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Let's make your festival brighter and your wallet happier! CLICK BELOW to share your power-saving tips in our "Light Up Diwali, WN $150" competition.
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Whether you're celebrating solo or with friends, take some time today to treat yourself.
CLICK below to enter our Single's Day competition to WIN a $111 Prezzy Card!!
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council is calling for the Government to back locally generated hydro-electricity as the country moves away from coal and gas.
The council has submitted on the Government's discussion documents - Advancing New … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council is calling for the Government to back locally generated hydro-electricity as the country moves away from coal and gas.
The council has submitted on the Government's discussion documents - Advancing New Zealand's Energy Transition - on its local power needs.
The West Coast has some of the highest priced electricity in the country due to the losses of power via transmission lines through the Southern Alps.
The council described a focus on large-scale renewable energy development within the discussion document as "disappointing".
Instead, the council called for local renewable energy generation to be supported as solar and wind generation are "not viable options" for the West Coast.
Submitters for the proposed combined Te Tai o Poutini Plan also called for a more flexible approach to enable electricity generation in the region.
The submissions pointed out the proposed small-scale hydro schemes in the region - namely the Waitaha run-of-river scheme - is needed for the region to be self-sufficient and even an electricity exporter.
The region's community-owned lines company Westpower said that if the region's single biggest manufacturing site, Westland Milk Products, fully switched to electricity it would soak up the entire electricity capacity in the region.
The council said "it is disappointing" the Advancing New Zealand's Energy Transition discussion document appeared to only focus on large-scale renewable energy developments.
"The council's view is that development of local renewable energy sources needs to be supported in a national energy strategy."
It also noted a lack of focus on renewable energy "generated by and for local areas" in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's Regional Energy Transition Accelerator report for the West Coast.
That report, released in August, focused on replacing commercial and industrial fossil fuel with biomass and electricity in the region.
"But it does not state where the electricity will be sourced from, and it appears not to support or promote using local renewable resources to generate electricity for local communities," council said.
Instead, support for the development of local renewable energy generation should be clearly stated in the national Emissions Reduction Plan, the National Adaptation Plan, and the national Energy Strategy, council said.
The council goes on to suggest the solar and wind generation options proposed in the discussion document cannot be relied on in future dry generation years.
"Medium to large scale, land-based wind generation is not an option due to our low wind power densities," the council said.
"There is also less sunshine hours and limited flat land available on the West Coast for commercial, medium to large scale, land-based solar generation compared to Canterbury for example."
The Government needed to support "micro, small and medium-scale hydro" as the region had the water and slopes for the schemes.
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A West Coast request for resilience funding from the national emergency agency has been partly rejected due to a lack of money.
About $500,000 was funded from a $1.4 million request, a meeting of the West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee… View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A West Coast request for resilience funding from the national emergency agency has been partly rejected due to a lack of money.
About $500,000 was funded from a $1.4 million request, a meeting of the West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee heard on November 8.
The application was made to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) resilience fund, which is targeted towards civil emergency welfare measures.
Committee members heard the national fund was oversubscribed by more than $4m due to the volume of applications.
The West Coast application was to install shipping containers to hold welfare supplies at five key locations across the region, to be utilised in a major Alpine Fault earthquake (AF8) catastrophe.
The South Island is predicted to be overdue for a magnitude 8-plus quake by about 30 years.
Given the West Coast's high vulnerability to a major earthquake, its region's scattered communities have been told to expect to be self sufficient for days, if not weeks, in a major disaster.
There was to be one resilience container each for Buller, Grey and Westland and the two marae.
The scope of the container contents was based on what other regions had in their welfare containers "without overpitching it".
West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee chairperson Jamie Cleine said it was important for the region reapply.
He noted the key role of the region's two marae at Arahura and Bruce Bay, which needed to be emergency response centres in an emergency.
In the meantime the councils had pitched in some of their own resources to help move the project forward, Cleine said.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae chairperson Francois Tumahai said the Arahura Marae was designated as an emergency activation centre.
"It seems a bit strange we're not kitted up for it. As you know, with the Kaikōura (earthquake) event, the marae were the first to kick in.
"I think it's a no-brainer to be honest."
Brown said they have been bidding to the long-term plan budget planning of the region's three territorial authorities and the West Coast Regional Council.
They were proposing an increased budget to focus on the welfare and planning aspects of emergency management regionally. They were also seeking more finance to upgrade the website, and for training.
For more than 100 years, we New Zealanders have identified ourselves as Kiwis.
The kiwi is in the name of businesses, in logos, in ads, even on the wings of our Airforce ... ironically.
We think it's time we gave the little guy some well-deserved recognition. Show your love for our … View moreFor more than 100 years, we New Zealanders have identified ourselves as Kiwis.
The kiwi is in the name of businesses, in logos, in ads, even on the wings of our Airforce ... ironically.
We think it's time we gave the little guy some well-deserved recognition. Show your love for our national icon - the kiwi - by voting KIWI for Bird of the Century.
Unlock the potential of your unused space, whether it's a shed, garage or paddock and start making it work for you. Kiwis from all over New Zealand are looking to rent affordable space for storage, a workshop or an event. Let us help you find the perfect renter for your space.
Dear neighbours, looking ahead to summer (we can't wait!) and the glut of crops, we're looking for recipes for either plum or cucumber dishes, to feature in the magazine. Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by December 3, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the … View moreDear neighbours, looking ahead to summer (we can't wait!) and the glut of crops, we're looking for recipes for either plum or cucumber dishes, to feature in the magazine. Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by December 3, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the December issue of NZ Gardener.
Christmas is on its way and for those of us with family across the country this means posting gifts from afar. Unfortunately, with the rise of mail theft in our communities, this can be risky business. Have you had a parcel stolen in your neighbourhood? Vote in our poll and share below whether this… View moreChristmas is on its way and for those of us with family across the country this means posting gifts from afar. Unfortunately, with the rise of mail theft in our communities, this can be risky business. Have you had a parcel stolen in your neighbourhood? Vote in our poll and share below whether this influences how you're gifting nowadays.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
Hold on a sec, mind-blowing deals are on the way! But before you rush in, take a moment to read our latest article for shopping tips that'll help you save hundreds of dollars this Black Friday.
Also, don't miss our Black Friday deals on broadband and power plans, plus PriceMe to … View moreHold on a sec, mind-blowing deals are on the way! But before you rush in, take a moment to read our latest article for shopping tips that'll help you save hundreds of dollars this Black Friday.
Also, don't miss our Black Friday deals on broadband and power plans, plus PriceMe to compare retailers like The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Farmers, and more!
Let's make this Black Friday the best one yet!
Hi neighbours, tourism operators are frustrated at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s decision to close the Arthur’s Pass route for much of the day for two weeks.
State Highway 73, linking the West Coast and Canterbury, will close on weekdays for resurfacing between Otira and Arthur’s Pass … View moreHi neighbours, tourism operators are frustrated at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s decision to close the Arthur’s Pass route for much of the day for two weeks.
State Highway 73, linking the West Coast and Canterbury, will close on weekdays for resurfacing between Otira and Arthur’s Pass from 10am to 6pm between December 4 and December 15.
Arthur’s Pass cafe and store owner Sean Moran said the closure would severely affect his business.
But Waka Kotahi Canterbury/West Coast system manager Mark Pinner said the fortnight before the Christmas holidays "has the least impact overall, compared to later options".
Read the full story by reporter Joanne Naish here.
Photo: SH73 Peg Leg Creek resurfacing, also in the Otira Gorge closer to the top of the pass, completed in 2021.
This little momma and her babies here to ask you a question... can you give him some love? Literally! ❤️ With the number of animals needing SPCA’s help on the rise, and the number of foster homes due to go down in the upcoming holiday season, we need foster homes now more than ever.
Over … View moreThis little momma and her babies here to ask you a question... can you give him some love? Literally! ❤️ With the number of animals needing SPCA’s help on the rise, and the number of foster homes due to go down in the upcoming holiday season, we need foster homes now more than ever.
Over the next six months, around 10,000 cats and kittens will require temporary care to heal, learn and grow. Not only felines, but dogs, small animals and farm animals can all need foster care, and we’re desperately seeking new foster homes around the country.
No matter your circumstances, we are keen to hear from you. Whether you have kids, pets, work full time or can only commit for a couple of weeks, you can make a HUGE difference in the little life of an animal in need ?
We cover training and all costs. All you need to provide is your time and love ? Keen to know more?
Get involved today and get started on the most rewarding journey.
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council is now faced with "a massive task" of resending about 16,000 rates invoices as it cleans up its earlier mistake.
It follows the shock of ratepayers opening their bills early in October to find increases of … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council is now faced with "a massive task" of resending about 16,000 rates invoices as it cleans up its earlier mistake.
It follows the shock of ratepayers opening their bills early in October to find increases of anywhere up to 100%, after council passed a general rates rise of 16.4% in June.
It later emerged the wrong capital value factor was used to assess rates demands in more than half of the bills sent out in early October.
It mainly affected ratepayers who are within special rating districts for flood protection assets, such as the Greymouth Floodwall.
Chief executive Darryl Lew told the council's Risk and Assurance Committee on Monday that "a complete diagnosis" had been done across all the original invoices.
"We now understand what went wrong and what we need to do to put it right," Lew said.
He said steps were being taken to avoid a repeat of the mess.
"It is critical now ... that we develop an internal control framework around rates generation into the future. One doesn't exist at the moment."
Lew said the council proposed undertaking "quite a complex" mail merge exercise in fresh generation of between 10,000 and 16,000 new rates demands.
At the same time he had implemented "a control procedure and a checking procedure" to ensure everything was right as the new invoices were generated then mailed.
"That is not a trivial task."
Sending new corrected rates demands out could take a couple of weeks, but it would be clearer by the end of Monday, he said.
Lew said council staff were meeting its auditor PricewaterhouseCooper and the contractor who maintained council's rating system this afternoon to work through the practicalities.
He said the computer based rates system used by council was currently used by about other 30 local authorities.
Lew said he was commissioning a new internal control framework for the rates system given it did not have one currently.
Risk and Assurance Committee chairperson Frank Dooley said he appreciated what the new chief executive and his team had done to rectify what had been an "embarrassment".
PricewaterhouseCooper confirmed the original glitch related to the rates generated for the ratepayers in council's special rating districts. It amounted to 16,087 invoices, and would take time to correct.
"There is a large credit that has to be processed," Dooley said.
He suggested that everyone should still pay their rates other than that charged specifically to their special rating district.
"That's the only error here, the rates for the special rating district."
Dooley said there was "one error that wasn't picked up" in going back to the original decision on June 27 to strike the general rates increase, but it had a huge impact.
"There will be a massive process to correct over 16,000 credits."
Dooley said was recommending that if people were unhappy with their 2023-24 rates demand, then they could just pay based on their 2022-23 demand.
It was vital people still paid their rates by November 30 to avoid "a cascading effect" on council's cash flow.
The council previously extended the deadline from October 20.
Dooley said as long as people paid something by November 30, council would exercise "total discretion" around penalties.
Lew repeated there was "a massive amount of work" to do in the meantime.
For many people, the thought of downsizing and moving to a new house can be pretty daunting, especially if you’ve lived in the family home for the last 20 to 30 years. But if you take the plunge, it can open the door for you to truly expand your life.
There are two things to consider when … View moreFor many people, the thought of downsizing and moving to a new house can be pretty daunting, especially if you’ve lived in the family home for the last 20 to 30 years. But if you take the plunge, it can open the door for you to truly expand your life.
There are two things to consider when you’ve decided to sell up – how to present your home so it’s appealing to buyers and packing up your home for the physical move.
Before you jump into renovations to make the place look shiny and new, think carefully about the value they will add to the house and whether you’ll recover that cost in the sale price. Renovations can be costly, stressful and time-consuming, so they’re only worth making if they’ll add significant value to your house sale.
Click to read more.
For as little as $61, unwrap thought-provoking articles, entertainment and adventure every Sunday!
Purchase a subscription to Sunday Star-Times via mags4gifts.co.nz before December 25 and receive a free Linden Leaves diffuser worth $40.
For more information visit mags4gifts.co.nz/sstchristmas… View moreFor as little as $61, unwrap thought-provoking articles, entertainment and adventure every Sunday!
Purchase a subscription to Sunday Star-Times via mags4gifts.co.nz before December 25 and receive a free Linden Leaves diffuser worth $40.
For more information visit mags4gifts.co.nz/sstchristmas
Happy Shopping!
The team at Sunday Star-Times
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