WATER USAGE
So how many fortunate people are exempt from any water bills because their property shares a water meter ?
Checking for some people who were concerned that they could be charged excesses, but don't have a computer, I was presented from the COUNCIL web site, on several searches ""This property shares a water meter with at least one other property, so we can’t calculate its water usage. The Excess Water Supply Targeted Rate doesn’t apply to properties with shared meters.""
So should people feel outraged that this water charge selects only those who have their own dedicated water meter. Should the council have to declare how many people WILL NOT BE CHARGED, either because they have shared meters and those that the council hasn't even put a water meter that the council is not even able to record that water meter.
Instead of the polls we get thrust upon us which accomplish ZILCH, an opportunity for them to get this anomaly corrected seems to me necessary.
{I am whistling in the wind I know}. If you have a neighbour on a shared meter, or doesn't have a meter, just get them to allow you to use their hoses to top up your water usage and so evade a water bill until the council decides they should treat all people fairly. Cheers all.
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!
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.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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