Waikato District Council Annual Plan Consultation Document
I hope that people have looked at the Waikato District Council Annual Plan Consultation Document for Waste Water as there is only ONE MORE WEEK to put in your submission. Originally I was in favour of the 'Option 2' that Council seem to be pushing BUT you need to look very closely at the chart on page 11 and the impact of Option 2 in 2018/19, a further increase of $125 or $2.50/week. Considering that the Long Term Plan agreed rate for 2017/2018 was $752.68 and this has been increased by $113 to do Option 1, serious questions need to be asked. The existing budgets will already include money for CCTV work and SCADA upgrades and Council will have money available from depreciation of the existing assets.
I am disappointed that much of the document, Council has produced, has a definite bias for Option 2, when it should be unbiased and straight up as it is supplied to the owners of Council, the ratepayers.
These options have been created by consultants, and now is a great time to suggest to Council that they need to look at ways of trimming the budgets to keep them affordable when many people are struggling. I am not directly affected (as I am on septic tank) but am writing because I know people who will be. Our local Councillors will take our comments to the budgeting meetings so copy in Eugene Patterson and Janet Gibb
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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58.9% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.3% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.8% ... It is complicated
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Tamahere home in dentist case was once centre of accountant’s fraud
It’s been a feature in a recent Hamilton District Court trial , but a Tamahere mansion already has an complicated history.
The property in Woodcock Rd - notable for having a hydroslide in the back yard - the scene of now-disproved alleged sexual offending by Hamilton dentist Rahul Gautam - made headlines more than 15 years ago, when it was a focus in the case of accountant Gary Soffe.
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