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Environmentalists want the more than 2 million hectares of stewardship land up for review to go into the conservation estate, but others say it’s not all valuable land and parts should be opened up for development.
Stewardship land was allocated to the Department of Conservation (DOC) when it … View moreEnvironmentalists want the more than 2 million hectares of stewardship land up for review to go into the conservation estate, but others say it’s not all valuable land and parts should be opened up for development.
Stewardship land was allocated to the Department of Conservation (DOC) when it was formed in 1987. About 30 per cent of conservation land, or 2.5 million hectares, is stewardship land, accounting for one-ninth of all New Zealand land – and one third of the West Coast.
The Government announced it would start reclassifying the land on the West Coast and across the top of the South Island. Some land would remain in the DOC estate, but some land with low conservation values could be sold off to private interests.
Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) and Forest & Bird say most, if not all, of the land should remain under DOC management and the small sections of low value should be rehabilitated to help tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis.
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said he totally disagreed that all stewardship land held high conservation values.
“It is clearly not. Large parts of it are really only regenerating scrub land. Parts of Buller’s stewardship land may be beneficial to be freed up.”
Allowing land to be developed would also mean more rates for the council and potentially more jobs for West Coasters, he said.
Read the full story here.
Westport’s housing market does not appear to have been affected by major flooding last year, despite about 500 homes being inundated with floodwater and flood protection work yet to begin.
The biggest flooding event in the West Coast town happened in July, when about 500 homes flooded following … View moreWestport’s housing market does not appear to have been affected by major flooding last year, despite about 500 homes being inundated with floodwater and flood protection work yet to begin.
The biggest flooding event in the West Coast town happened in July, when about 500 homes flooded following heavy rain. Another 22 homes flooded in February when another bout of heavy rain damaged roads and about 70 farms.
Infometrics data shows house values on the West Coast for the year to December 2021 were the lowest in the country at $327,527. Buller’s average price was the lowest on the Coast at $304,657 – one third of the national average of $1m.
However, Buller’s house values also experienced the highest growth on the Coast with a 30.8 per cent rise over the same period. According to QV, prices continued to rise in 2022 with a 10 per cent increase in the March quarter.
Read more here.
If you’ve ever felt a decent earthquake, your first thought was probably the safety of your loved ones. This long weekend is the perfect time to think about protecting them by making your home quake safe.
The good news is there’s a lot you can do right now, like securing tall and heavy … View moreIf you’ve ever felt a decent earthquake, your first thought was probably the safety of your loved ones. This long weekend is the perfect time to think about protecting them by making your home quake safe.
The good news is there’s a lot you can do right now, like securing tall and heavy furniture, and finding a builder to look at your chimney.
Everything you need to know is at EQC’s site. Don’t wait for the next earthquake to shake you into action, get started this long weekend.
Putting a tasty and nutritious meal in front of our families each night is important for many of us, but with work, school, and activities in the way, it can also become a stressful chore.
Dinner Sorted delivers a week's worth of delicious, satisfying recipes that should please the whole … View morePutting a tasty and nutritious meal in front of our families each night is important for many of us, but with work, school, and activities in the way, it can also become a stressful chore.
Dinner Sorted delivers a week's worth of delicious, satisfying recipes that should please the whole family, sent to your inbox on Saturday mornings. As a bonus you'll also get our Weekend Baking collection, perfect for filling the baking tins, lunchboxes, or just that 4pm gap.
Sign up here it's free!
Making the move to a Ryman retirement village while you’re independent allows you to enjoy everything that’s on offer.
With assisted living, resthome, hospital and dementia care also onsite, if your partner needs care before you, knowing the village care centre is only a short stroll away … View moreMaking the move to a Ryman retirement village while you’re independent allows you to enjoy everything that’s on offer.
With assisted living, resthome, hospital and dementia care also onsite, if your partner needs care before you, knowing the village care centre is only a short stroll away will help ease this transition.
Care options vary between villages.
From Local Democracy Reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast Regional Council monitoring staff have been busy in the past month, with 79 site visits.
Compliance staff received 16 complaints, issued one formal warning and one abatement notice.
The formal warning was to an Arahura Valley goldminer … View moreFrom Local Democracy Reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast Regional Council monitoring staff have been busy in the past month, with 79 site visits.
Compliance staff received 16 complaints, issued one formal warning and one abatement notice.
The formal warning was to an Arahura Valley goldminer for an unconsented water take, and a Kapitia Creek miner received an abatement notice.
Of the 79 site visits, 16 were due to complaints, eight for resource consent monitoring, eight mining compliance and bond release checks, and 47 dairy farm checks.
The Kapitia mine site abatement followed several complaints from one complainant that sediment laden water was being discharged into the stream.
"The mining treatment ponds had a leak in the pond wall. The discharge flowed down a bush creek into Kapitia Creek... The investigation is still ongoing," staff said.
At nearby Stafford, a goldminer and an outside complainant both notified of sediment laden water escaping into Waimea Creek.
"The miner had shut the operation down to cease any further discharges."
When the council visited the creek had cleared upstream, but deeper pools downstream were "discoloured with sedimentation".
No decision had yet been taken on enforcement action.
At Fox Creek, a miner received a formal warning for taking water without consent after staff visited the Arahura Valley site following a complaint about sediment discharges.
Staff found the miner carrying out "exploration testing" but the creek was not discoloured.
The miner is now applying for a water take consent.
Council staff found visible sediment in Boatmans Creek in Inangahua following a complaint the stream was "significantly discoloured".
An adjacent farm property, impacted by the February floods, was found to be the culprit after the landowner moved gravel in the creek bed, breaking permitted activity rules allowing bank reinstatement and removal of flood debris. An "educative approach" was used and the landowner was seeking a resource consent.
At Ruatapu, a complaint about harvested logs from a forestry block being dragged through a creek was "a minor non-compliance".
The forester had neglected to notify the council as required but there were no issues with the operation method, staff said.
Other complaints/incidents not yet found to be either compliant or non-compliant included:
* Multiple complaints about a burn-off at Blue Spur discharging smoke and ash on to neighbouring properties.
* Multiple other complaints about discharge from the Kapitia goldmine.
* Large amounts of baleage wrap "caught high in the trees" along the Little Totara River north of Charleston and washed down the river during the February flood was traced to the owner who was organising a clean-up.
* Flooding at Inangahua allegedly caused by land development on a farm was related to severe weather events but the nearby land development might be exacerbating the situation;
* A complaint about the discharge of dust from a gravel quarry in the Grey River bed at Omoto. The gravel access road to the site was the likely cause but as the road was public it did not breach regional rules or resource consent conditions.
The gravel operator had been advised to consider the neighbouring properties and use a water cart.
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The Antidote delivers your daily dose of good news each weekday afternoon, straight to your inbox.
Based on the Stuff column, the newsletter showcases five happy things from the news, for a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness in the… View moreThe Antidote delivers your daily dose of good news each weekday afternoon, straight to your inbox.
Based on the Stuff column, the newsletter showcases five happy things from the news, for a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness in the world.
The NZ Compare Easter Bunny has been busy! He’s delivered some epic exclusive deals on broadband just in time for the holidays!
No chocolate in sight, these treats are better! How about unlimited broadband plans starting from $65/m with 6 months of FREE Neon and Amazon Prime with 2degrees or … View moreThe NZ Compare Easter Bunny has been busy! He’s delivered some epic exclusive deals on broadband just in time for the holidays!
No chocolate in sight, these treats are better! How about unlimited broadband plans starting from $65/m with 6 months of FREE Neon and Amazon Prime with 2degrees or $85/m plus a HUGE $255 welcome credit with Now Broadband?
Exclusive to NZ Compare, you won’t get these deals anywhere else. Hop to it neighbours, before they go!
Our service is free, we’re Kiwis helping Kiwis compare what’s out there across power, broadband and money.
Ferrero International S.A. is recalling Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs from New Zealand shelves because of potential contamination with salmonella bacteria.
It forms part of a global recall of affected product, which was manufactured in a Belgian factory. There have been cases of illnesses … View moreFerrero International S.A. is recalling Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs from New Zealand shelves because of potential contamination with salmonella bacteria.
It forms part of a global recall of affected product, which was manufactured in a Belgian factory. There have been cases of illnesses reportedly linked to the product overseas, but there have been no confirmed cases in New Zealand.
The following product is in New Zealand and is affected by this issue and has been recalled:
· Kinder Surprise Maxi 100g (Natoons variety) with batch number L298R03UNB and best before date of 23 August 2022.
The following types of products have been recalled overseas and may also be in New Zealand:
· Kinder Surprise
· Kinder Surprise Maxi
· Kinder Mini Eggs
· Kinder Schokobon
· Kinder Egg Hunt
· Kinder Mix
· Kinder Maxi Mix
· Kinder Happy Moment
People who have Kinder Surprise eggs at home are encouraged to check the label to ensure it is not affected by the recall. Further details are soon to be published on the New Zealand Food Safety Authority's website
Hi there neighbours!
Get in quick! These mags are flying off our shelves in our Mother’s Day sale. A subscription to her favourite magazine is the perfect gift that keeps on giving.
Plus, every subscription to NZ House & Garden, NZ Gardener, and The TV Guide, goes in the draw to win 1… View moreHi there neighbours!
Get in quick! These mags are flying off our shelves in our Mother’s Day sale. A subscription to her favourite magazine is the perfect gift that keeps on giving.
Plus, every subscription to NZ House & Garden, NZ Gardener, and The TV Guide, goes in the draw to win 1 of 50 diffusers from French Country Collections.
Power bills are pesky, it's just one of those things every household has to manage.
If you're stuck with it, then make sure it works for you. We want to know when was the last time you switched power providers?
Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and we are thrilled to give these businesses the recognition they deserve.
With $10,000 worth of prizes up for grabs for our overall winner, we are now looking to you to vote for the most deserving - the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero.
… View moreSmall businesses are the backbone of our communities and we are thrilled to give these businesses the recognition they deserve.
With $10,000 worth of prizes up for grabs for our overall winner, we are now looking to you to vote for the most deserving - the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero.
Excerpts of the nominations are below but click the business name to read it in full. When you've made your choice, go ahead and cast your vote!
____________________________________________________________________________________
AUCKLAND: Melissa Wallace - Turua Gallery
"Turua Gallery in St Heliers not only brings beautiful artwork to the community, the owners Dean and Melissa also do amazing things for charities...They are just so generous and community-minded that it would be great for something nice to happen for them!"
BAY OF PLENTY: Michaela Wellauer - Full Cycle Bikes
"Michaela and Jon from Full Cycle Bikes in Whakatane go above and beyond in their support of our local biking community. Their generosity sees local families receiving free bikes through the Whanaū on Wheels programme. Many events exist because of their sponsorship. They are good, kind people who do an awful lot that flies under the radar."
CANTERBURY: Rob Fenwick - Fenwicks Pharmacy
"I nominate Robert Fenwick from our local Fenwicks Pharmacy in Kaiapoi. Always a friendly face and always helpful. Robert and staff had to remain open right through the lockdown, really putting themselves on the line. He's been through earthquakes, power cuts, floods and bereavement and he still opens with friendly conversation and a smile."
HAWKE'S BAY-GISBORNE: Jack Van Chan - Bayon Cafe
"Bayon Cafe and Bakery at 18 Carlyle St, Napier. Lovely family-run business with great coffee and the best, large slices of carrot cake in Napier. They also collect for funds to supply educational reading materials for children in their home country, Cambodia."
MANAWATŪ-WHANGANUI: The Team - Aorangi Bulb Nurseries
"NZ Bulbs (Aorangi Nurseries) run by Paul and Len Hoek had a very positive impact during the Covid lockdowns...During the extended lockdowns, their operation kept many people employed and their direct to consumer flower sales brought a touch of colour and break from the monotony to many people. "
NELSON-MARLBOROUGH: Peter & Caroline Pomeroy - Victoria Gardens
"Caroline and Pete of Victoria Gardens, Motueka, are always helpful and cheerful, selling excellent spray-free fruit that they have grown themselves. They looked after their customers through all the lockdowns, even in the face of having to restore their greenhouses and gardens after the disastrous Boxing Day hailstorm of 2020."
NORTHLAND: Tracey Haika - Or Near Offer Village Boutique
"On the main street of Hikurangi, Or Near Offer Boutique offers all sorts of second-hand goods and clothing. The owner, Tracey, really enhances the community spirit of Hikurangi with her friendly and welcoming manner and her beautifully creative, artistic shop exterior shows a truly entrepreneurial spirit. She's very involved in the community and is an inspiration to many in Hikurangi."
OTAGO-SOUTHLAND: Grant Kennedy - Otautau Tractors & Machinery
"Otautau Tractors & Machinery play a big part in keeping the farming industry going in western Southland by being always on call for repairs. Quite often the doors are still open after closing time. The owner, Grant is a volunteer in the Otautau fire brigade, and he is always sponsoring and donating to local groups, even parking classic cars out front for locals to enjoy."
TARANAKI: Paul Gundy - Waitara Bin Inn
"Waitara Bin Inn go the extra mile for their customers,...On a couple of occasions that I know of, items were dropped off a couple of hours north of the shop to customers. Paul has delivered the compost and potting mix for customers so that they didn't have to lift it. All staff have the right attitude of wanting to help you."
WAIKATO: Roger Nicholson - The Backyard Gastro Pub
"The local pub at Whatawhata make great fish n chips with generous servings. They're lifesavers - always there when the power is out on the Raglan side of the Waipa River. We've just had two full days out of power thanks to 'Cyclone Dovi' and they have come through once again. Local saviours!"
WELLINGTON: Josh Coe - Page 42 Cafe
"Page 42 Cafe are great employers who grow the skills of local youth, with a fantastic culture set by the owner Josh. During the pandemic, they had free coffee for critical workers and "Pay what you can afford" days - people can get a meal for $1, or pay more than the menu price to "pay it forward". Constant community support!"
...or bar? Or restaurant? Or a coffee hole-in-the-wall?
Hi neighbours! After a punishing couple of years, we want to help hospitality get back on its feet and you can help us!
If you have a local you love, let us know here and we’ll share it with New Zealand in our nationwide directory of… View more...or bar? Or restaurant? Or a coffee hole-in-the-wall?
Hi neighbours! After a punishing couple of years, we want to help hospitality get back on its feet and you can help us!
If you have a local you love, let us know here and we’ll share it with New Zealand in our nationwide directory of great places that deserve our support.
Putting a tasty and nutritious meal in front of our families each night is important for many of us, but with work, school, and activities in the way, it can also become a stressful chore.
Dinner Sorted delivers a week's worth of delicious, satisfying recipes that should please the whole … View morePutting a tasty and nutritious meal in front of our families each night is important for many of us, but with work, school, and activities in the way, it can also become a stressful chore.
Dinner Sorted delivers a week's worth of delicious, satisfying recipes that should please the whole family, sent to your inbox on Saturday mornings. As a bonus you'll also get our Weekend Baking collection, perfect for filling the baking tins, lunchboxes, or that 4pm gap.
Subscribe by 5pm on 4 April and go in the draw to win a 65" Sony TV. For details and T&Cs see here.
Sign up here (it's free!).
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