528 days ago

'Increasingly New Zealanders will use te reo Māori as their primary medium of communication' - Potaka

Libby Reporter from Waikato Local

Fluent te reo speaker and Government minister Tama Potaka would “love” to see all MPs increase their use of the Māori language to communicate more effectively in modern-day Aotearoa.

The National Party Hamilton West MP’s comments come in an interview about Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, which runs from September 14 to September 21.

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More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Raglan tops unpaid rates bill list in Waikato District

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

More than $1.3 million in unpaid rates is owed to Waikato District Council by just 10 property owners — including one Raglan ratepayer who owes nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

An Official Information Act response reveals the council’s worst rates arrears, with a single Raglan property topping the list at $234,017.07 outstanding.

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2 days ago

Poll: What do you think of the new police move-on powers?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Central Hamilton businesses are welcoming police being given new powers to move on vagrants, with a city retail advocate saying the previous hands-off approach wasn’t working.

On Sunday the Government announced it would grant police powers to order any individual rough sleeping, begging, or displaying disorderly behaviour to move on.

What do you think of the new police move-on powers? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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What do you think of the new police move-on powers?
  • 84.6% They're needed
    84.6% Complete
  • 0% They won't change much
    0% Complete
  • 15.4% I'll wait and see
    15.4% Complete
13 votes
3 days ago

Poll: Would you help your kids out with buying a home?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

OPINION: Over the past year, I’ve had the same conversation with many Waikato families again and again.

A child has found a house. The market feels like it’s moving. There’s pressure to act quickly. And before anyone has really had time to think it through, parents are being asked to step in with cash, guarantees, or equity from their own home.

Would you help your kids out with buying a home? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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Would you help your kids out with buying a home?
  • 23.1% I already have.
    23.1% Complete
  • 61.5% Yes.
    61.5% Complete
  • 15.4% No
    15.4% Complete
13 votes