Parking fees hike mooted for central Christchurch
The city council has proposed increasing the cost of on-street metered parking by almost a third, from $3.10 an hour to $4.
Under the current pricing structure, people using a credit or debit card pay $3.10 per hour and a card fee of 50 cents, totalling $3.60. The proposed $4 an hour would see the council absorb the card fee, a move that would cost the authority $300,000 a year but be recouped by the increased hourly rate.
In central Auckland motorists pay $5 an hour for the first two hours on weekdays, then $10 an hour; Wellington drivers pay $4.50 an hour.
What do you think of the rise? Fair enough or will it deter you from visiting the CBD? Read the full story here and tell us what you think in the comments below.
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
-
43% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
-
56.4% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
-
0.6% Other - I'll share below
Today’s riddle: For all the curious minds next door!
My thunder comes before the lightning.
My lightning comes before the clouds.
My rain dries all the land it touches.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.