CHRISTCHURCH CITY RATE INCREASES
Having read the responses to the original post I note that not one person put their hand up to say they will stand at the next election and do a better job than the incumbents even though they criticize the present mayor and councilors. I am a harsh critic of council and don't agree with much of what they do or how they do it, but the reality is they are governed by rules, regulations and laws which often makes decision making painfully slow. Our world is being strangled by consultants and RED TAPE.
While nobody likes rate increases, the reality is most of us want and expect more and more from our councils, if we don't want a rugby stadium with a roof, others will want one for concerts and on and on it goes.
Christchurch rates are lower than many other towns and cities even though we have had far greater adversity than anyone else.
Many object to contributing to the Cathedral rebuild, but the amount they are being asked to pay is pittance, about $65 over 10 years.
My largest objection is the cycle-ways and I am certain the majority agree. The amount being spent on them and walkways is just totally ridiculous.
Council have to consult and advertise the projects they intend to carry out, but in most cases the information is so scant it is a waste of time as a lay person is unable to decipher or understand, whereas I am sure if the information was made easily available and understandable in full detailed drawings many projects wouldn't be acceptable to ratepayers.
I am sure the council would get so much more "buy in" if they detailed projects with clear drawings and descriptions and also if they put up alternative ways of doing things with cost comparisons. It is the manner which council does things in "over the top" "Rolls Royce" approaches that really gets "the backs up" of ratepayers. Another revamp of Cathedral square is a prime example.
Council also needs to take a "deep breath" and question their motive and continuance to run loss making events such as The Buskers Festival etc etc - even the "free" Concerts in the Park cost us the ratepayers a lot of money.
Many residents want more and more (additional rates) - whereas many more of us "thinking" ratepayers are wanting less and less (stable rates).
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
-
36.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
-
63.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Loading…
