Are you an Easter Instant winner?
We've given 30 (!) Neighbourly winners a little Easter treat. If your name's on the list below then your Easter is going to be a little sweeter. You've won a $20 voucher for your local The Warehouse so you can head down to grab yourself your favourite Easter chocolate treats. You might even treat your favourite neighbour to something delicious.
Congratulations to:
Philip Taramai - Lower Hutt
Mere Wetere - Nelson
Ann Mackay - Oamaru
Terry Green - Porirua
Andrew Douglas - Invercargill
Priya Patel - Wellington
Lynne Street - Rotorua
Vijen Reddy - Hamilton
Rob Voss - Whangaparaoa
Dianna Cork - Mount Maunganui
Joanna Fleet - Otaki
Catriona Greig - Porirua
Donald Fowler - Nelson
Liz Claridge - Whangamata
Billy Boston - Christchurch
Elizabeth Mark - Waikanae
Brett Lovegrove - Christchurch
John Dowling - Auckland
Tracy Morton - Raglan
Jacqueline Ross from Blenheim
Ntombi Mupariwa - Paraparaumu
Florentina McInnes - Napier
Morag Hughson - Tauranga
Marjo Plessius - Putaruru
Beverley Broad - Christchurch
Mahendra Patel - Hamilton
Leonie Hona - Whangarei
Mandy Clark - North Auckland
Sean McNulty - Kerikeri
Sue Scott - Gisborne
To claim your prize just get in touch with the Neighbourly team before 12pm Thursday 13 April to claim their prize. If you spot a familiar name from your neighbourhood, be sure to give them the good news!
Spring gardening tips
Dreaming of a garden bursting with colour and fresh produce? Shane Fairbairn, Ryman Healthcare’s Landscape Manager, shares his top tips to make it happen. You’ll be set to create a gorgeous, relaxing space in no time - grab your trowel, and let’s dig in.
Click read more for more information.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Roading funding shortfall leads to Hurunui annual plan rethink
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Some rates relief could be in store for Hurunui ratepayers next year as the council reconsiders its roading priorities.
The Hurunui District Council forecast an average 14.49% rates hike for the 2025-26 financial year in the 2024-34 long-term plan.
But after receiving a significantly reduced subsidy from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said staff are having another look at the roading programme.
‘‘In our long-term plan consultation, our residents signalled they wanted us to invest in our roads, so now it is about figuring out what is a wise investment with the funding we have.’’
He said the council will need to reconsider what it can afford to fund, based on the lower-than-expected subsidy.
The Hurunui council receives a 52% subsidy from NZTA on approved projects, with ratepayers paying the balance.
The council has met with NZTA since raising concerns about the funding it received in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
It had sought a 184% increase, but NZTA director regional relationships James Caygill said this was ‘‘unaffordable’’.
Dobbie said ratepayers were already paying two-thirds of the district’s roading budget as a number of projects were not funded by NZTA.
Options for a revised roading programme will be presented to the council to consider ahead of next year’s annual plan.
Dobbie did not expect rates to rise any more than the 14.49% signalled and will likely be less.
Funding has been reduced for low cost, low risk projects, which cost less than $2 million, so these will need to be reconsidered, he said.
‘‘It means the Government doesn’t value that type of work, so we need to consider how we value it.
‘‘The Government values the sealed road networks, so how do we allocate ratepayer money to those aspects of our network versus our unsealed roads.’’
Dobbie said Hurunui, a large rural community with around 13,000 residents, had about 900km of unsealed roads and 600km of sealed roads.
The council estimated it needs about $3 million a year to maintain and upgrade its ageing network of 286 bridges.
‘‘I think we have an understanding of what the issues are, but I wouldn’t say we are any closer to finding a solution,’’ Dobbie said.
He said he understood NZTA is restricted by Government funding.
‘‘This Government claims to be about infrastructure, so hopefully they can find a way to help us with intergenerational (or debt) funding and help us to pay it back.
‘‘We will pay our share.’’
Transport Minister Simeon Brown and NZTA have been contacted for comment.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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