

Hawke’s Bay GPs honoured

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has awarded two local GPs for their contributions to general practice and rural hospital medicine.

The Community Service Medal went to Dr Raewyn Paku, Ngāti Kahungungu ki Te Wairoa. Dr Paku has contributed significantly to her community as an advocate, leader, teacher and strategic thinker. She focuses on achieving equitable outcomes for Māori, workforce development and a cohesive clinical environment. 

She has spent 10 years working as a GP in Heretaunga in the Hawkes Bay for a Māori health provider, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, with four of those 10 years as the Clinical Lead. She has dedicated her career to improving Hauora Māori and to serving her community. 

Additionally, she has taken on the roles of Lead Medical Educator for the College in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne regions. Despite the challenges being faced by the health sector and primary care Dr Paku continues to put the future of the workforce as a main priority. 

The President’s Service Medal went to Dr Bryce Kihirini, Ngāti Moko, Tapuika, Tūhourangi | Hawkes Bay. Dr Kihirini has been an active contributor to the College as a clinical examiner, an in-practice medical educator and mentor to junior doctors, as well as to overseas clinicians who have moved to Aotearoa to practice. He is a strong advocate for Hauora Māori in the College’s clinical examinations and a patient and helpful teacher who ensures registrars are supported across all aspects of their training. He has an unwavering commitment to rural communities, especially those that struggle with health inequities and under-resourcing. 

Dr Kihirini is a valued member of Te Akoranga a Māui, the College’s Māori representative rōpū, and has a great depth of knowledge of Te Reo Māori and tikanga Māori and is a driving force for achieving health equity. 

Also honoured was Dr Margaret Fielding, awarded in recognition of her dedication to rural medicine in her Hawkes Bay community, and the support she provides to her peers and colleagues through calm and practical leadership, teaching and mentorship.