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Got a local business that went over and above during lockdown? Is there one you’ve really missed - or one that's brightened your day? Maybe it’s a business who just needs a helping hand at the moment...
Nominate them for a Local Like! Your shoutout could appear as an advert on Stuff, on… View moreGot a local business that went over and above during lockdown? Is there one you’ve really missed - or one that's brightened your day? Maybe it’s a business who just needs a helping hand at the moment...
Nominate them for a Local Like! Your shoutout could appear as an advert on Stuff, on Neighbourly, or in your local paper. Plus you could win a bag of feijoas (or a $100 voucher to the business you nominate).
As a nation, we recently held a moving ANZAC Day commemoration. So now is a good time to reflect on how we treat our military personnel during and after their service. It speaks volumes about who we are as New Zealanders.
Let’s not leave those who serve our country behind.
Can New Zealand … View moreAs a nation, we recently held a moving ANZAC Day commemoration. So now is a good time to reflect on how we treat our military personnel during and after their service. It speaks volumes about who we are as New Zealanders.
Let’s not leave those who serve our country behind.
Can New Zealand do more to ensure that past, present and future service people - and their whānau – are recognised and supported?
Join the conversation now at missionfeedback.co.nz
Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe has announced the winners of a Waikato regional art competition to th…
Kia ora whanau, it's great to be back open. Come on down to collect free Kai (breads, sweets and fresh produce) from kaivolution Tues to Fri between 10am to 12.30pm. We are on the corner of Dominion Road and Breckons Ave Nawton.
As we are at alert level 2 please follow the guidelines, one … View moreKia ora whanau, it's great to be back open. Come on down to collect free Kai (breads, sweets and fresh produce) from kaivolution Tues to Fri between 10am to 12.30pm. We are on the corner of Dominion Road and Breckons Ave Nawton.
As we are at alert level 2 please follow the guidelines, one in, one out and santise hands on arrival. Look forward to seeing you all again.
Make the most of your retirement with less stress, and a whole lot of fun with SBS Unwind, a Reverse Equity Mortgage loan. The idea is simple – homeowners aged over 60 stay in their house but free up some money from the property to live their life.
Use the money however you like, while the … View moreMake the most of your retirement with less stress, and a whole lot of fun with SBS Unwind, a Reverse Equity Mortgage loan. The idea is simple – homeowners aged over 60 stay in their house but free up some money from the property to live their life.
Use the money however you like, while the flexible loan means regular payments aren’t required and you can repay all or some of the loan at any time.
For more details visit our website, contact your local SBS branch or call 0800 727 2265.
Eligibility Criteria, Terms and Conditions, and fees apply.
Truck of Top Soil free, ready to deliver if need be just want it gone today if possible 👍🏽
Two-months in lockdown was a long time for Maddy Kay and Summer Livingstone to go without a hug. Bu…
Like to rehome our Hereford heifer pet cow! prefer that it went to someone local that wants a pet or company for their animal, she's almost 2 yrs old, hand reared and very friendly. $900 to a good home (we reserve the right not to sell for any reason) email Rob nomadham@gmail.com
As we settle into life in Alert Level 2, we're excited to see a bit more of NZ. Join us as we showcase the best close-to-home travel experiences Aotearoa has to offer.
Did you know you can view some of our retirement villages in the comfort of your own home?
Immerse yourself in our beautiful villages by taking a ‘walk through’ with our virtual tours. Stroll through the lovely gardens, explore the village amenities, and step into a beautiful independent … View moreDid you know you can view some of our retirement villages in the comfort of your own home?
Immerse yourself in our beautiful villages by taking a ‘walk through’ with our virtual tours. Stroll through the lovely gardens, explore the village amenities, and step into a beautiful independent apartment, serviced apartment or care room. You can navigate your way through each featured room or area of the village and really get a feel for the space. It’s a great way to obtain a more intricate view before you make a visit to the village.
Recently I posted about having a professional look at my horizontal UHF TV aerial because of poor and total loss of signal especially during wind and rain. He fixed it mainly by changing it to vertical. I just went for a walk round Nawton and saw most aerials horizontal - which may not matter if … View moreRecently I posted about having a professional look at my horizontal UHF TV aerial because of poor and total loss of signal especially during wind and rain. He fixed it mainly by changing it to vertical. I just went for a walk round Nawton and saw most aerials horizontal - which may not matter if there's a satellite dish. Attached may be of interest.
DEAR GRANT, IT'S OUR $2 BILLION YOU KNOW? - [Photo Credit: Stuff]
A former finance minister recently stated an old maxim -
“there is never someone more socialist than a wealthy capitalist in a time of crisis” (1 Stuff, 5th May 2020).
The Hamilton Residents and Ratepayers Association … View moreDEAR GRANT, IT'S OUR $2 BILLION YOU KNOW? - [Photo Credit: Stuff]
A former finance minister recently stated an old maxim -
“there is never someone more socialist than a wealthy capitalist in a time of crisis” (1 Stuff, 5th May 2020).
The Hamilton Residents and Ratepayers Association (HRRA) recently sent a letter to the Honourable Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, expressing our concerns about our City’s processes around their proposed ‘Shovel Ready´ projects. We acknowledge the need for significant fiscal spending that is expansionary in nature given the effects of Covid-19 on our economy. Our issue is not related to the need to spend, but the process by which:
i.) projects are selected,
ii.) how that spending takes place, and
iii.) whose pockets that money ends up in.
In the context of the $2b in Hamilton City Council shovel ready projects, this looks on the face of it to be more of a lolly scramble than a measured response. We acknowledge that this process was undertaken in a rush and we now wish to ensure it becomes a transparent and measured response that will result in relieving the strain on those who will be most in need. If we are to take on significant amounts of debt on behalf of the next generation, a generation already burdened by extremely expensive housing, then it must be spent well, and spent on those who will most likely recycle that immediately back into the economy. If those ‘shovel ready’ projects involve extensive use of consultants and large machines that employ very few people and pay high prices to the asset owners, then this will just drive further inequality and disenfranchisement.
Based on the limited information we have, in Hamilton one proposal looks to be the development of sports fields with a price tag of $60 million, incorporating almost $4m in ‘professional’ fees on just four of them (2 HCC, Accessed 16th May 2020). Another is spending over $103m on gully projects (3 HCC, Accessed 16th May 2020). $103m is the equivalent of 2575 people being employed full time for a year at $40,000. The council in their proposal state this project represents 2549 employment years, yet given the amounts allocated to consultancy fees and previous experience, we are concerned about the extent to which this will eventuate? We are also extremely concerned about poor project management, as well as cost overruns which appear with startling regularity in council projects throughout the country (4 RNZ, 2nd May 2019; 5 Stuff, 19th May 2019; 6 Stuff, 15 Mar 2020; 7 Stuff, 15th May 2020). Sadly, we are also seeing individuals and organisations apparently exploiting the current crisis for their own benefit (8 Stuff 24th Apr 2020; 9 Stuff 15th May 2020). With such massive intergenerational debt being proposed, it is crucial that this money is spent well, and that those that exploit the situation for their own greed are held to account.
To avoid these issues, we want to ensure that systems are put in place to ensure that any money is actually well spent in a transparent way; and that officials are held accountable if it is not. $2b represents, in shovel ready terms, 50,000 people being employed at $40,000 for a year. This in a city of just 60,000 ratepayers. Of course, there are significant materials costs for many of these projects, but it is important in our view;
i) the majority of this spend goes to those who will soon become unemployed, with a focus on local individuals and companies,
ii) that this money comes with comprehensive and fully transparent cost/benefit analyses, that are fully audited by independent groups; including ratepayer groups,
iii) that contract selection and negotiation processes are transparent and involve interested ratepayer groups in the decision,
iv) that penalties apply if deadlines are not met, that price overruns are covered by any contractor for external projects, and a significant amount of any payment is not paid out until after completion,
v) once initiated that comprehensive project cost tracking systems and rigorous systems of financial review are put in place and any evidence of fraud or other immoral activity results in the most stringent penalties – both civil and criminal,
vi) officials in charge of these projects are held to account for failure.
Unfortunately, given the recent history of council projects, the V8’s, Claudelands Showgrounds, Claudelands bridge, Peacocke - SH3 Roundabout to name but a few, we have little reason to be confident in council’s ability to manage projects, or the Council’s stated projections.
The other issue is the amount of the spend. There is some concern in the community that rather than focused on core council areas that badly need investment, that they represent an opportunistic money grab. We must ensure that the amounts spent on these projects reflect a prudent long-term investment of taxpayer’s money. What is the projected timeframe for a return on an investment on the Gully project of $103 million? While there will be a range of environmental and wellbeing benefits attached, how can we justify a spend of $103m when presumably there are significant fall off in marginal returns over a price tag of what might be a few million? In difficult economic times comprehensive cost/benefit analyses which show the diminishing rates of return across different spending allocations is needed. There are numerous projects that surely have a higher long-term economic, environmental and wellbeing return that would be accounted for in at least a significant portion of this spend? We do not want to rush into a few mega projects that are poor investment decisions when all or part of that funding would provide a much higher benefit to the current and future generations that will be paying for it if spent elsewhere.
$2b of debt represents a burden in the context of Hamilton of over $33,000 per ratepayer. A burden which if it were council debt would be held over our homes. In this case it will be held over the homes of NZ’s future generations. Again, in these unprecedented times we agree that fiscal spending is required, all we ask is that this spending goes to those most in need, and on projects that reflect a good investment in our community. We also implore that such massive expenditures are scrutinized and carried out in a manner that is fully transparent and that there is accountability. After all – We All Want to Avoid Lolly Scramble Don’t We?...
1www.stuff.co.nz...
2www.hamilton.govt.nz...
3www.hamilton.govt.nz...
4www.rnz.co.nz...
5www.stuff.co.nz...
We’ve been proud to work with some amazing charities over the past few months who have been helping Kiwis up the road, down the road and ‘round the corner, to get through.
Join us in thanking all the outstanding New Zealanders at The Student Volunteer Army, Kiwi Harvest, Kaibosh, and food … View moreWe’ve been proud to work with some amazing charities over the past few months who have been helping Kiwis up the road, down the road and ‘round the corner, to get through.
Join us in thanking all the outstanding New Zealanders at The Student Volunteer Army, Kiwi Harvest, Kaibosh, and food banks like The Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch City Missions.
Ngā mihi maioha.
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YAY - LEVEL 2. Armstrong Smarter Security can now offer Neighbourly Members an awesome deal on the award winning Ajax wireless alarm system.
FREE HOME SECURITY CONSULTATION
15% off RRP for MAY and JUNE
FREE INSTALLATION for MAY and JUNE
12 Months Interest Free on Q-Card (subject to Q-Card … View moreYAY - LEVEL 2. Armstrong Smarter Security can now offer Neighbourly Members an awesome deal on the award winning Ajax wireless alarm system.
FREE HOME SECURITY CONSULTATION
15% off RRP for MAY and JUNE
FREE INSTALLATION for MAY and JUNE
12 Months Interest Free on Q-Card (subject to Q-Card approval)
See the alarm for yourself on www.ajaxalarms.co.nz...
This is the most sophisticated, expandable, reliable, and powerful wireless alarm available anywhere. The controlling central HUB can connect to detectors and sensors up to 2000m away . . . yes, that's right, 2km!!
Call us on (07) 850 5555 to arrange your FREE in-house security consultation with our Ministry of Justice approved and Licenced Security Consultant.
Please do not let any person talk to you about alarms without showing you their Security Licence first . 😉
Just spotted one in the lounge looking for somewhere to overwinter. Decided that one of our pictures would be a good spot to hide behind. Second one this week we've disposed of. May seems to be the month for them.
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