The Cost of Improving Porirua Council Chambers
The Post had an article in the 10th of August edition on this topic, I have been waiting for something to appear on Neighbourly but perhaps it is waiting for the next Kapi-Mana News to appear on Tuesday.
In Public Service Watch by Justin Wong he mentions the following points (abridged by me):
PCC is considering options for its meeting chamber..... to make it 'more accessible and welcoming' for the public.
.... chambers can feel unwelcoming and intimidating for visitors and guests....
Discussions to refurbish and relocate the chamber to the ground floor originally came up in 2017, but the council then decided against the move and opted for a $370,000 upgrade to install audio-visual and live-streaming equipment......
..... and create a space that was 'familiar and welcoming'..... officials also conceded there were downside.
The cost to do so today would be four to six times more than what was estimated on 2017.......
____________
Sorry Justin but your article is too important to be allowed to just slip past.
Now the PCC is looking at all the options including just titivating the chambers for $26,000.
I would think that the people of Porirua Council catchment area would rather that the money was saved and put towards reducing their rates bill. The person whose job it is to push for this appalling use of ratepayer money, might be better employed elsewhere in the Council or perhaps encouraged into employment some place else with a Council who has money to waste.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
🎉 Riddle me this, legends! 🎉
He/She who makes it, sells it.
He/She who buys it, doesn't use it.
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What is it?
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Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
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