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A report has shown that clinics around New Zealand are understaffed, with GP's being overworked and underpaid. And for everyday kiwis, healthcare and emergency healthcare is simply not accessible.
The General Practice Owners Association of Aotearoa's report titled … View moreA report has shown that clinics around New Zealand are understaffed, with GP's being overworked and underpaid. And for everyday kiwis, healthcare and emergency healthcare is simply not accessible.
The General Practice Owners Association of Aotearoa's report titled ‘‘On The Brink’’ outlines the urgent need to address pay parity for GP nurses and doctors, beef up workforce numbers and improve funding allocations for practices with the hopes that this makes heatlhcare more accessible in the community.
Are you noticing delays in getting GP appointments or long waits at after-hours care?
Any comments below may be shared in your local paper's We Say You Say column.
How to make your own Christmas terrarium painted in Resene.
Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
Star Party planned for tonight is Posponed Until Saturday ( Tomorrow night)
We have our final Star party of the year at the Park this weekend. The first fine night of either Friday or Sat. Observing from 9- 11 pm ish.
The weather is looking better tomorrow night.
When: Saturday Night -ie … View moreStar Party planned for tonight is Posponed Until Saturday ( Tomorrow night)
We have our final Star party of the year at the Park this weekend. The first fine night of either Friday or Sat. Observing from 9- 11 pm ish.
The weather is looking better tomorrow night.
When: Saturday Night -ie Dec. 3rd.
The weather has beaten us tonight. It looking better tomorrow night.
See you there.
Ralph Bradley
I have a collection of the Bricks free packets of farming thingy you get when you shop at Countdown if anyone's kids wants them
Share a festive photo of your furry friend and you could be in to win a $100 Prezzy® card. Because the smell of the Christmas tree and the ripping open of presents isn’t only exciting for us. But for them too.
All pets are welcome - Santa paws, claws, beaks, and squeaks. And if you don’t … View moreShare a festive photo of your furry friend and you could be in to win a $100 Prezzy® card. Because the smell of the Christmas tree and the ripping open of presents isn’t only exciting for us. But for them too.
All pets are welcome - Santa paws, claws, beaks, and squeaks. And if you don’t have a pet, that’s fine; we’d love to see your festive snaps too.
Ends 21 December 2022
What better way to while away a Friday afternoon and get your weekend DIY inspiration than drooling over the most beautiful house and garden content of the week?
Homed newsletter keeps you on top of the real estate market, takes you inside gorgeous New Zealand homes, give you a taste of how … View moreWhat better way to while away a Friday afternoon and get your weekend DIY inspiration than drooling over the most beautiful house and garden content of the week?
Homed newsletter keeps you on top of the real estate market, takes you inside gorgeous New Zealand homes, give you a taste of how celebrities live, keep you up to date with interior trends, provide project ideas, and more. Be inspired to dream big about your own space - and get on the path to making those dreams come true. Sign up for free here.
We have our final Star party of the year at the Park this weekend. The first fine night of either Friday or Sat. Observing from 9- 11 pm ish. The weather is not looking great but that can change by the weekend.
When: This Friday or Saturday Night -ie first fine clear night Dec. 2 or 3rd.
… View moreWe have our final Star party of the year at the Park this weekend. The first fine night of either Friday or Sat. Observing from 9- 11 pm ish. The weather is not looking great but that can change by the weekend.
When: This Friday or Saturday Night -ie first fine clear night Dec. 2 or 3rd.
Where: The Wai-iti Dark Sky Park. 437 Wakefield- Kohatu Highway State Highway 6 Wai-iti
We will have 1/2 Moon Jupiter and Saturn to start. Come and enjoy the night.
Koha would be appreciated.
See you there.
By reporter Joanne Naish:
Despite its small population of almost 33,000, the West Coast is a breeding ground for a remarkable calibre of sporting talent, locals say.
From 1967 Boston marathon winner Dave McKenie to Black Ferns superstar and World Cup winner Ruby Tui, the West Coast has … View moreBy reporter Joanne Naish:
Despite its small population of almost 33,000, the West Coast is a breeding ground for a remarkable calibre of sporting talent, locals say.
From 1967 Boston marathon winner Dave McKenie to Black Ferns superstar and World Cup winner Ruby Tui, the West Coast has spawned multiple world-class athletes.
Former star runner Josh Komen, from Greymouth, said the West Coast was known for the minerals that built New Zealand: gold, coal, and timber.
“We live in an untamed natural wilderness, the weather can be harsh, and to extract those rare minerals you have to be willing to work ... in any condition that’s thrown at you.”
Continue reading here.
We are giving 10 lucky winners $1,000 cash each this Christmas, to enter all you have to do is make a purchase on Mags4Gifts. Spoil your loved ones by gifting them a subscription or treat yourself to your favourite magazine or newspaper subscription.
Mags4Gifts is your one-stop shop for all of … View moreWe are giving 10 lucky winners $1,000 cash each this Christmas, to enter all you have to do is make a purchase on Mags4Gifts. Spoil your loved ones by gifting them a subscription or treat yourself to your favourite magazine or newspaper subscription.
Mags4Gifts is your one-stop shop for all of your Christmas gifts with a range of over 50 products to choose from, including our popular NZ House & Garden, NZ Gardener, and TV Guide magazines.
Each product purchased on Mags4Gifts will automatically place you in the draw to win a cash prize - and the best part, there’s no limit on how many times you can enter! Promotion ends 8 Jan 2023, for T&Cs click here.
The team at Mags4Gifts
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Kumara will host new Westland mayor Helen Lash tonight, at the first of what is intended to be a round of community meetings across the far-flung district as the new council beds in.
The mayor, with councillor Riley Burden and possibly … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Kumara will host new Westland mayor Helen Lash tonight, at the first of what is intended to be a round of community meetings across the far-flung district as the new council beds in.
The mayor, with councillor Riley Burden and possibly councillor Jane Neale, will speak at the Kumara Memorial Hall, during a general meeting of the Kumara Residents' Trust at 7.30pm.
By-election candidates for the Northern Ward may also attend.
Lash said they would be seeking some "big picture" expectations including a sense of each community's aspirations and "the top five needs now".
"We need to know because they all factor into our future planning. Importantly, it could ensure a wide focus across the whole district and not solely Hokitika.
"I'm fully aware that each community in Westland is different," she said.
"I would like to see everybody working together... We don't want rift in communities, we want communities working together, otherwise it's a waste of energy."
It would be an opportunity for those who might feel disenfranchised to have a voice.
Lash said she aimed to get around the whole district in her first six months to get a handle on individual communities and to galvanise a programme of action for the new council.
Ensuring transparency and accountability was something she had particularly campaigned for.
It "might'' include looking at township development funding.
"There has to be an expectation that the funding that comes from council for those communities is (spent on) what it is meant to do.
"These are things that have to be addressed but we have to look at them and say, what does the community want?
"As well as putting funding into communities, we need to ensure these matters are tidied up and make sure that they work. These are things that I need to be bought up to notice with. There is quite a bit of this stuff out there that in my mind needs addressing."
Lash acknowledged the council in the past may have enabled certain representative groups to operate with a particular focus and the aim of the meetings was not just to talk to them, but to gauge the wider community, she said.
"It's been allowed down the years. We need to look back at what those committees were originally created for and to do. That's what I'm saying -- what are the needs?"
She would like to see agreements formalised between community associations and the council, "to work with them in the future in a positive direction".
"That involves transparency and communication and better involvement."
Lash said it would particularly benefit the councillors of each ward to be keyed in with their particular constituency.
"I am going to be going around with the respective councillors. I want to touch base with them all, I want to talk to them all about their expectations of council, as in the council business and services provided to the community."
* Public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council has spent over $370,000 on "specialised improvements" to a 1080 factory building it owns in Rolleston, on the edge of Christchurch.
The council kept secret its $1.9 million investment in the Pest Control … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council has spent over $370,000 on "specialised improvements" to a 1080 factory building it owns in Rolleston, on the edge of Christchurch.
The council kept secret its $1.9 million investment in the Pest Control Research (PCR) Ltd factory, manufacturing 1080 poison baits, until it was exposed by the Greymouth Star in 2015. The investment sparked widespread controversy on the West Coast.
At the end of 2020 the council quit its shareholding in PCR, but retained ownership of the factory site, which it still leases to PCR.
A new valuation report for the council shows it advanced $374,783 for specialised improvements requested by PCR at the start of the current five-year lease in 2019. The lease ends in January 2025.
Towards the end of the last council triennium councillor Peter Ewen questioned if the council had actually seen any evidence of the improvements at the site, after the council put up the money.
That prompted chief executive Heather Mabin to commission an assessment from Colliers.
Ewen said on Wednesday he was reading the resulting report with interest.
The Colliers assessment is to be presented to the council’s Risk and Assurance Committee meeting on Friday.
PCR is located in the Izone Southern Business Hub, which also houses Westland Milk Products.
The council bought the bare section over a decade ago before starting development in 2014.
News broke in 2015 that the Selwyn District Council had granted resource consent for the site to be used to manufacture 1080 baits, sparking concern in Rolleston and controversy over the regional council's involvement.
The new valuation report details an office and warehouse building with an outdoor loading and parking area, costing $2.13m.
"Specialised improvements were completed to the building in 2019 at a cost of $374,783 which was funded by the landlord," the executive summary says.
PCR currently pays $110,610 a year, with a small increase recommended based on comparative current rentals in the area.
The regional council put $1.9 million into the venture in 2013, paying $1.3 million for the property and building, and $490,000 for a 49% shareholding.
The council kept the investment quiet for about a year, and when it was uncovered by the Greymouth Star it sparked a petition and angry protests by anti-1080 demonstrators.
*Public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air
Lovely condition, taking up wardrobe space.
$400 ono.
White Ribbon Day this Friday 25th - visit the stand in the foyer of the Rangiora Library during the day for your white ribbon and/or the 6-8pm event in the evening to hear Aviva and the Police (see the poster attached). Sponsored by the Zonta Club of Waimakariri and the Waimakariri District … View moreWhite Ribbon Day this Friday 25th - visit the stand in the foyer of the Rangiora Library during the day for your white ribbon and/or the 6-8pm event in the evening to hear Aviva and the Police (see the poster attached). Sponsored by the Zonta Club of Waimakariri and the Waimakariri District Council. Love to see you there!
On Monday, 21 November, the Supreme Court ruled that preventing 16 and 17-year-olds from voting is 'unjustified age discrimination'.
The current age of voting is 18 in New Zealand and lobby group Make It 16 have been running a youth-led campaign advocating for the vote to be extended … View moreOn Monday, 21 November, the Supreme Court ruled that preventing 16 and 17-year-olds from voting is 'unjustified age discrimination'.
The current age of voting is 18 in New Zealand and lobby group Make It 16 have been running a youth-led campaign advocating for the vote to be extended to our 16 and 17-year-olds.
“This is history,” said Make It 16 co-director Caeden Tipler. “Today New Zealand’s highest court has confirmed that stopping young people from voting is a breach of our human rights...The government and Parliament cannot ignore such a clear legal and moral message. They must let us vote.”
Share your thoughts below - these may be published in the We Say You Say column of the local papers.
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Foundation work on the geologically complex site of the new $26m Experience Centre at Dolomite Point, Punakaiki, as seen on Tuesday, is almost at the stage where work can begin above ground.
Dolomite Point is a limestone karst headland on the … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Foundation work on the geologically complex site of the new $26m Experience Centre at Dolomite Point, Punakaiki, as seen on Tuesday, is almost at the stage where work can begin above ground.
Dolomite Point is a limestone karst headland on the West Coast, and home to pancake-shaped rock formations, blowholes and surge pools.
The anchor shaped building, started in May, will eventually house the Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre and other facilities for the Department of Conservation.
After months of ground and foundation work - including pile driving down to 16m - scaffolding up to 8m has been erected to encase the building's frame in plastic 'wrap'.
This will protect it from the extreme coastal elements as work notches up on the timber building.
The scaffold highest point is slightly above the height of the new building, with a metal frame for a lift to a mezzanine floor already installed at one end.
Dolomite Point is one of the most visited DOC sites in the region, growing from 213,000 in 2008 on the Pancake Rocks walkway, to 511,000 in 2018, placing significant pressure on dated infrastructure at the site.
A key aspect of the redevelopment, including wider redevelopment of visitor facilities such as parking, is the re-establishment of a cultural footprint in the area for Ngāti Waewae. The runanga will be gifted the new experience centre to own and operate.
It has been funded through the provincial growth fund.
*Public interest journalism funded through NZ On Air
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