Tairāwhiti residents say a tragedy at a local beach strewn with woody debris could've been prevented.
A 12-year-old boy died on Gisborne's Waikanae Beach on Wednesday evening, with witnesses telling local media the incident involved a floating log.
Extreme weather events like Cyclone Hale have sent forestry slash barrelling through the region's waterways.
A nearly 9000-strong petition was presented to the Council yesterday, demanding an independent inquiry into the rules on land use.
One of the petition's organisers Manu Caddie spoke to Guyon Espiner.
