2311 days ago

Poll: Was the $19k Hamilton City Council team talk a good use of ratepayers' money?

Matt Bowen Reporter from Waikato Times

Morning neighbours,

Hamilton City Council staff have been treated to a $19k mass team talk at Claudelands Event Centre. It featured motivational speakers and a 25-minute acrobatic performance from circus company The Dust Palace.

Chief executive Richard Briggs defended the spend.

"Old school thinking is you don't spend any money on your staff and you expect them to just show up to work and go hard," he said after the event.

"New school thinking is you've got to give them some purpose for being here, and today was all about understanding that purpose and improving the wellbeing of the community."

What's your take on it? Read more here

Image
Was the $19k Hamilton City Council team talk a good use of ratepayers' money?
  • 30.2% Yes
    30.2% Complete
  • 60.7% No
    60.7% Complete
  • 9.1% I'm ambivalent
    9.1% Complete
341 votes
More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙

One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.

So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?

Image
Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
  • 60.4% Yes, supporting people is important!
    60.4% Complete
  • 24.4% No, individuals should take responsibility
    24.4% Complete
  • 15.2% ... It is complicated
    15.2% Complete
336 votes
4 days ago

Poll: What do you think should happen with Chateau Tongariro?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

The Government has refused to commit to saving the Chateau Tongariro Hotel, leaving demolition, decommissioning or private restoration all on the table despite strong community pressure to preserve the iconic building.

In a formal response to a petition led by Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton, ministers acknowledged the Chateau’s cultural and economic significance but said no changes to current policy or legislation were warranted Chateau Petition response.

What do you think should happen with Chateau Tongariro? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

Image
What do you think should happen with Chateau Tongariro?
  • 5% Demolish it
    5% Complete
  • 0% Decommission it
    0% Complete
  • 95% A private operator should restore it
    95% Complete
  • 0% Other - explain in the comments
    0% Complete
20 votes
4 days ago

Tamahere home in dentist case was once centre of accountant’s fraud

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

It’s been a feature in a recent Hamilton District Court trial , but a Tamahere mansion already has an complicated history.

The property in Woodcock Rd - notable for having a hydroslide in the back yard - the scene of now-disproved alleged sexual offending by Hamilton dentist Rahul Gautam - made headlines more than 15 years ago, when it was a focus in the case of accountant Gary Soffe.

Image