Excess water usage charges.
I had cause to contact the Council regarding excess water charges and whether the charge was still in force, as my meter has not been read since FEB 2023.
Plus, it was still in force to remind me of the justification behind it.
It turns out that it is still in place at 900ltrs per day and the reason given is:
"In two of the three previous summers, demand on our water supply network has been so high that it's been at risk of not being able to supply enough water to properties. If this happened, it could have serious impacts on public health, as well as public safety in the event of a significant fire.
Low water pressure in the pipes also causes other health and safety issues such as allowing groundwater to enter the network through breaks that would usually leak outwards under normal pressure. Groundwater can contain potentially harmful microbes that cause illness. Our Water Supply team then have to respond by increasing chlorination."
I pointed out that water saved in Halswell will not help the lack of water pressure in Fendalton or the hospital. In fact, ONLY the facilities in the areas with smaller piping and older systems, suffer from this problem. Charging the rest of the city to encourage them to reduce their usage does NOTHING to stop the drop in water pressure in other Zones.
With this system, we do not SAVE water, as water that is not used today, goes to the sea, there is no huge tank below the ground that today's water can be stored in, until tomorrow.
There is plenty of water or we would not be building new subdivisions.
A relatively small area of the city will suffer water pressure problems on hot summer days during peak demand times, even if the rest of the city turned their water OFF.
The Manager of the Water Division explained it to me.
Poll: Canterbury is thriving on paper... but are you seeing evidence of Canterbury's improving economy?
As reported in the Press, Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman recently gave a shout-out to our region, calling Canterbury a "stand-out" for how we recover from tough times. With tech firms growing and exporters investing, the business side of things is looking bright!
👉 But we know that "business growth" doesn't always mean the weekly shop gets any cheaper. While the city expands, many families feel like they’re just trying to keep their heads above water.
We want to know: With the business buzz of 2026, do you feel like things are finally looking up for your household, or does it still feel like a climb?
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0% Yes
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0% No
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100% In some areas ...
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
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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.
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