380 days ago

West Coast DoC boss still in dark over future budget

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Warnings are being sounded over possible cuts to the Department of Conservation's (DOC) resources on the West Coast.

Almost 15% of the region's land area is administered and staffed in some way by DOC.

The West Coast region has key national visitor sites like Franz Josef Glacier and Punakaiki, dozens of other recreational and heritage visitor sites, and five National Parks either within the region or reaching across its boundaries.

Baseline operating expenditure funding for the Western South Island region for the current financial year is $11.675 million.

West Coast Poutini Conservation Board member Dr Barry Wards, a former Forest and Bird president, said the board should be advocating the department's cause to an incoming government that is looking for savings.

"I get the sense there is a lot of things that are going to come up that are going to cost."

He feared a compromise in the department's capacity for "holding the line" when the new Government was signalling a 6.5% cut to the Public Service.

"It's only going to get worse," Wards said.

Questions of "what might have to go" and whether the department was discussing "cutting back" needed to be aired. Therefore, the board might have a role to play advocate over funding, Wards said.

"From my position, I think this board has the responsibility to advocate for funds not to be cut," he added.

DOC Western South Island director Mark Davies said he could not comment if cost reductions in the department's budgets were even being considered at this early point.

"That is the work of the Government," he said.

He noted there would be a natural transition for the department with the new Government set up.

"We are in the process of adapting to a new Government and a new minister's direction."

That included the department now having three ministers to report to: Conservation, Hunting and Fishing, and Oceans and Fisheries.

The department would also be hosting the sectariate for the new Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Davies told the November 30 meeting.

He noted the transition in the change would be "a learning experience".

However the director-general of Conservation would be briefing the Government at a 'high level'.

"This is work that will go on between now and Christmas," Davies said.

Chairperson Mike Legge said a general discussion was already underway between conservation board chairs nationally about approaching the new minister, Tama Potaka.

"It hasn't gone very far yet. I think we need to get the measure of the minister," he said.

Davies said the board should "be patient" given the new administration was still being briefed to "get a clearer picture".

He expected the implications to become much clearer from February.

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1 day ago

Worst Xmas ever?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.

Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...

Share your Christmas mishaps below!

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13 days ago

⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️

The Team from SPCA New Zealand

It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:

👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️

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5 days ago

Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.

If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?

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Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
  • 61.6% Summer
    61.6% Complete
  • 36.7% Winter
    36.7% Complete
  • 1.6% Other - I'll share below
    1.6% Complete
1350 votes