Bins have been removed from 200 Christchurch parks but the rubbish remains
Removing hundreds of bins from across Christchurch has turned some parks into “eyesores” and led to calls for them to be returned.
The Christchurch City Council has taken away 840 bins from parks and is installing 81 “smart” bins instead, leaving 211 neighbourhood parks without a rubbish bin and others with fewer bins than before.
While the council says the transition has been “very smooth” and has only resulted in a few litter complaints, residents and councillors are reporting a different picture.
Residents have resorted to picking up litter themselves, but their patience is wearing thin. Some are blaming the council for taking the bins away in the first place, while others say people need to be responsible for their own rubbish and take it home. Continue reading here.
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Congrats to the winners of the $100 Warehouse gift cards:
Solange Thorp from Lyall Bay
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Winners can get in touch here or by emailing helpdesk@neighbourly.co.nz before 14th May.
The Tova Show
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We’re reaching out from the Tova show, the flagship weekly politics podcast on Stuff, as we prepare for our budget coverage and how it’s affecting Kiwis - we’d love to hear from you.
We need a few people who are available the week before the budget (Wednesday 22nd/Thursday 23rd May) and on the day of the announcement (Thursday 30th May).
Please email tova@stuff.co.nz or comment below if you’d like to share your perspective with us. We give you our commitment to treat your experience with sensitivity and care.
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Poll: What could the Christchurch City Council fund if it didn't have to pay GST on rates?
Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger says GST on rates, currently taken by central government, would be better spent locally.
The comments follow an Infometrics analysis that found over $1.1 billion of rates revenue nationwide was collected by the Government in 2022 as GST.
According to Infometrics, $88.5m of that came from Christchurch city ratepayers. It would be enough to save the Christ Church Cathedral from ruin; restore the Dux de Lux seven times over; cover both the Art Centre and Orana Wildlife Park’s request for regular public funding for over 26 years; contribute to light rail in Greater Christchurch; or get the South Library rebuild completed.
Read the full story by reporter Sinead Gill here and share your thoughts in the comments below. (Note: Subscription required. You can still read two free stories a month if you're not a ThePress.co.nz subscriber).
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21.9% Light rail
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5.2% South Library
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38.1% Orana Wildlife Park
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13.3% The Arts Centre
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2.9% Dux de Lux
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12.4% Christ Church Cathedral
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6.2% Something else (share your thoughts in the comments)