OPEN LETTER SENT TO COUNCILL MEMBERS ABOUT THE REVIEW OF SERVICE MODEL AND FUNDING FOR WELLINGTON CAB'S
No doubt you have been made aware of the anger, frustration and confusion that many Wellingtonians have towards you and Council staffers who are proposing to close the Wellington CAB's. National and local news-media together with social media have fully amplified the real concerns.
The "guts" of the issue is outlined in the paragraph below-note the last three lines "If it aint broke-don't fix it"
The Council's Grants Sub-Committee recommended on 31 May that CAB be allocated funding of $103,500 "as a one-off six-month grant to provide an opportunity for WELCAB to redefine the way it delivers services and to be responsive to current and future trends in the way people access information and support."
Brian Dawson, Jill Day, Sara Freeman-Take a bow. Who is the muppet on/within the Council suggesting "mobile service units?. It is strongly suspected that you have no idea where CAB's are located, let alone visited one or spoken to the volunteers/community members who access their services.
The current offices are strategically based within communities enabling full access to everyone (especially those with disabilities) Easy to park and good public transport. How is this going to be achieved with "mobile/remote" service access?
The reason that CAB's are successful and have credibility, is that people have free/unfetted access. They are treated in a non-judgmental manner by "real people". In an "ideal world", CAB's would/should be closed if it were not for the fact that they (and other voluntary agencies) are doing the work of toxic, bureaucratic organisations/companies who alienate degrade, bully and demean vulnerable consumers (WINZ,ACC,Housing NZ, WCC).
If it were not for the existence and work of CAB's (and like agencies), the "cost" to the community would be prohibitive and the negative social outcomes potentially harmful/protraced. Ratepayers are "paying" for this service and it is clear that they are happy about the service delivery currently provided.
It is unconscionable that Council and staff officers have demonstrated a caviler, arrogant and professionally disrespectful attitude towards the Board,Senior Management and the volunteers of the Wellington CAB's over this critical issue.
Maybe the Council should start this conversation again. Go back to the beginning and this time be constructive,open, honest, transparent and work collaboratively with the CAB to clearly identify and resolve operational/funding matters that are of concern to you.
The Council has lost credibility and the respect of the community on their handling of this matter
I note with interest in the Dompost (8th June), that the Council have scrapped the "redevelopment of lower Tory street after wasting $0000. Not sure of the status of the $20,000 "rainbow pedestrian crossing. The community will doubtless be "delighted" that the Mayor/Council have approved the expenditure of $250,000 for the Matariki Festival which commences on 15th June Interesting take on financial priorities.--
Neville Wellbourn
Flat 9/7 Konini Road
Hataitai
Wellington 6021
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
.
Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
-
85.1% Yes
-
13.8% No
-
1% Other - I'll share below
Newlands Resilience Group
Dear All,
Community Survey 2024
Introduction
Community resilience is having the resources, social capital, communication, and competence so the community can thrive. Disaster resilience is being ready, able to respond to, and able to recover from a disaster. A community is more likely to be disaster-resilient if it is community-resilient. A community can be resilient if a holistic and sustainable approach is taken to the well-being of its people. This survey will help inform community conversations to generate ideas to improve community resilience and wellbeing. The survey includes some basic disaster readiness questions. For more information, please visit the Newlands website newlandsnz.weebly.com...
How, When and Who
This survey can be completed online either in private or in a group and for example at home, a community gathering or a neighbor’s house etc. The survey is anonymous, and confidential and does not record any personal data of the respondents. The Aotearoa Community Resilience Network charitable trust is the caretaker of the survey data. No other public or private organization or persons have ownership or access rights to the data.
Next steps
The data will be added to the responses from previous surveys here and the results will be shared with the community. This includes a series of community conversations from February to April 2025 to discuss the findings and agree on the steps to enhance Newland’s resilience and well-being. Please tick the last box in the survey, and include your email, if you are interested in knowing more about what we are trying to do.
Please click the below link and like us. We are trying to assist people from all walks of life in Paparangi, Bellevue, Woodridge and Newlands. Your response is vital for our project. We greatly appreciate your help.
Here is the link. You can copy and paste the link in your browser to like this.
www.facebook.com...
Loading…
