Less Talk, More Action
Reading about the government grants given to KCDC under the Better Off package, one can't fail to notice that there is an awful lot of talking going on in the way these funds have been allocated. Approximately $775 million has been allocated to capacity-building, development-type projects which are difficult to evaluate in terms of outputs. Given the events of this week, the money could be better spent shoring up our storm water and drinking water systems to cope with extreme weather events. This may be more inkeeping with the purpose of the grants.
While in Kapiti we may not experience an event of the scale seen with cyclone Gabrielle, floods are becoming more frequent and our aging storm water system is in need of an upgrade. Small underground pipes cannot cope with the volumes of water generated with these events and a raft of other measures are needed. For instance, the creation of more green spaces, trees, ponds to contain runoff, restoration of wetlands, and construction of swales on private and public land.
We could dig up some of the concrete and replace it with permeable or semi permeable paths where this is practicable. All of these measures will slow down and absorb the flow of water during an extreme event.
Our KCDC engineers probably have a number of other good ideas we should be looking at. Funding needs to be allocated for these. Landowners could be assisted to provide ponds for storm water collection and construct swales along driveways and fences on private property. (and note that ponds will need to be fenced).
Are our drinking water systems future-proofed? Do collection points, substations need to be upgraded? Floodplain work is needed so that water is directed toward a specific overflow area. Gravel needs to be removed from the lower reaches of our rivers.
All of these measures will enable us to be better off when extreme weather hits. To the council, I would say this:
To thy own self be true
You cannot sit in meetings waving a pen around and looking for ways to defer things. You were elected for espousing certain values which the community needs and you need to act on those.
Poll: Would you use a pet cemetery?
Dave Stephens has created a pet cemetery on his land.
The 10-acre site in Albany, Auckland, features graves nestled among beautifully manicured gardens and unique art pieces, offering a serene space where visitors can pay their respects in their own way.
Is this something you think you would use? Share your thoughts below.
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0% Yes
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0% No
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0% Other - I'll share below
NZSQ to play in Paekakariki
Paekakariki's Mulled Wine Concert series has been presenting top-class music in Kapiti for nearly twenty years. Organiser Mary Gow says she is really excited to be bringing to her home region one of the most well known and highest quality groups of classical musicians.
The New Zealand String Quartet is probably the best loved chamber music ensemble in the country. It is made up of talented musicians who are all dedicated performers and mentors to students across the country. The longest-serving member of the Quartet, violinist Gillian Ansell, was awarded the MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of
Merit) honour for services to music in New Zealand. The other permanent member is violinist Peter Clark.
As an exciting development in their history, and for the first time ever, the NZSQ have announced that two other positions in the group - violinist and cellist - will be filled by invited guest artists The invited musicians for the Paekakariki concert will be violinist
Monique Lapins, who was previously a member of the NZSQ. The other invitee - who will be of great interest to followers of the Mulled Wine Concert series - is Andrew Joyce, dynamic first cellist of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Andrew is no stranger to Kapiti audiences, having played in many concerts here.
As a group, the quartet promise that their 2025 season will be an epic one.
The rest of 2025 will be filled with toe-tapping, awe-inspiring, boundary-pushing chamber music. From epic works for chamber orchestra by Shostakovich to the premiere of a brand-new New Zealand piece; from dancers to poets; from your local community centre to the depths of
space, we’re bringing the music to you they say.
The Paekakariki concert will take place at St Peters Hall on 16 March 2025 at 2:30PM and will feature works by Haydn, Dame Gillian Whitehead, Dave Flynn, Dvořák String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, the American Quartet and excerpts from the Danish String Quartet Wood Works The Last Leaf. A concert not to be missed, indeed!
===ENDS===
Mulled Wine Concerts presents the New Zealand String Quartet in concert
Sunday 16 March 2025 at 2:30PM
St Peter Community Hall, Beach Rd, Paekakariki
Tickets $35, Students $15.
Online sales: marygow@gmail.com. Tel: 021 101 9609
Info: www.mulledwineconcerts.com... or on FaceBook: Mulled Wine Concerts.
Ticket outlets: Magpie Paremata, Mana Esplanade; Finns Hotel, Paekākāriki; Moby Dickens Bookshop, Paraparaumu Beach; Jenoa, 2 Mahara Place, Waikanae.
Haydn String Quartet, Op. 64, No. 5, 'The Lark'
Dame Gillian Whitehead, Poroporoaki
Dave Flynn, Slip
Dvořák String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, the 'American Quartet'
Excerpts from Danish String Quartet's Wood Works / The Last Leaf
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