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Looking at the media stories surrounding the 1981 Springbok tour has got me thinking. John Minto was centre stage back then, but the movement itself started over 50 years ago (was it really that long) with Trevor Richards. In the early 70's, I was one of the founding members of HART, … View moreLooking at the media stories surrounding the 1981 Springbok tour has got me thinking. John Minto was centre stage back then, but the movement itself started over 50 years ago (was it really that long) with Trevor Richards. In the early 70's, I was one of the founding members of HART, encouraged by Richards and a couple of my mates from that hotbed of sedition, Helen Connon Hall for young ladies at Canterbury university. We were young, but we weren't always very ladylike. We tried to raise awareness of apartheid and people didn't know much about it back then. When I asked people what they thought of it, they thought it was a new brand of soap powder.
"Waddaya think of apartheid?"
"Aw, dunno, luv, I haven't tried it yet".
But the movement grew and soon a whole lot of people were opposed to apartheid. Some years later, somewhere there is a press photo of myself as sitting president of Canterbury University with two other past presidents, one of them the infamous Leonardo, and Trevor Richards. We had made the front page.
But it was about more than just the tour. It was a rights based movement and it lobbied for a fairer society. We also encouraged people to boycott South African produce, wine, cigarettes etc. We reverted to Cold Duck (yuck).
I was in New York when the 1984 tour went ahead and I missed all the action. Probably just as well, I would have got my head bashed in. But I danced around my Manhattan apartment in glee. It had to stop now. It was costing the country millions in security. Sadly, it had come down to money. It seems to take precedence over everything else.
Seeing the Mayors photo with an arm around Minto in this weeks Kapiti News also got me thinking. Its a long way from the rights based fair society we fought for to the behavior I witnessed in this weeks council meeting. Our representative Councillors for Waikanae and Waste Management were gagged and bullied, effectively denying us representation. The chief perpetrators of this were the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the Chief Executive. Sue me for that too if you like, I have around 50 witnesses. I left the meeting disgusted, shaking my head and thinking "Wow, have you changed".
The Tokyo Olympics is high quality in performances through all the sports and in the venues provided. The stadiums etc are simply marvellous.
Never seen anything better of all these things.
The camera work to capture the action is extraodinary.
The track and field is almost out of this world. HIgh… View moreThe Tokyo Olympics is high quality in performances through all the sports and in the venues provided. The stadiums etc are simply marvellous.
Never seen anything better of all these things.
The camera work to capture the action is extraodinary.
The track and field is almost out of this world. HIgh standards, world and Olympic Games records already abound.
NZ is producing its best array of sports successes ever and gaining medals which were not expected. So we are on the road to a record haul and up near the top in medals per capita and so very superior to the likes of China, USA and Japan.
The drama of these Olympics is not lost on me and the extra tearfulness and emotion shown among many athletes is a product of the adversities faced in the difficult times we are in. This Olympics is a light in the all the gloom and the reason why they went ahead, be it a year late.
Twelve artist's books and three wall books, which are works of art in their own right, by Waikanae-based writer, artist, curator Paul Thompson.
There will also be an Artist's Workshop in this exhibition, Saturday 28 August, 12:30-3:30pm. Free, but limited to 8 participants.
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Dear neighbours,
Please meet Alyce Read of Nelson, who uses her houseplant collection to connect with others and help them overcome mental health challenges. "You wouldn’t take a plant and put it in a dark corner and fail to water it and expect it to thrive. So we should look at ourselves … View moreDear neighbours,
Please meet Alyce Read of Nelson, who uses her houseplant collection to connect with others and help them overcome mental health challenges. "You wouldn’t take a plant and put it in a dark corner and fail to water it and expect it to thrive. So we should look at ourselves that way," she says. "If we are not thriving in the way that we would wish, it might not be any fault of ours, it might be the conditions that we are under."
All it takes is a kind gesture to change someone’s day. From giving flowers to a neighbour ‘just because’ to paying it forward in line at a cafe - this month we’re encouraging our members and supporters to make New Zealand a better place one random act of kindness at a time.
The options … View moreAll it takes is a kind gesture to change someone’s day. From giving flowers to a neighbour ‘just because’ to paying it forward in line at a cafe - this month we’re encouraging our members and supporters to make New Zealand a better place one random act of kindness at a time.
The options for doing so are endless! Being kind doesn’t have to cost a thing, after all a smile is free. For those who want to go the extra mile, here’s some other ideas: take a gift over to new neighbours and introduce yourself, build a free community library for your street, buy extra kai at the grocery store to donate to a food bank, bring treats into work for colleagues, send an encouraging text to someone who needs it, let a car into the traffic ahead of you, write positive messages in chalk on sidewalks around your neighbourhood, or surprise loved ones with a visit.
Want to share your thoughts? Let us know how you’re spreading kindness this month by tagging us in your social media posts or emailing us your photos, videos, or experiences to:
info@neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz
Tēnā koutou. Your neighbours at Sustainability Trust here. Just letting you know that our mid-winter market is back and better than ever - and you're invited.
This is your opportunity to meet the makers, the crafters and creators, the people that make us proud to #SupportLocal. There will… View moreTēnā koutou. Your neighbours at Sustainability Trust here. Just letting you know that our mid-winter market is back and better than ever - and you're invited.
This is your opportunity to meet the makers, the crafters and creators, the people that make us proud to #SupportLocal. There will be music, locally made artisanal gifts and goodies, great conversations and great people.
So go on, cut out the supply chain and meet the people behind the products. Be ethical, shop sustainably & support NZ made.
Admission is free, but please bring cash as many of the stallholders will not have EFTPOS.
Homeware > Art > Toys > Beauty > Clothing > Gifts > Food >Music
All are sustainably sourced and ethically made by conscious consumers for conscious consumers.
Sat, 21 August from 10.30 am to 4 pm - 2 Forresters Lane, Wellington.
Advertise your entry-level and apprentice roles with Competenz through our online job board, we have pre-qualified and motivated jobseekers ready to match with your organisation.
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This week we again feature words and a picture from Louise Thomas, who recently ventured to Whanganui.
"The Chief Porter and I have been hunting the Nankeen Night Heron for some time. Randomly calling into Ūpokongaro to the spot “Behind the Door on 4” where others before us have clocked … View moreThis week we again feature words and a picture from Louise Thomas, who recently ventured to Whanganui.
"The Chief Porter and I have been hunting the Nankeen Night Heron for some time. Randomly calling into Ūpokongaro to the spot “Behind the Door on 4” where others before us have clocked the birds, but, for us, with no success. On Monday we were crest fallen to find the café shut, but thought we would head a little way up Makirikiri Valley Road and drop down into the gulley and scout along the stream that runs into the Whanganui River at Ūpokongaro.
The recent rain had made the stream brown and swollen, water was lapping up onto the shelf with the slight track covered in wandering willy (tradescentia). It was wet, slippery, and muddy and our pants were wet up to the knees just walking through the undergrowth. We were buzzed by fantails and wax-eyes, but saw nothing of the night herons behind the area where the café is.
We pushed a little further upstream, straddling rotten logs which crumbled under our feet and slipping in the thick wet weed. I was about to call time of death on the operation, when the Chief Porter spotted a creamy patch against the dark tangled trees overhanging the stream. It was like magic, three night herons materialised from the gloom, their bodies glowing like warm rich butterscotch.
All three had slicked back black hair, but one roosting in the tree, hunched over like an old man, also had two long thin white feathers waving down his back like crazy antennae. One was actively hunting in the stream, pulling at aquatic plants in the hope they might be tasty, the other perched above and moved along the branches quoorking encouragement about the activities below. Nankeen night heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)."
I have just returned from a meeting of KCDC where the closure of the recycling centre was discussed. I have pasted my address to Councillors below for those who missed the meeting. I don’t resile from anything in this address, although the Mayor threatened me with defamation. In my experience,… View moreI have just returned from a meeting of KCDC where the closure of the recycling centre was discussed. I have pasted my address to Councillors below for those who missed the meeting. I don’t resile from anything in this address, although the Mayor threatened me with defamation. In my experience, however, it’s pretty hard to sue someone for having an opinion. Given the way in which the community has been ignored, perhaps we can sue the council for deafamation.
We had a good turnout of supporters in the gallery and Michelle Lewis presented her petition, with an astounding 1015 signatures collected in 10 days. On the basis of her presentation the Mayor advised he would be asking the CE to provide a report on the district recycling facilities. When pressed, he would not include the Waikanae recycling centre specifically in the scope of the report. Jackie Elliot attempted to move a motion that the recycling centre remain open but was blocked. Jocelyn Prvanov similarly was blocked from speaking. Afterwards, a newcomer to council proceedings commented that she was shocked at the viciousness of the meeting behaviour and the treatment of councillors opposed to the closure. I really admired the persistence with which Jackie made every effort to have her motion put forward.
The purpose of local government contains a requirement to act on behalf of communities, as set out in the Local Government Act 2002. Curiously, the response to my address contained nothing about this, which was addressed in my first point. Instead the focus zeroed in on a brief comment I made about horse trading. This self-absorbed response regarded my comment as libellous. Anyone who has been in politics knows that horse trading is part of the territory. Its what people do. They lobby each other for votes and agree to support each other’s initiatives. So what? The hoo ha over this comment suggests to me that the Council has misread the community and does not understand the depth of feeling on this issue. I think its time they woke up and smelled the dissatisfaction. And its not the only thing with an odor surrounding this. Something smells pretty awful in this whole process.
The reluctance to include the Waikanae Recycling Centre in the scope of the council report is telling. It tells me that this is just another attempt to fob us off and the report is going nowhere. So its business as usual. See you all tomorrow outside the council building at 10.00 am. Bring placards and a good voice and lets send yet another message to council. Perhaps tomorrow they will have their hearing aids turned on.
Address to Council as follows:Good Morning, In relation to the Climate Change Framework I wish to speak to the council decision to close the Waikanae Recycling Centre, in my capacity as chair of Save Our Recycling Targets group, SORT for short. There are three points I wish to make. Firstly
1. The Consultation Process Was Not Adequate
The climate change framework sets out in its principles, item 6 which states “decision making is inclusive, transparent and based on ongoing collaboration and consultation with the wider community” But that’s not what happened when the decision was made to close the recycling centre.
We consider that there should have been a lot more discussion on the issue. The limited discussion that was held was ignored by council. The majority of submissions to the long term plan were opposed to the closure (presumably from those few residents that were “in the know”) and there was no support for the closure from participants in the LTP workshops.
The arguments concerning equality as reasons for the closure are an insult. There was no equality in this decision making process. It was neither inclusive nor transparent. The community had no input into the decision.
In this respect council is in breach of the Local Government Act.
2. The decision to close the recycling centre is inconsistent with Council’s policy on Sustainable Waste Management, the climate emergency action framework and the Long Term Plan..
We know that kerbside recycling has a high contamination rate. A large percentage of what is collected ends up in landfill. The most efficient way to recycle is through a dedicated facility where the waste is sorted on site. In our view, it is short-sighted of Council to close this.
Both the LTP and the Climate Emergency Action Framework talk about supporting the community to minimize waste, enabling communities to be resilient and have access to the services they need, promoting sustainable practices in the community to see a reduction in waste. And here’s the kicker “to reduce council emissions we’ve implemented changes to conserve energy, reduce fossil fuel use, increase use of renewable energy and improve how we dispose of waste”. Since when does closing a recycling facility improve disposal of waste? Since when does driving 15 kms to an outside recycling facility reduce fossil fuel use? This closure make a mockery of these objectives. Set against the closure of our facility, the Long term plan reads like a large pile of empty rhetoric.
The Climate Change Action Group has publicly stated that this closure sends entirely the wrong message regarding climate change. And we agree with them.
In relation to Projected Growth. There are numerous housing projects planned for Waikanae which is expected to grow considerably in the next decade. In excess of 700 housing units are planned. To put it in plain English, as one resident has said
“Why would they want to close it, we are only going to get bigger”
3. Why Indeed?
We do not accept the reasons given for this closure and consider that there are other unstated reasons for closing the recycling centre. It has led us to question the integrity of the process.
Firstly the way in which the vote was rushed through in the LTP workshop. Councillors who initially voted for the centre to remain open subsequently voted for the closure. In our view, there has been some pretty vicious horse trading going on.
We consider that the real reason for the closure of the Waikanae recycling centre is an attempt to circumvent the requirements of the Resource Management Act and provide the Summerset retirement village project with a construction access without having to provide an offset.
Thus, from both a democratic and environmental standpoint, this closure and its process, lacks integrity. It does not honour Council’s commitment to climate change and it has ignored the wishes of the community. We call on council to revoke this decision.
Dear fellow citizens. You would do well to listen to the Westland Mayor talking about the Labour Government's three Waters initiative. It's 16 minutes of solid sense and calm logic and I promise you will NOT be wasting your time.youtu.be...
Are you a small business owner looking to make better use of the online space?
Digital Boost is a free online learning platform packed with 3-5 minute educational videos on topics like:
- Websites
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The future is digital and we want your business to be part of it.
When:- Sunday 1 August 2021, 10:00am–1:00pm
Where: Te Horo Community Hall, 54 School Road, Te Horo,
A truly friendly, local, country market with a fundraising popup cafe with yummy treats and over 40 stalls both inside and outside.
There will be Plants, Skincare, Hand Made Soaps, Food - … View moreWhen:- Sunday 1 August 2021, 10:00am–1:00pm
Where: Te Horo Community Hall, 54 School Road, Te Horo,
A truly friendly, local, country market with a fundraising popup cafe with yummy treats and over 40 stalls both inside and outside.
There will be Plants, Skincare, Hand Made Soaps, Food - Artisan Breads, Honey, Avocados, Jams and Chutneys, Olive Oils, Baking, Eggs and more), Books, Bric-a-Brac, Quality Up-Cycled and Re-Purposed Home Wares, Furniture and lots lots more.
Also included are Arts & Crafts (Art Works, Pottery, Jewellery, High-Quality Stationary, Bird Feeders, Toys, Candles, Fabric Creations, Mosaics, Ceramics, Pottery, Patchwork Quilts, Tableware, Clothes, Knits, Skincare, Merino Goodies, Hats, Gloves and Scarves).
We also have the Seasonal Surplus table – a local fundraising effort with surplus items from local gardens for sale.
NZ COVID Q Code Tracer Poster, Sign-In Forms and Sanitizer will be available.
Do come and enjoy a day out at a real country market day - There’s plenty of parking with the market located just up the road from Ruth Pretty's.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday 1 August at the Te Horo Community Hall. All welcome!!
Note:
The new permanent access to and from School Road is in place.
Northbound traffic - turn left off SH1 onto Te Horo Beach Road (at Hyde Park Village), then go East over the new bridge.
Southbound traffic – turn right off SH1 onto Te Horo Beach Road then East over the new bridge.
Recreate a Kiwiana classic using butterflise and Resene testpots.
Find out how to create your own.
Hi
Just a reminder, Citizens Advice Bureau Upper Hutt now open on Saturday mornings from 10-1230. A Justice of the Peace will be on site tomorrow. Please phone 045289040 or visit us at 2 Sinclair St, opposite the Cossie Club in Upper Hutt. We are always happy to call people back to save charges on … View moreHi
Just a reminder, Citizens Advice Bureau Upper Hutt now open on Saturday mornings from 10-1230. A Justice of the Peace will be on site tomorrow. Please phone 045289040 or visit us at 2 Sinclair St, opposite the Cossie Club in Upper Hutt. We are always happy to call people back to save charges on their cellphones.
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