What do you think of the changing laws around Māori wards?
Northland Regional Council is unlikely to run a binding poll on its controversial Māori ward proposal, after a new law will do away with the polls. The same law clashes with Whangārei District Council's www.stuff.co.nz...
|need to advertise a binding poll| on Māori wards, forcing the council to cancel the poll two days later. The petition-triggered polls consistently overturn proposals for Māori wards, and are considered fundamentally unfair, as no other wards or representation changes can be cancelled in this way. What do you think?
Face to Face Communication versus Technology
FROM A TEACHER: Yesterday, I shut down class about 5 minutes early and told my students I wanted them to just sit and talk to one another. Several of them immediately opened their laptops and began navigating to their favorite computer game.
I said, "No, no laptops. I want you to have face-to-face conversations right now."
After a collective groan went up, I observed something both wonderful and alarming. For the next few minutes, a couple of tables came alive with conversation. They looked at each other in the eyes and talked with great enthusiasm and interest. It was beautiful to watch and listen to.
However, many students were deflated. They did not know what to do without some sort of entertainment from a device. A couple of them put their heads down and avoided eye contact with anyone. I went around the room to those students and tried to engage with them. Some of them mustered a few words, but most didn't know what to do.
I share this story as a wakeup call for parents, grandparents, and guardians. It's tragic to me that a large percentage of today's youth do not know how to have real conversation, but it's not their fault. It is our responsibility as adults to lead by example and hold our kids accountable. Unplug every day, talk, and listen to your children. Getting lost in a device does not help them cope with and overcome the things they're going through mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. All it causes is isolation and depression. They need relationships; they need you.
I plan on doing it again today. #PleaseShare
This was written and supplied by Margaret Johnson in Kaikohe
We Say/You Say: Kiwi Sanctuary
Hi neighbours,
Would you support a predator-free, fenced area in an area near you?
Five kiwi have been found dead in Northland and a dog is believed to be responsible.
The Department of Conservation is urging dog owners to keep control of their pets especially during the daytime where kiwi are at their most vulnerable.
From 1990 to 2018, 345 kiwi were killed by dogs in the North Island, according to DOC. With heightened conservation efforts, the Northland kiwi population is showing positive signs of recovery.
Share your thoughts below and don't forget to type NFP if you don't want your comment featured in the Northern News.
Northland Rentals
I was surprised to receive an email from Northland Rentals Ltd to tell me that they are going to charge me the insurance excess on damage to the van I rented on Saturday. They say that there was damage to the rear bumper.
It was raining heavily on Saturday at time of pick up (the service person could wait to close the door behind me quick enough) and the usual walk around the van.
When I stopped off at the BP to load ice into the back. I did notice a ding in the back of the door, taking a closer look at noticed a bit of rust. It appears that someone had reversed into something with enough force to push the bumper in and put the dent in the rear door. The damage to the bumper and ding line up perfectly. As you can see from the picture.
As there was rust I thought nothing of it.
Then the surprise came, I was accused of the damage, that ding didn't happen on my watch (if it did, how did it rust so quick) but Northland rentals insists that these dings and dents are two separate accidents, which just a lie. The proof is in the photo.
I can afford the excess, what I cant afford is being treat dishonestly. Shame on Northland Rentals for operating like cheats. We deserve better from local business. Everyone that knows me, knows that they are treated in the utmost professional manner I expect the same.
David W Harrison
Chartered Accountant
PS I wont be booking them again for any golf trips
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