Annual Plan Consultation to begin 15 May
Council is to ask the community if it agrees to a smaller rate increase than previously flagged and for a fund to be targeted at community support for a post-COVID-19 restart.
The proposal was debated at the first live-streamed Council meeting on Thursday (30 April) and forms the backbone of the 2020-21 Draft Annual Plan, which goes out for 3 weeks of public consultation, starting 15 May.
The Elected Council considered four different scenarios and looked at the sacrifices and benefits of each option over the short, medium and long term. The options included whether it was better to make no rates increase, which would see future ratepayers facing larger rates increases, or continue with the 4.2% rates increase that had been proposed for year three of our 2018-28 Long Term Plan.
Council decided to seek feedback on a reduced rate increase of 2.2% which will enable Council to continue providing and maintaining the services and assets we use daily.
Mayor Sheryl Mai says we need to factor in how different the global landscape was when the Long Term Plan was established after consultation in 2018, and how everything changed on 25 March.
“When we first prepared our budget and work programme for 2020-2021 the plan was to increase our revenue to continue building the assets our rapidly growing District needs, like roads, water and wastewater systems, and parks and reserves.
“COVID-19 changed that - we see the pain our community is experiencing. People need immediate help, but also assurance that life will go on, and improve after this crisis."
Council is committed to continuing capital works projects to help stimulate local businesses and create jobs as well as seeking potential government funding for projects that are ‘shovel ready’.
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
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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31.7% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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68.3% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Something we all seem to have forgotten
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.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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