NEAR FUTURE TRANSPORTING PEOPLE
Wellington Metlink are getting a bunch of new trains (18 it is believed) and carriages by 2025-26 and the Wellington Regional Council are going to allow private bus servicing again. All this means is that TransDec will increase the train services in the region to almost certainly include 10 minute-only gaps in its weekday scheduling and a more frequency at other times; a promised increase in public buses on the roads throughout the region.
These measures are taking into account the increased usage of public transport and the demand that will generate from new housing (such as town housing) and apartment blocks where vehicle ownership is or will be limited or non existent.
New housing areas are deliberately planned to take into account the lower expectation of vehicle-ownership and number of vehicles per household in the future.
As well, looking into the future a little bit further, there is the advance of the driverless vehicle which will allow people to hire vehicles on a trip by trip basis and not need to desire a privately owned vehicle parked or garaged. This will suit up with the advance of apartments which usually have restricted or no parking facilities and that of town houses with limited or no parking.
Capping this is the completion of cycle lanes to allow people to safely ride on the sides of roads and cater for the increased usage of cycling as a means of transportation and recreation.
Less need for vehicle ownership is the increasing permanency of people working from home instead of travelling to a work station and in the use of the internet for the ordering of and the delivering of supermarket products and all other items.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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4.7% Second half of November
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43.5% 1st December
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17.7% A week before Christmas
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33% Whenever you wish
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.9% Yes
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14.3% No
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2.8% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.