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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast Regional Council staff will have renewed clout in dealing with anyone who removes rock from floodwalls.
This follows an incident late last year where council compliance staff caught a person red-handed removing a serpentine boulder … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast Regional Council staff will have renewed clout in dealing with anyone who removes rock from floodwalls.
This follows an incident late last year where council compliance staff caught a person red-handed removing a serpentine boulder from a protection wall at the mouth of Serpentine Creek, near the Coast to Coast start line.
Serpentine along with pounamu is a toanga of Ngai Tahu and is legally owned by the iwi.
The man, equipped with a trailer fitted with a winch, ignored an order by the council and removed rock anyway after compliance staff left.
A report to the Risk and Assurance Committee this week noted the council previously had a bylaw to protect its floodwalls, implemented in 2015, but it had lapsed last April. A renewed bylaw was timely given the proposed new floodwalls.
Committee chairman Frank Dooley said compliance staff needed adequate support to exercise their authority.
"We need to make sure that whatever we have in place gives them the ammunition for them to do their job thoroughly.
"We need to support them, when we find someone taking a rock out of our stopbank," Dooley said.
Acting operations manager Colin Munn said a renewed bylaw would offer staff protection and send "a clear message".
"In my experience, I have not had a lot of occasions if you need to pull a bylaw out and prosecute, but they are useful."
Dooley referred to "a threatening e-mail" he had since received from the alleged Serpentine offender, who had asked for his "physical dimensions".
Acting consents and compliance manager Rachel Clark said the alleged rock thief had since been identified.
"The rock that was taken from the Serpentine rock protection has been found, the alleged offender has been identified and questioned over the taking of the rock. The alleged offender is currently in custody for other alleged crimes."
Clark said apparently the piece of rock was mistakenly identified by the alleged offender as Pounamu.
It was too heavy for one person to carry, hence the trailer with winch to pick up the rock.
But on recovery by council it had been properly identified as a piece of Serpentine.
"It wasn't good quality stuff."
Its understood the alleged offender was visiting from Dunedin.
* Public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air
Swap food for a FREE Resene testpot with Hunger for Colour!
Simply bring two cans of food into your local Resene ColorShop and swap them for one Resene testpot (60-80ml). We'll donate all food to The Salvation Army foodbanks.
By adding a little more colour to your life you can also help… View moreSwap food for a FREE Resene testpot with Hunger for Colour!
Simply bring two cans of food into your local Resene ColorShop and swap them for one Resene testpot (60-80ml). We'll donate all food to The Salvation Army foodbanks.
By adding a little more colour to your life you can also help those in need.
The newest addition to the NZ Compare suite of comparison brands has landed - Mobile Compare is the home of Kiwi Mobile Plans. A one stop shop for Neighbours everywhere!
Start 2023 right! Forget overspending and getting stuck with a plan that offers too much or too little.
Whether you’re … View moreThe newest addition to the NZ Compare suite of comparison brands has landed - Mobile Compare is the home of Kiwi Mobile Plans. A one stop shop for Neighbours everywhere!
Start 2023 right! Forget overspending and getting stuck with a plan that offers too much or too little.
Whether you’re after unlimited minutes and calling, endless data or flexible payment options to fit your budget, Mobile Compare has it all from your favourite providers. Plus, the website is super easy to use — you’ll find a fantastic deal in no time! Check it out today!
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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council faces "another very challenging year," according to Risk and Assurance Committee chairman Frank Dooley.
The committee met on Tuesday for five-and-a-half hours as it received an update on the … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council faces "another very challenging year," according to Risk and Assurance Committee chairman Frank Dooley.
The committee met on Tuesday for five-and-a-half hours as it received an update on the council's investment portfolio, got a closed door briefing on the draft 2022 annual report, endorsed a health and safety charter and teased out a schedule of workshops for the forthcoming annual plan.
The council also has received tens of millions of dollars for 'shovel ready' projects and other publicly funded infrastructure projects to clear and show progress on in the coming year.
Councillors workshopped the 2022 annual report for about three hours
and it will be adopted next week at the first formal council meeting of the year.
Dooley thanked council staff for their work to get it over the line and under pressure.
"It's really comforting to know we're going to be able to sign-off next week. I know it's six weeks behind our statutory deadline, but there's nothing we can do about it."
An earlier briefing by council investment portfolio advisers J B Were explained the rationale of having a diversified portfolio both domestically and internationally.
Dooley said the presentation was good from a risk perspective and explained the benefits of a diversified portfolio, although the council had a responsibility "to keep oversight".
He had asked management to also present a profile of the council's liabilities in the coming months.
The council had previously been briefed mid-year on liabilities, currently $12.25m.
J B Were advisers told the council the focus was on spreading risk, over-riding the tendency for investors to just focus on returns, hence a diverse portfolio held by the council.
The past three years had been particularly challenging with inflationary pressure in the international and domestic economy but the portfolio had rendered a "reasonable" return of 11.5% in that period; the performance benchmark was 6%.
Returns should be better over the next year, advisers said.
In the past, the regional council has used the investment portfolio to subsidise its activities in lieu of rates — with the average drawdown, until two years ago, being $350,000 every six months, or $2.8m in total.
*Public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air
With rising inflation, the pressure is piling on councils this year to tighten their budgets to keep rates payments down for households across the country.
Overall, do you feel that your council and community board does a good job for your area?
If you don't wish for your replies to be … View moreWith rising inflation, the pressure is piling on councils this year to tighten their budgets to keep rates payments down for households across the country.
Overall, do you feel that your council and community board does a good job for your area?
If you don't wish for your replies to be used in the We Say You Say column, include NFP in your comment.
Our February issue of our Seniors Newsletter is out now. In this issue we're keeping you in the know how on copper withdrawal and how that may affect you, plus lots more.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, subscribe to NZ House & Garden, NZ Gardener, or TV Guide online at Mags4Gifts and receive an iconic box of Guylian Belgian seashells.
Simply enter the promo code ‘VALENTINES’ at the checkout to redeem this great offer. Valid until 11:59pm 14 February … View moreTo celebrate Valentine’s Day, subscribe to NZ House & Garden, NZ Gardener, or TV Guide online at Mags4Gifts and receive an iconic box of Guylian Belgian seashells.
Simply enter the promo code ‘VALENTINES’ at the checkout to redeem this great offer. Valid until 11:59pm 14 February 2023, white stocks last. For full terms and conditions click here.
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All too often, our older community are found at home alone, suffering, physically hurt and unable to help themselves. If you’re living alone and would like some extra support, get to know your neighbours, reassure them that you're okay with them checking in on you, and together make a plan … View moreAll too often, our older community are found at home alone, suffering, physically hurt and unable to help themselves. If you’re living alone and would like some extra support, get to know your neighbours, reassure them that you're okay with them checking in on you, and together make a plan and talk through what warning signs to look out for should something be wrong. It could just save your life.
For more information, and tips to help you make a plan go to thehelloproject.nz
👋Happy Waitangi Weekend everyone! 🤩Are you doing anything exciting? Ashburton has so much to offer for celebrating this weekend!
🚂The plains Railway & Museum is having a fun day with activities that suits the whole family this Sunday.
🗺😋On Monday The Ashburton Multicultural … View more👋Happy Waitangi Weekend everyone! 🤩Are you doing anything exciting? Ashburton has so much to offer for celebrating this weekend!
🚂The plains Railway & Museum is having a fun day with activities that suits the whole family this Sunday.
🗺😋On Monday The Ashburton Multicultural Bite will showcase at Ashburton Domain with our diverse culture groups, performing arts and delicious food experience. A great opportunity for everyone to come and explore our district. 💚💙
#waitangiweekend #culturediversity #canterburynz
Needless to say, it's been a horrible week for a lot of us with the scary weather and all it's brought with it. If you're doing it tough, here's something which might help.
Stuff's podcast Stuff Explained has been talking with Hummingly's Jolie Wills, a … View moreNeedless to say, it's been a horrible week for a lot of us with the scary weather and all it's brought with it. If you're doing it tough, here's something which might help.
Stuff's podcast Stuff Explained has been talking with Hummingly's Jolie Wills, a psycho-social expert in disaster and disruption. In this short podcast interview, Jolie shares her expert advice on what you, or the people you want to support, may need right now.
Whether you're currently involved, or you want to help others, it's worth a quick listen!
The Canon Summer Snap competition has garnered some stunning photos from across Aotearoa. Once again, Neighbourly is the judge of their People and Communities photograph category so we need you!
There's a camera up for grabs for these talented photographers, and it's up to you to … View moreThe Canon Summer Snap competition has garnered some stunning photos from across Aotearoa. Once again, Neighbourly is the judge of their People and Communities photograph category so we need you!
There's a camera up for grabs for these talented photographers, and it's up to you to choose who takes the crown...and the Canon EOS!
Cast your vote in the poll below before 4pm, 14 February.
Motorists travelling between Greymouth and Stillwater on SH7 will have to take the Taylorville side of the Grey River on Friday, February 3 for four hours as work to remediate the highway surface and remove a manhole is completed.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency crews will close the highway … View moreMotorists travelling between Greymouth and Stillwater on SH7 will have to take the Taylorville side of the Grey River on Friday, February 3 for four hours as work to remediate the highway surface and remove a manhole is completed.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency crews will close the highway between 10am and 2pm (after the school bus runs and before the end of the school day) at Omoto that day, affecting the route between Greymouth and Stillwater.
A detour via Taylorville Rd would be in place for vehicles but HPMV and overweight vehicles/trucks must use SH7 so would need to plan their journeys around the four-hour closure, Waka Kotahi West Coast maintenance contract manager Moira Whinham said.
“Although the detour route is not much longer than the SH7 route, anyone travelling from Kaiata will need to backtrack to Stillwater, adding 20 minutes to their normal direct route to Greymouth."
The closure is weather dependent and may be rescheduled if it is wet. Check www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz... for updates.
Waka Kotahi thanked all regular users of this highway for their patience while the work was completed at Omoto.
With torrential rain and flooding caused by an 'atmospheric river', should this event convince us all that climate change is real and we need to be taking action?
*Add NFP if you don't wish for your comments to be used for We Say You Say in the local papers.*
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A $600,000 spend on a Hokitika playground and a lack of realism are common concerns among the six candidates vying for election to the Westland District Council's Northern Ward.
Voting is now open in the byelection, which comes just months … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A $600,000 spend on a Hokitika playground and a lack of realism are common concerns among the six candidates vying for election to the Westland District Council's Northern Ward.
Voting is now open in the byelection, which comes just months after the three-yearly local body elections.
Asked what the issue of concern for voters was, most candidates preferred to talk more broadly about what the council should be focused on.
First timer Charley Cowie, of Stafford, noted the ward had about 50% of the rateable value for the whole district and it was clearly ''going ahead''.
A vote for him would help him ''represent everyone'' in the district and he was reluctant to pin down a common concern.
He cited the collective effort to restore the historic Stafford Cemetery as an example of what could be achieved by ''getting the community working better together''.
''At the end of the day, I'm not there to represent [only] the Northern Ward. At the end of the day, I don't need this job - if people think I will make a good councillor, good on them.''
Another first time candidate Patrick Phelps, a former journalist and now champion of the West Coast mineral industry, said council management and governance had got out of step with ratepayer expectations, while the rating burden burgeoned.
With a shortage of housing stock in Westland, relative to population size, the council seemed to be inhibiting supply rather than being an enabler.
Freeing up the council to get back to its core business would be his focus, including the council ''exiting a lot of the commercial enterprises it is involved in''.
''How long are you waiting for council to process a consent or whatever?'' Phelps asked.
While direct accountability for northern concerns was needed, ''I'm not a particularly parochial person''.
''I do think there is a case for wards - you could easily be forgiven if you are in Otira to think the council does not take account,'' he said.
Flow Ir Inn said they were looking at the macro picture and how the council operated for everyone, including the rates strike.
''To be honest, my main focus is to get costs down . . . We can't really spend more money until we get costs down.
''Anyone who lives on the Coast knows our council is spending lots of money on things that they don't need to be spending on.''
The $600,000 playground was a case in point, Flow Ir Inn said.
New Kaniere resident and first time candidate Euan Mackenzie said voter feedback suggested widespread worry about the council accessing funds for projects which were then ''frittered away''.
He preferred to see the council act as a positive facilitator of the local economy.
Its key responsibility was for citizens to access employment and the basic need for housing, education, health and youth services so they could get on with life, Mackenzie said.
Perennial candidate Jacquie Grant said a lot was at stake for the Northern Ward.
''As I've said on my election stuff, I'm there to represent the ward first and foremost,'' Grant said.
She cited community issues at both Ross and Kumara which had been festering and neglected by the council - and''Hokitika-centric'' spending.
Again, the $600,000 proposed spending on a new playground in Hokitika when the town was already rich with accessible facilities needed to be brought into line.
''We've got to get real,'' Grant said.
She also claimed some Northern Ward voters were ''incensed'' at a system where the next highest polling candidate last October - herself -was not brought up the list when the seat was vacated.
Nelson Lakes resident and Money Free Party advocate Richard Osmaston said after running for six mayoralties inthe South Island in October, as well as in the Hamilton West byelection, he did not have much in reserve this time.
However, the cost of living was probably the main issue in the Northern Ward ''keeping most people awake at night - the fact they are going backwards''.
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