Foot It campaign is getting results nationwide - how about in our neighbourhood?
It's going to be a beautiful morning pretty much everywhere in the country - so let's get as many kids and their families as possible out of their cars and walking/riding/scooting for this morning's school run. Tell us about it: what are you going to do; how does it work for you? How does it differ from your memories of footing it to school as a kid?
An important plank of our Foot It campaign this year has been to encourage councils to lower speed limits outside schools. Families and schools have been enthusiastic about our initiatives to make it easier for kids to get out of the car. And when we wrote to all New Zealand's mayors in February, they offered resounding support: many wrote back promising to do their best to lower speeds, but cautioning that their hands were tied by NZ Transport Agency rules that (extraordinarily) stood in the way of lower speed limits.
Now, the Government has stepped up too: Associate transport minister Craig Foss has announced new Speed Management Guidelines that will make it simpler for councils to lower speeds on the roads that are busiest with cyclists and pedestrians. Read more from this weekend's Sunday Star-Times: www.stuff.co.nz...
We welcome this. So last week, we wrote to the mayors again (many of whom are new to the roles after the local body elections) challenging them to commit to putting lower speed limits outside schools on their council agendas in the first half of 2017. The Sunday Star-Times and Stuff will report their responses, whether they be good or gutless.
It's not just about the Government and councils, though: it's about taking responsibility as communities and individuals. So take the initiative: bylaw or no bylaw, if enough of us voluntarily slow down as we drive past schools in our towns and neighbourhoods, that will slow other traffic and make our streets safer for our kids.
TODAY'S WEATHER: We've attached the MetService rain map for this morning. In short, it's a great day to walk, ride or scoot to school with your kids, anywhere in the country. But this afternoon, a pile of rain is going to land, splash, in the middle of the North Island and Hawke's Bay. Don't say you weren't warned ....
THE FOOT IT PLEDGE: We're all busy - but many of us can find ONE day a week when we can scoot or walk with our kids to school. So make the pledge!
Join one of our Neighbourly Foot It clubs - the Monday Club, Tuesday Club, Wednesday Club, Thursday Club or Friday Club – and you'll go into the draw to win one of 50 Micro scooters, valued at up to $179.95 each. www.neighbourly.co.nz...
THE SUNDAY STAR-TIMES SAYS:
* Families: Choose one day a week when you walk, scoot or ride with your kids to and from school.
* Schools: Set up walking buses, with parents and volunteers helping local kids get to class safely.
* Councils: Create and enforce lower speed zones outside every school.
TELL US YOUR STORIES: What's the most memorable experience you or your kids have had while commuting to school? Share your story at Stuff Nation and go into the draw for 20 more Micro scooters. www.stuff.co.nz...
BE SAFE: Tips for a safe school run. www.microscooters.co.nz...
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.2% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.7% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Hastings Community Patrol
YOUR HASTINGS COMMUNITY PATROL
The Hastings District Community Patrol is a team of local, self-funded, volunteers that play a key role in keeping our local communities safe.
We are a group of dedicated volunteers who patrol the Hastings, Flaxmere, Havelock North and Cape Coast central, urban, and rural areas, focusing on crime prevention. We support the police by acting as extra 'eyes and ears', noting anything that could be suspicious and informing police of incidents requiring urgent attention.
We also work closely with the Local District Councils and other organizations sharing a similar interest in community safety.
Quote from the local police “Community Patrols are invaluable to Police; they keep an eye on neighbourhoods and provide valuable intelligence to Police who cannot be everywhere at once”
We carry out day and night patrols in our dedicated patrol vehicles with sign written liveries that are easily identified by the community.
Our patrol members receive full training and guidance according to the National Community Patrols of NZ protocols and police standards. All applicants are fully vetted by the police on applying.
Volunteering with your local Community Patrol is a great way to make our local community safer and offers an ideal way of being part of a local volunteer team. We would like to encourage other like-minded community members to join our highly committed team. You just need to be keen to learn, have keen eyes and ears, be friendly, honest and be over the age of 18. Being a member of a community patrol could put you on a pathway to a career with the police.
We are a diverse group of the community, and so, if you have the time, commitment and want to put something back into your local community, Community Patrols are seeking new members.
Getting started: Your first step is to express your interest by contacting our recruitment website cpnz.org.nz/join-cpnz. Alternatively, you can contact the Hastings patrols on hastings@cpnz.org.nz
We invite you to join us and be part of your local volunteer group of community patrollers.
Advice please
My Ozito garden shredder worked perfectly until I lent it to someone. Now it only works for about a minute before it shuts off. I’ve pulled it apart, cleaned it out, greased and siliconed what needed it, and checked everything I know, but it’s still not staying working properly.
Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution?
I need it sorted ASAP, so I can get the garden sorted before I move in 2 weeks.
It’s not under warranty, being 5 years old now. Sadly, it still would have been had I tried to use it after it was returned. I haven’t for a few years. Now it’s too late.
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