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Come along and enjoy a night of dancing or learn to dance a waltz, fox trot, rumba, tango, jive and lots more with the Greymouth Old Time & Sequence Dance, Holy Trinity Hall, 7.30 pm to 10 pm, 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month.
It might not be making quite so many headlines these days, but unfortunately, Covid is still here. If you’re 65 or over, taking care of yourself is just as important as ever.
The good news is, the Covid vaccine can help protect you from serious illness. It’s free, and recommended for you and… View moreIt might not be making quite so many headlines these days, but unfortunately, Covid is still here. If you’re 65 or over, taking care of yourself is just as important as ever.
The good news is, the Covid vaccine can help protect you from serious illness. It’s free, and recommended for you and many others as long as you haven’t had the vaccine, or Covid, in the last 6 months.
To book your vaccination, go to BookMyVaccine.nz or talk to your healthcare provider.
For only $15 a ticket, you could win this brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home located in the picturesque Cooks Beach, Coromandel.
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Get your tickets today at heartlottery.org.nz
By local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
West Coast councils have done the right thing by pressing pause on environmental hearings for their new district plan, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
And a longer pause would be even better, he says.
Hearings were set to begin… View moreBy local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
West Coast councils have done the right thing by pressing pause on environmental hearings for their new district plan, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says.
And a longer pause would be even better, he says.
Hearings were set to begin later this month on the chapter of the proposed Te Tai o Poutini plan (TTPP) for the whole Coast, which deals with Significant Natural Areas.
But the TTPP committee of council and iwi representatives has told the hearings' commissioners they want to postpone the process until November.
By that time, they say, they should have a clearer idea of what changes the government is making to biodiversity rules.
Hoggard said it definitely makes sense to pause the process because change is under way.
“I would think by November the councils will have a much better idea as to the direction the government will be taking, so any work they do won’t be in vain."
By November the Freshwater and Other Matters Bill, which pauses the mapping of new Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) for three years, will have passed through Parliament and be enacted in law, Hoggard said.
And the councils will have been involved in consultation with the government about the nature of planned changes to the National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity.
The policy statement directs councils to map and protect Significant Natural Areas and has been hugely controversial on the West Coast where there are still many stands of native forest on private land.
Hoggard said consultation is getting under way.
"I would hope, come decision-time, the councils will have a clear idea of the government’s intentions.
“Ideally it would be good if they could hold off till the middle of next year, once all the changes are complete."
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine says that prospect is alarming.
“It would have cascading effects and costs for the ratepayers. We’d be working under two plans for a prolonged period – the proposed one and the old operative one.
“So when anyone applies for resource consent you have two lots of evidence, more expense, and lots of uncertainty.”
Hoggard said he planned to work with the West Coast councils to reach a pragmatic solution that would not waste ratepayers’ money.
Asked if the government would phase out the SNA classification entirely, Mr Hoggard said they wanted to redefine the criteria.
“We’ll review the entire NPSIB, what is ‘significant’; how SNAs are determined and some rules on how councils go about that ... it won’t what it looks like now.
“Rather than imposing a whole bunch of rules on landowners that take away property rights, how about we come up some carrot approaches rather than the stick, and … reward them for looking after that biodiversity.”
When Grey District identified its SNAs 15 years ago, many areas that qualified were put under QE11 Trust covenants by the owners, the Minister said.
“That shows to me farmers are happy to look after indigenous biodiversity on their land, and on the West Coast there is so much in the DOC estate, are two or three hectares on someone’s private land that significant?"
Deferring work on the plan till mid-2025 would buy time for councils to write rules in line with the government’s new direction, Hoggard said.
“Coast councils should ensure they come up with a plan that reflects how things will be, and is practical and sensible for farmers, ratepayers and landowners," the minister said.
Buller’s mayor is worried that further delays could also cost Buller $13 million, which was approved by the last government for roading and water services in Westport’s new growth area, up on Alma Rd.
“That’s contingent on rezoning (in the new plan) and the Government wants action on that by the end of the year or we lose the funding. So pausing the plan is a $13m problem for Buller," Cleine said.
Simply leaving out the Environmental Values chapter of the plan and forging on with the rest was not a practical solution either.
“The environmental rules are threaded through the whole plan - they apply in so many other sections, it makes no sense just to leave out that chapter."
In any case, the proposed plan gave Westland and Buller three years to start work on SNAs, so adopting it in its present form was not at odds with the government’s intentions, Cleine said.
“We could simply go ahead, get the thing operative and when the law changes, go back and do a Plan Change to accommodate it – which is something you have to do anyway to keep a plan current."
Hoggard said he hoped to find a way through the West Coast plan complexities that will work for everyone.
“I’ll have to check – all this stuff seems simple until I talk to lawyers and then everything gets much more complicated. But we will work with the councils to make sure we get a good outcome.”
Hi neighbours! Here are some product recalls from the past 2 weeks. Click on the title of these to bring up specific details of the recall.
Food:
Harvest Snaps brand Baked Pea Crisps
Raymons Mince Pies and Sausage Rolls
Kings Finest Small Batch Liqueur brand Advocaat
… View moreHi neighbours! Here are some product recalls from the past 2 weeks. Click on the title of these to bring up specific details of the recall.
Food:
Harvest Snaps brand Baked Pea Crisps
Raymons Mince Pies and Sausage Rolls
Kings Finest Small Batch Liqueur brand Advocaat
King brand Traditional Soup Mix Gluten Free Vegetable
Pavillion brand Beef and Gravy Pies
Henderson Dairy brand Farm Fresh Raw Milk (unpasteurised)
Products:
Serene S2068 Bathroom Heater.
Rylee and Cru Pyjama set
Avanti Bikes
Kale Airmove Fan
Ensure you check your household items to ensure you aren't consuming or using anything harmful.
Purchase an occupation right to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating Ryman Village before 30 September 2024 and you won’t pay your fixed base weekly fee until 2026*.
That’s great financial certainty — you won't pay rates, water rates, building insurance, … View morePurchase an occupation right to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating Ryman Village before 30 September 2024 and you won’t pay your fixed base weekly fee until 2026*.
That’s great financial certainty — you won't pay rates, water rates, building insurance, maintenance fees and more.
Click to read more about this limited time offer.
*Participating villages only, Ts & Cs and exclusions apply
Look at these lovely faces around New Zealand who have introduced themselves on our Know Thy Neighbour page. We all love learning about the people around us and we want you to join in too!
So share a photo and a little bit about yourself so your neighbours can (virtually) meet you!
Is your garden producing more fruit and veg than you know what to do with? Or are you simply wanting to add more to your cooking? NZ Gardener has teamed up with Upstart Press this August with a great subscription offer to help you out!
Subscribe to NZ Gardener for 1 or 2 years and you’ll … View moreIs your garden producing more fruit and veg than you know what to do with? Or are you simply wanting to add more to your cooking? NZ Gardener has teamed up with Upstart Press this August with a great subscription offer to help you out!
Subscribe to NZ Gardener for 1 or 2 years and you’ll receive the Abundance plant-based recipe book by Anna Valentine. Abundance offers over 100 recipes that are filling, healthy and packed with flavour, plus enjoy your monthly dose of NZ Gardener magazine - the perfect combo. T&Cs apply.
The team at NZ Gardener
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) made severance payments totalling $165,416, its annual report reveals.
The draft report states the payment was made to one employee, but chair Peter Haddock said on Tuesday that was an error and there were … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) made severance payments totalling $165,416, its annual report reveals.
The draft report states the payment was made to one employee, but chair Peter Haddock said on Tuesday that was an error and there were two staff paid out in that period.
One was former chief executive, Heather Mabin (pictured), who negotiated a settlement with the council.
She left the council in June 2023, after completing her contract.
In the previous year, the WCRC paid out $258,645 in a severance settlement, which LDR understands was made to one female employee.
The council’s draft annual report will be out on time this year – unlike its 2022 effort, an achievement chief executive Darryl Lew said was down to the fact that the council now had a full muster of well-qualified finance staff.
However, the council’s annual rate strike has been delayed.
The rates were to be struck at its monthly meeting yesterday, but chairperson Peter Haddock said he had taken the item off the agenda because he was not sure the figures were water-tight.
The council has 23 special rating districts, based on river catchments from Haast to Westport, and each district must decide on a works programme and what landowners are willing to pay for in a given year.
“Last year we had a rate strike and it was incorrect, and we had to retract and it was chaos for three months. Grey District have just done a rate strike and it was incorrect and they’ve had to change it.
“I want to be crystal clear that ours is correct,” Haddock said.
He and council staff had been working away on the rating district figures right up until the night before the meeting, he said.
“I said, 'I still don’t think we’ve got it right' – I’m going to delay it for a couple of weeks because we don’t actually have to set rates until September.
The council has adopted a new 10-year-plan that sets out rate increases of 27% this year, 12 percent next year, and increases of about 7% in subsequent years.
Haddock said on Tuesday the increases were significant but the council had been keeping the rates unrealistically low in previous years and was now in catch-up mode.
August 7 is Aged Care Employee Day. Today, we take the opportunity to honour our compassionate and dedicated carers. Introducing Helen Danielsen, who has worked in the Special Care Unit at Ernest Rutherford Village for 15 years.
When Senior Caregiver Helen Danielsen first joined the Ernest … View moreAugust 7 is Aged Care Employee Day. Today, we take the opportunity to honour our compassionate and dedicated carers. Introducing Helen Danielsen, who has worked in the Special Care Unit at Ernest Rutherford Village for 15 years.
When Senior Caregiver Helen Danielsen first joined the Ernest Rutherford Special Care team, it was working the night shift as it was the perfect job to manage while she raised her children as a single mum.
Click read more for the full story.
It may be fine now but in a few years trees can block out light or views for neighbours.
Do you think neighbours should ask before they go ahead and plant these?
Is your dad superb with sandpaper, pristine with a palette knife and perfect with a paintbrush? Or maybe he's risky with a roller, mad with masking tape and comedic when cutting in? Either way we'd like to hear about your DIY dad and why he deserves to win this Father's Day.
Tell… View moreIs your dad superb with sandpaper, pristine with a palette knife and perfect with a paintbrush? Or maybe he's risky with a roller, mad with masking tape and comedic when cutting in? Either way we'd like to hear about your DIY dad and why he deserves to win this Father's Day.
Tell us about your DIY dad for a chance to win him $1000 worth of Resene paint products!
Plus all entries will be in with a chance to win their DIY Dad one of our colourful spot prizes.
Police are aware of reports emerging overnight where people have received a phone call from someone claiming to be a Police officer.
The officer will claim to be from a particular department, tell you that you have been a victim of fraud or scam, and begin to try and obtain further financial … View morePolice are aware of reports emerging overnight where people have received a phone call from someone claiming to be a Police officer.
The officer will claim to be from a particular department, tell you that you have been a victim of fraud or scam, and begin to try and obtain further financial information from you.
People have been directed to go to the bank and withdraw money for evidence of the scam.
This is a scam – no legitimate Police officer will ever ask you to hand over money for any reason.
Overnight we have had five instances of this being reported, people need to be vigilant.
Enquiries into reports of scams of a similar nature received last week remain ongoing.
We appreciate these scammers are convincing, but New Zealand Police will never contact you and ask you to withdraw money. New Zealand Police will also never contact people seeking their banking details, card numbers, PIN or passwords.
Older members of our community are being targeted and Police urge anyone with elderly or vulnerable relatives to make them aware this activity is a scam.
There are instances where legitimate Police officers will contact you as part of their duties.
Remember:
• Police will never ask for details about your bank cards, PIN or passwords over the phone.
• Trust your instincts.
• If something doesn't feel right, or is too good to be true, it probably is.
• If you are uncertain, ask for the officer’s details.
• Hang up, contact 105 and request the officer to contact you.
• Police aren’t in the business of offering prize money.
If you are in the unfortunate position of being a victim of a scam, please report the matter to Police.
Take the chance to upskill yourself on scam awareness, check for further information on the Netsafe website: netsafe.org.nz...
We're back with a Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell who is a qualified veterinarian and SPCA’s General Manager Animal Services.
A little bit about Corey:
Corey has an interest in veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and biosecurity. He shares his home … View moreWe're back with a Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell who is a qualified veterinarian and SPCA’s General Manager Animal Services.
A little bit about Corey:
Corey has an interest in veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and biosecurity. He shares his home with ostriches, guinea pigs, bees, a rescue tortoiseshell named Lynk, a ragdoll named Oscar, two mini foxies called Chester and Maya and a black Labrador named Bonnie.
Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell is excited to answer your questions on all things animal welfare, whether it's how to best look after your new pet, how to combat separation anxiety or how to report neglect.
↓ Share your questions now ↓
Retirement in New Zealand is evolving as people live longer, healthier lives, and the number of Kiwis who choose to continue working later in life is rising.
Retirement is your time to do what you love. Maybe for you this doesn't mean stopping work altogether; instead, it can mean shifting… View moreRetirement in New Zealand is evolving as people live longer, healthier lives, and the number of Kiwis who choose to continue working later in life is rising.
Retirement is your time to do what you love. Maybe for you this doesn't mean stopping work altogether; instead, it can mean shifting gears to something more fulfilling or pursuing passions that you now have time for. This might mean volunteering, part-time work, or even starting your own business.
Here’s some helpful advice from Ryman residents in the workforce.
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