2342 days ago

Get your voting papers in on ‘Vote Day’ - Saturday 5 October

Daniel Webster from Local Government New Zealand

Local Government New Zealand is urging people to post their voting papers on Vote Day – Saturday 5 October 2019.

All voting papers must be returned to the relevant council by midday on Saturday 12 October, and voters need to factor in the time it will take the papers to get through the postal system.

New Zealand Post advises that the Standard Post delivery target is up to 3 working days for nationwide delivery, while delivery to and from rural areas may take longer. However, these targets are guides only, and are not guaranteed – delivery may take longer.

Visit www.nzpost.co.nz... to find your nearest post box or office. To get more information on your local candidates, visit policylocal.nz and local council websites for both information and meet the candidate schedules.

“Some of the main reasons people give for not voting are they forgot, ran out of time or were too busy,” says LGNZ Chief Executive Malcolm Alexander.

“So to make sure people give themselves the best chance to have their say we are encouraging people to vote early on what we’ve dubbed Vote Day. Fill out your papers during the week and then to pop them in the paid envelope and into the nearest post box on Saturday 5 October.”

“Voting papers have to arrive at council offices by midday Saturday 12 October, so sending them in on Vote Day gives them plenty of time to get through the postal system.”

Mr Alexander says it is important New Zealanders participate in the selection of the people who will make decisions that affect most people’s lives on a daily basis.

“Local government shapes the place that you live. It’s the pavements you walk on, the roads where you drive, the water you drink, shower in and swim in, your parks, libraries and swimming pools where you take the kids,” Mr Alexander says.

“There’s been a lot of robust public conversation around climate change, the housing crisis, the quality of our water and our transport options, and now is the time to turn that conversation into a vote that influences your local leadership.”

“Voters can still post their papers after 5 October, but there is no harm in doing it earlier,” Mr Alexander says.

Eligible voters who didn’t enrol before 16 August won’t receive their papers in the mail, but can make a special vote by visiting their local council offices, or by contacting their Council Electoral Officer.

What: ‘Vote Day’
When: Saturday 5 October 2019
Why: Make sure you have your say by voting early
How: Visit www.nzpost.co.nz... to find your nearest post box or office. To get more information on your local candidates, visit policylocal.nz and local council websites for both information and meet the candidate schedules.

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More messages from your neighbours
19 hours ago

Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?

What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?

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If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
  • 32.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
    32.5% Complete
  • 67.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
    67.5% Complete
194 votes
7 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

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S
13 hours ago

Something we all seem to have forgotten

Stewart from Kamo

An Obituary to Common Sense printed in the London Times

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated valuable lessons like:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge)

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death;
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights,
- I Want It Now,
- Someone Else Is To Blame,
- I'm A Victim,
- Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing…

This is a modified version of a text that is originally attributed to Lori Borgman. However, it is more true today than it was when first written. It is not the version I remember, but it still gets the point across. Enjoy and remember.