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On Stuff this morning are 2 Buy New Zealand Made stories . Importing is more difficult , people are losing their jobs , we are all in this together , they are just like me -- all statements that make you feel good , with good intentions .
Two examples that are listed . Firstly , Red Band Gumboots … View moreOn Stuff this morning are 2 Buy New Zealand Made stories . Importing is more difficult , people are losing their jobs , we are all in this together , they are just like me -- all statements that make you feel good , with good intentions .
Two examples that are listed . Firstly , Red Band Gumboots and $289 tramping shoes . It is 30 years since I climbed Mt Te Aroha , so my tramping consists of walking from the Car Park to the supermarket or hairdresser or parts supplier . So I will most likely buy $40 sturdyish boots from K Mart . Gumboots once every 3 or 4 years when I go to Fieldays , and 2 or 3 times when I trim trees . Too uncomfortable to mow the lawn in . So I'll go with the $25 cheap n nasties .
The other story though , even blurrier ! Buy N Z Made beer . Craft beer . At $5 a bottle . Sure , it contains hints of the Alps with a crisp spiral accent of lavender and the nose of a bovine relocation establishment , combined with a heady aftertaste of combustible automotive propulsion juice . Yep , can hardly wait .
Apparently Lion and DB are owned by seperate Japanese companies , so we can't have that , can we . The beers generally are great ( and get better the more you have haha ) , they are $1.25 a stubbie at the superdupermarket , BUT they employ 1000's of New Zealanders , and they 'support' the hospitality industry ( yes , it is a 2 way street , but a lot of bars wouldn't exist without the big breweries help ) .
My attitude ( once I realised that buying from The Warehouse was the most expensive way of buying something ) has been that I buy what I consider the best value for money FOR ME . Something I use a lot , I buy the best I can , no matter whether it is imported or NZ made . Something that isn't used much , but is handy , I buy cheap to mid-range .
I am unlikely to change . Will you buy more NZ made ? Do you consider foreign owned companies but with products made by NZers N Z Made ?
Rates Rises: Why Would You Care?
The Taxpayer’s Alliance has identified over 80 senior council officials in Auckland alone that ‘earn’ over $250,000 and are looking to publicize this information (1Stuff 2nd May 2020). It is surprising to hear the rhetoric coming from some of our … View moreRates Rises: Why Would You Care?
The Taxpayer’s Alliance has identified over 80 senior council officials in Auckland alone that ‘earn’ over $250,000 and are looking to publicize this information (1Stuff 2nd May 2020). It is surprising to hear the rhetoric coming from some of our ‘leaders’ in relation to this type of publicity (1Ratepayers Alliance 29th Apr 2020; 2Rotorua Daily Post 9th Apr 2020). Rather than congratulating such groups on the public service they are providing, the rhetoric from some officials sounds almost threatening. Do not ratepayers have a right to know who is being paid what? It is not your money? If this were a private company then the shareholders would have a right to know the senior managers’ salaries. Maybe some public ‘servants’ have forgotten whose money they are spending?
On the bright side, it is encouraging to see other public officials being more welcome of change, recognising the pay imbalance between essential workers and themselves and cutting their pay. *Note, this is actually cutting their pay, not promising donations to friends or family, or redirecting part of their salary to their own organisation. Why is this important? Because we are unfortunately in for a period of economic pain that will last some time. Our dependence on sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and International students, and the high indebtedness of our households due to having some of the highest housing costs in the world, means the economic effects of Covid-19 will last for many years to come. Thankfully - We are All in This Together, right?
If we are to spend to get out of this recession then the money has to come from somewhere. There is no point taking from ratepayers in order to cover new expansionary spending (3Stuff 24th Apr 2020). That is the proverbial taking from Peter to pay Paul. Rather than being expansionary this just takes your money and gives it to officials for them to redirect. If that redirection is merely into the pockets of high paid staff or contractors, then it is likely to actually reduce economic activity.
One Hamilton councillor has indicated on social media that increased spending at the cost to ratepayers is ‘Keynesian policy’. This is concerning as we would have hoped that the people who lead us had a greater understanding of economics. We would be more than happy to discuss with them Keynesian policy and the requirements for its success. On a positive note, if officials actually cut their pay in order to stop rates rises, and start projects that employ the many who will lose their jobs, this is a great start. While lasting salary cuts for senior public ‘servants’ will not only provide hundreds of millions to local and central government coffers, it has a second, maybe even more important benefit – empathy.
Can you truly appreciate the plight of your average citizen if you ‘earn’ over 15 x’s what they do? Maybe this is why many commentators are stating that councillor’s heads are stuck in the sand in relation to their views on rate rises (4Stuff 2nd May 2020). How can you make rational decisions for a pensioner ratepayer, if your salary Each Week is over $9000, meaning in three weeks you ‘earn’ what they do in an Entire Year?
Yet it was not that long ago that public servants were earning similar salaries to those they served (5Otago Daily Times 6th Nov 2013). So why are our public ‘servant’s’ now some of the highest paid in the world? A part of this is the remuneration authority’s use of % increases to boost senior public service salaries. The math is terrifyingly simple - if you are a pensioner on around $25,500 a year and your pension increases by 2% for the next ten years, then over that period your income would rise by around $5,600, to just over $31,000. If you are a senior council employee earning $440,000 then a 2% increase over that time equates to over $96,000 and your salary to well over half a million dollars. That pay increase alone is more than three times the total salary of the pensioner? But don’t worry it is only a small % increase right…
We therefore applaud the government initiative to rein in excessive public salaries. We look forward to a complete overhaul of the remuneration authority. Maybe if they set the maximum salary of the most senior public servants to 10 x’s the medium income of the people in their region that would be a good start. Maybe then the officials that are so instrumental in setting the laws the affect our lives will think about how the ratepayer will be affected by their decisions. Decisions such as;
the compliance costs that can add upwards of $100,000 to the cost of building a house,
the development of cycle lanes on a bridge coming in at almost $1 million dollars,
a (yes singular) roundabout whose initial budget staff are not able to locate for our OIA, but whose costs has now blown out to over $15 million and counting,
the spending of ratepayers’ money on Victoria St buildings at a price up to 56% more than the market valuation (6 NZ Herald 3rd Oct 2020),
proposals for gardens and new entrances to public facilities priced at tens of millions of dollars?
This sadly is just part of a very, very long list. Of course, it is Just Your Money, Your Rates, Your Increased Rent, so why do you care?
We understand that things are uncertain right now. If you would like to move into a safe and supportive environment that you can make your own, we are still taking admissions for our Care Suites at Awatere.
Situated in the heart of Hamilton, our Care Suites offer the ultimate combination of … View moreWe understand that things are uncertain right now. If you would like to move into a safe and supportive environment that you can make your own, we are still taking admissions for our Care Suites at Awatere.
Situated in the heart of Hamilton, our Care Suites offer the ultimate combination of Rest Home and Hospital care with the creature comforts of home, including an open-plan living area, stylish kitchenette and modern ensuite.
Give us a call to see how we can help.
Awatere is located at 1340 Victoria Street, Beerescourt, Hamilton.
Did your mum transform rainy days into hot chocolate and bad moods into giggles?
Show you care, whether she’s with you or far away.
Enter our Mother’s Day competition before 6 May 2020 for a chance to win!
Too many memories to choose from? Here’s our team with some inspiration.
Follow this … View moreDid your mum transform rainy days into hot chocolate and bad moods into giggles?
Show you care, whether she’s with you or far away.
Enter our Mother’s Day competition before 6 May 2020 for a chance to win!
Too many memories to choose from? Here’s our team with some inspiration.
Follow this link to enter our competition.
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Builders and their clients are being asked to avoid court and instead work out sensible resolutions …
The $61.5 million centre is among the shovel-ready projects pitched to Government.
It'll include a library and village square, and before Covid-19 there was talk of a pool.
Read more about it here. What do you think?
We're putting together an action plan to help tackle climate change in our city.
Do you want to be healthy for life? Join us this Saturday 9am on TVNZ 1.
Hosted by Bernice Mene, Healthy for Life is designed to help over 65 year olds work on their strength and balance through an exercise programme called the Super7.
All done from the comfort of your bubble, this show … View moreDo you want to be healthy for life? Join us this Saturday 9am on TVNZ 1.
Hosted by Bernice Mene, Healthy for Life is designed to help over 65 year olds work on their strength and balance through an exercise programme called the Super7.
All done from the comfort of your bubble, this show provides great tips for staying safe in the home, keeping your brain active, how to keep up your social links and friendships and advice about healthy eating and sleep during this time.
Healthy for Life is available on TVNZ OnDemand, or screens this Saturday at 9AM on TVNZ 1.
Find out more at Live Stronger for Longer.
Hi Neighbours!
The new SuperSeniors e-Newsletter is available on our website NOW! This e-Newsletter includes the additional guidance for what seniors can do during Alert Level 3 and information from the Student Volunteer Army and Age Concern about the services they are offering.
It also has … View moreHi Neighbours!
The new SuperSeniors e-Newsletter is available on our website NOW! This e-Newsletter includes the additional guidance for what seniors can do during Alert Level 3 and information from the Student Volunteer Army and Age Concern about the services they are offering.
It also has the details on the Winter Energy Payment that starts again today!
Click here to read: bit.ly...
To get our Newsletter emailed to you, if you receive the NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension, update your email in MyMSD here: my.msd.govt.nz...
If you do not receive either of these entitlements but you want to receive our Newsletter you can subscribe here: bit.ly...
Waitomo Caves and a walking tours business in Tongariro National Park are among those worried about travel between regions being ruled out in level 2.
The tourism industry is on a tightrope, Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron says.
Read more here. What do you think the best way forward is for tourism … View moreWaitomo Caves and a walking tours business in Tongariro National Park are among those worried about travel between regions being ruled out in level 2.
The tourism industry is on a tightrope, Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron says.
Read more here. What do you think the best way forward is for tourism operators?
HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL NOTICE;
Playgrounds still off limits to keep the community safe
Extra signs and security tape are going up throughout Hamilton to remind people the city’s playgrounds are closed to keep our community safe.
Hamilton City Council closed the playgrounds, including … View moreHAMILTON CITY COUNCIL NOTICE;
Playgrounds still off limits to keep the community safe
Extra signs and security tape are going up throughout Hamilton to remind people the city’s playgrounds are closed to keep our community safe.
Hamilton City Council closed the playgrounds, including skate parks and basketball courts, when the country went to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 on 23 March. The Government has ruled playgrounds out of bounds under Alert Levels 3 and 4.
The measure is not only to discourage people from different bubbles gathering, but also because the virus can remain on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours.
Mayor Paula Southgate says playgrounds were shut to safeguard the community but not everyone is getting that message.
“It amazes me that people are prepared to risk their health and the health of their community by pulling down tape and removing signs. This gives kids the impression playgrounds are open, which is just not true,” Mayor Southgate says.
“While it’s tempting to relax our vigilance after so many weeks, we actually need to increase our efforts now more people are out and about. And we also need teens and caregivers to be aware of that.
“If we end up with lots of children from different bubbles using the same play equipment, we could also end up with the virus spreading through our community. That’s exactly what we’ve been working hard to avoid – no one wants to go back to Level 4.”
Hamilton’s parks and walking tracks are open, so children and caregivers can still enjoy the city’s open spaces if they want a change from their own backyard.
The rule is to keep play local but children can still run around outside, play tag, have leaf fights, take their scooter to the park, kick a ball around and enjoy the autumn weather, as long as they stick to their own bubble and stay two metres away from other people.
“We’ve worked hard to keep our playgrounds fun and up-to-date but they’re not the only way to play,” says Mayor Southgate. “We just need to stick it out for a while longer, and then we’ll all be back enjoying the city’s green spaces to their full potential.”
For more information:
Tracey Lowndes
Communication and Engagement Advisor | Great River City
Tracey.lowndes@hcc.govt.nz
07 858 5723
Good God What has happened to the collective common sense of our people. Surely Council should not need to spell this out, but yes, tape around our parks is broken, people are wandering around them and kids are playing in them. There are heaps of unsupervised kids wandering the streets doing what they like. Its insane. I'm over useless, lazy, brainless parents putting everyone in danger whilst other parents are doing their best to amuse and educate their kids at home and out of danger.
I'm sick of level three too , but it just needs to be done properly or we will end n level 4 again.
I'm just gobsmacked that there are people out there too lazy , too selfish , too entitled and too brainless to conform. How pathetic.
For the first time in its history, this year will see the Auckland Art Fair go online. From 11am NZST on Thursday 30 April until Sunday 17 May, Artfair.co.nz will be hosting a Virtual Art Fair where you will discover more than 30 galleries from New Zealand and Australia displaying works that would … View moreFor the first time in its history, this year will see the Auckland Art Fair go online. From 11am NZST on Thursday 30 April until Sunday 17 May, Artfair.co.nz will be hosting a Virtual Art Fair where you will discover more than 30 galleries from New Zealand and Australia displaying works that would have otherwise been seen at the 2020 Auckland Art Fair.
The Virtual Art Fair is in recognition of the artists who have already made special works for the Auckland Art Fair that couldn’t happen, and the galleries who have supported them in doing so.
“It comes at a time of global uncertainty, when the importance of art, community and culture are especially apparent,” their team said in a recent statement.
The Auckland Art Fair is designed to be “a celebration – as best we can – of the talent and diversity of art making by artists from our region; not only across New Zealand and Australia, but also around the wider Pacific-rim. We hope that, wherever possible, some of these artists and galleries will be supported by someone buying a work of art.”
Browse, look, enquire and consider as you get to know new galleries and artists in support of contemporary culture at a time when the artists and galleries really need it.
Find out more at www.artfair.co.nz.
In this week’s issue we say chillies are hot stuff and share our recipe for Sudden Death Salsa. It’s time to plant bulbs, cut and dry lemon verbena, enjoy autumn flowers indoors, admire heirloom corn and flout the seed spacing rules. Find out where to buy seeds, bulbs, seedlings, flowers, … View moreIn this week’s issue we say chillies are hot stuff and share our recipe for Sudden Death Salsa. It’s time to plant bulbs, cut and dry lemon verbena, enjoy autumn flowers indoors, admire heirloom corn and flout the seed spacing rules. Find out where to buy seeds, bulbs, seedlings, flowers, shrubs, trees and gardening gear for online retail therapy. Also be in to win the May issue of NZ Gardener.
Delivered every Friday to your email inbox, Get Growing digital magazine offers seasonal gardening advice from the NZ Gardener magazine's team of experts. Each week we answer all your burning questions on raising fruit and veges and tell you the top tasks to do in your backyard this weekend. Subscribe here:
Hey Hamilton, we love playgrounds and going for a skate just as much as you! But they’re closed for a reason, please continue to stay off them until it’s safe for us all to play again!
Are there any competent recreational cyclists out there who may be retired and have some spare time to cycle with my son Jack. We cycle together quite regularly around Rotokauri and surrounding rural districts - me on my hand cycle and him on a road or mountain bike. He’s pretty motivated but … View moreAre there any competent recreational cyclists out there who may be retired and have some spare time to cycle with my son Jack. We cycle together quite regularly around Rotokauri and surrounding rural districts - me on my hand cycle and him on a road or mountain bike. He’s pretty motivated but just needs a reminder on changing gears and a bit of a mentor. He’s 18 and has a small intellectual disability but is capable and fit on the bike and it would be great for him to have a different cycling buddy to help him keep fit and active. Contact me on tperry@perry.co.nz if your interested or leave me your details on here. Thanks
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