EASTLAND GROUP SEES ITSELF AS PART OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND AS A MAJOR BUSINESS WITHIN THE REGION TAKES ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN SERIOUSLY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE GROUP HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH ALL SORTS OF EVENTS, ORGANISATIONS AND PROJECTS.
Eastland Group’s three year sponsorship with speedway is set to roll over. Speedway is Gisborne’s biggest summer sport, and one that embraces a wide cross section of the community. Thousands head to Eastland Group Raceway during the season to be entertained by some of the best riders and drivers in the land on a track appreciated both by those racing on it and those watching.
It was a brand new look two-day festival that entranced hundreds at the Inner Harbour and proved a hit with musicians, venue owners and ticket- holders alike. The festival, backed by the Group, was shifted to a new date to entice people into the area at a time that was not usually busy. Everyone was more than happy with the outcome.
A keen responsibility towards the environment has seen Eastland Port supporting the Enviroschools project by donating tonnes of mulch and compost to schools from all over the region.
Eastland Group was one of the first local companies to donate to a Gisborne Quake Relief Fund for Christchurch. The Group along with the Gisborne Herald both donated $10,000 to help kick-start the appeal. The fund is a joint initiative by the Chamber of Commerce and Gisborne District Council to help repair and revive the Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club in Christchurch. Gisborne’s love for surf lifesaving and the beach was the motivation for sponsoring Sumner clubbies. It is hoped to raise $100,000.
The Group continues to be involved in the replanting of native trees on Kaiti Hill. Hundreds more trees were planted over two days that saw the wider community turn up to help with the task.
Once again Eastland Group has supported the leaders of tomorrow through scholarships.
This year’s Eastland Group Tertiary Study Scholarships were awarded to Olivia Davidson and Dylan Tama Piwari, who are both studying at the University of Canterbury and will each receive $5,000 towards their university costs and paid work at the Group during their holidays. Past scholarship winners have gone on to do very well, including two- time winner Mikaere Ngarimu who is now working at Eastland Group full time.
Eastland Group was proud to support Te Unga Mai (The Arrival). It was a celebration of the diversity and unity of the community, and included a service near the Cook Landing Monument, waka racing, a sandcastle competition, historical tours and the Mix-Up at the Cut.
The Inner Harbour was again a hub of entertainment with the annual Harbour the Madness Day which attracted bird men and women for the fun side of activities, along with competitive swimmers for the more serious efforts. Cory Taylor took out the 2km open swim, just 2/100th of a second ahead of Ben Quilter. It was tight at the top of the field, with less than a second covering the first eight competitors. Laura Quilter was the first woman home in that eighth slot, with Jack Virtue and Tom Dods taking out the 1km teams’ race.
The Eastland Group Shepherds’ Challenge was one of the highlights at the annual Gisborne A&P Show, attracting around 10 teams who did their best to impress judges with their skill and knowledge. The team from Morunga Station from Matawai proved their prowess in taking the honours on the day. While it is very much a fun event to watch, it carries a more serious underlying message. Anyone who does do well in the challenge has the perfect combination of skills and tools – a good horse, trusty huntaway dog and the ability to make the team work together.
EASTLAND GROUP WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT TE UNGA MAI (THE ARRIVAL). IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSITY AND UNITY OF THE COMMUNITY
There are many other events and organisations throughout the community who are supported in all sorts of ways by Eastland Group during the year including: