Councils Lame Excuses An Insult
The lack of respect shown to Waikanae residents regarding the closure of the recycling centre has reached new heights. Not only did they not bother to consult with the community before rushing it through, but the reasons given for the closure (and I use the term "reason" loosely) are seriously flawed. According to KCDC, it is inequitable for Waikanae to have a recycling centre when residents of Paekakariki don't have one and Waikanae residents can drive to Paraparaumu, which does have a recycling centre. One could equally argue that it is inequitable that Waikanae (now) doesn't have a recycling centre when Paraparaumu and Otaki do have one.
Taking this reasoning further, Paekakariki residents should pay for their own seawall. They don't need a beach as there is a perfectly good beach at Paraparaumu that they can drive to. Nor does Paraparaumu need the Te Newhanga Comunity centre when there is a perfectly good, and recently refurbished, hall around the corner they can use. Or perhaps Waikanae residents should refuse to pay their share of the maintenance of the Aquatic Centre, the Paraparaumu Library and Marine Gardens. Actually, they dont need an Aquatic centre either when there is a perfectly good beach at the end of the road.
It may not be the only thing that is at the end of the road for council. One thing we do have in Waikanae is an over-representation at the polling booth (and they cant take that away from us). We get out and vote, and we have much better memories than most people think.
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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
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52.8% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.8% Critical thinking
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29.7% Resilience and adaptability
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2.8% Other - I will share below!
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