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We've randomly chosen five members to win a $50 chemist gift card each. The winners are:
Jim Edwards from Lower Hutt
Caroline Low from Whangarei
Sarah Currey from Marshlands
… View moreWe've randomly chosen five members to win a $50 chemist gift card each. The winners are:
Jim Edwards from Lower Hutt
Caroline Low from Whangarei
Sarah Currey from Marshlands
Talia Rammage from Timaru
Julian La Rosa from Blenheim
Get in touch with our Helpdesk team before the 23rd of April to claim your prize by heading here.
Beautiful, 4 bedroom property available to rent in Paraparaumu. Home has 2 bathrooms (one ensuite), main bedroom has a walk in closet, double garage, walk in pantry and easy indoor/outdoor flow.
Please message me if you are interested and I can help organize viewings and get you in touch with the… View moreBeautiful, 4 bedroom property available to rent in Paraparaumu. Home has 2 bathrooms (one ensuite), main bedroom has a walk in closet, double garage, walk in pantry and easy indoor/outdoor flow.
Please message me if you are interested and I can help organize viewings and get you in touch with the property manager.
www.trademe.co.nz...
On occasion KCDC send me emails about their LTP (Long Term Plan) asking for my feedback. I'm not sure why I keep sending in these responses, maybe one day I hope it may make a difference, but so far all I get back is the council's opinion on what they thought they should do, and … View moreOn occasion KCDC send me emails about their LTP (Long Term Plan) asking for my feedback. I'm not sure why I keep sending in these responses, maybe one day I hope it may make a difference, but so far all I get back is the council's opinion on what they thought they should do, and therefore what they will do.
One day I hope we will have councillors who will have the balls to put a stop to spending and starting living within our means.
I don't want to blame the current council members, as they have essentially inherited a $185 million debt from previous council spending. *This number is from www.kapiticoast.govt.nz...
However, the problem remains, we have a debt of $185 million. Perhaps $110m of this debt is due to previous spending on water supply, wastewater management and stormwater management. I was unable to find any indication of how the council is planning to reduce this debt. Is there anybody who is willing to stand up and ask "Why aren't we looking for options to pay this off?"
What if we could pay off $25 million each year for the next 5 years?
There are multiple options we could consider:
a) Raise rates 25% (for a 5 year period) This would provide an additional $25 million but you would have lots of unhappy customers.
b) Raise rates 5% (forever) and continue to pay off this debt at a very slow rate.
c) Cut back on all non-essential capital expenditure (for a 5 year period) This would provide the additional $25 million. No additional increase to rates!
d) Cut back on all non-essential council services (for a 5 year period) I couldn't find any figures for how much we could save, perhaps somebody else can comment on this. I'm sure it would be a significant amount.
e) A mix of cutting back on non-essential services, and a smaller rates increase, although the rates increase provides a relatively small amount, so it may not be worth it.
What are the essential services of council?
a) Water supply
b) Wastewater
c) Storm water
d) Road maintenance (repairing damaged roads only)
e) Rubbish removal (I consider this to be an essential service, however it is currently funded by home owners separately)
f) Services like licensing and building approvals are operated by the council, however these are generally all self-funding.
Everything else is therefore non-essential.
Perhaps non-essential services might include these capital expenses:
a) The transport hub and link road ($6.8m)
b) Seawall replacement ($3.2m)
c) Mahara gallery and Waikanae library ($5m)
d) Kapiti Gateway ($3.1m)
e) Parks and open spaces ($4m)
f) There is currently $74m budgeted for operating expenses, but there is no breakdown of this amount, so it is hard to say how much could be saved by closing the swimming pools, libraries, galleries, and other non-essential services.
At the very least we could save $22.1m per year, probably a lot more.
Swimming pools, libraries, galleries, parks, housing and new roads are lovely, but we can live without them. Certainly if we knew it was only for a period of 5 years. In some cases the swimming pools, libraries, galleries and parks could operate a self-funding model, where they raise their own funding to cover their salaries through user-charges, advertising or sponsorship.
In summary, I'm sorry I don't support either of the council's proposed options. I do support cutting all non-essential services for a number of years in order to reduce debt.
Neighbourly people - please be kind. I love using our parks and cycle ways. I visit the library and swimming pool on occasion. The parks and open spaces and fruit trees provided by the council are awesome. However, if we can significantly reduce our debt (and that debt belongs to every rate payer on the Kapiti Coast) then I would vote in favour of cutting non-essential spending and non-essential services in order to do so.
Don’t miss out! For only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home located in stunning Taupō, worth just over $1 million.
Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, this home is waiting to be loved by its … View moreDon’t miss out! For only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home located in stunning Taupō, worth just over $1 million.
Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, this home is waiting to be loved by its new owner.
Make this property your permanent residence, a holiday home, a rental, or you can simply sell it! Get your tickets today at heartlottery.org.nz.
Surplus Italian ceramic glazed tiles as pictured.
Grey 200mm x 200mm - approx. 32 boxes each covering 1m2 and 100mm x100mm - approx. 2 boxes.
Yellow 200mm x 200mm - approx.16 boxes and 100mm x 100mm - approx. 15 boxes.
Off white textured 200mm x 200mm - approx. 8 boxes.
Price negotiable.
MEADOWCROFT GARDENS 722 Otaki Gorge Road Hautere TODAY - 6th APRIL from 7.30pm
Enjoy a night stroll among the lights in the parklike setting of Meadowcroft Gardens, amidst the lights.
Very popular with daylight tours, the garden is usually only opened at night to friends and family. Discreet … View moreMEADOWCROFT GARDENS 722 Otaki Gorge Road Hautere TODAY - 6th APRIL from 7.30pm
Enjoy a night stroll among the lights in the parklike setting of Meadowcroft Gardens, amidst the lights.
Very popular with daylight tours, the garden is usually only opened at night to friends and family. Discreet lighting brings the garden alive after dark and provides a rare opportunity to see another side of this unique garden.
Proceeds will help to fund the Earthquake Strengthening of Te Horo Hall.
The garden will be open between 7:30 - 10pm. $15pp and $5 for children (Cash only please). Raffle tickets will also be on sale - 1st prize is $1000 of groceries generously donated by NW Otaki.
Due to water features and reduced lighting this garden walk is not suitable for young children. Off road parking will be available.
**an opportunity not to be missed in this special garden **
BIG THANKYOU and CONGRATULATIONS to Neil and Avis for making their garden available to all.
The dismantling of the Three Waters reforms have lumped an extra 5% to the Kāpiti Coast District Council's proposed rates increases, bringing it to 17%.
Open Now...
Thai Red Fish Curry
Smoked Kahawai
Fishcakes and Fish Pies
Smoked Fish and Dill Dip
Frozen Crumbed Lemonfish Bites
Prolife Foods Limited is recalling specific batches of its Value Pack and Refill Pack products containing peanuts as these products contain levels of aflatoxin above the allowable level. Customers are asked to check the product and date marking on the package. Affected product should not be … View moreProlife Foods Limited is recalling specific batches of its Value Pack and Refill Pack products containing peanuts as these products contain levels of aflatoxin above the allowable level. Customers are asked to check the product and date marking on the package. Affected product should not be consumed.
READ MORE: www.mpi.govt.nz...
March in Kāpiti, like most of central New Zealand, was around a degree cooler than normal, and much drier.
Our daily average maximum temperature of 20.3C was 1.4C cooler than the 13-year average, and almost a degree cooler than March 2023. But, despite lower temperatures we still reached 20C on… View moreMarch in Kāpiti, like most of central New Zealand, was around a degree cooler than normal, and much drier.
Our daily average maximum temperature of 20.3C was 1.4C cooler than the 13-year average, and almost a degree cooler than March 2023. But, despite lower temperatures we still reached 20C on 21 days, so it could qualify as a summer month.
As usual for time of year, east coast Blenheim and Masterton, at 21.6C had the highest average maximums in central New Zealand, with Nelson, Levin and Lower Hutt virtually the same as Kāpiti. However, Kāpiti’s overall mean temperature of 16.0C was the highest in central New Zealand,
We enjoyed the equivalent of 19 sunny days, only one fewer than average.
Total rainfall of only just under 40mm was recorded at the airport making it the driest March in nine years, with most falling in one episode at the beginning of the month. The little rain received in the following three weeks did little to ease the drought-like conditions. March 2023 had almost three times this amount of rain.
In April we can look forward to temperatures averaging around 19.5C, with 17 sunny days.
Time to FALL BACK! Use that extra hour to compare your bills with NZ Compare and you could save hundreds of dollars!
Daylight saving ends Sunday at 0300, don't forget to adjust your clocks!
Happy April Fool's Day, neighbours!
While we were tempted to play a trick on you today, we thought it would be more enjoyable to hear the practical jokes and pranks that you have pulled off (or been victim to) on April 1st throughout the years.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish… View moreHappy April Fool's Day, neighbours!
While we were tempted to play a trick on you today, we thought it would be more enjoyable to hear the practical jokes and pranks that you have pulled off (or been victim to) on April 1st throughout the years.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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