Call for community views on government’s proposed Three Waters Reform
Taupō District Council is calling for the community to share their views on the future of three waters by completing a short survey at www.surveymonkey.com....
The government is currently proposing significant changes to the delivery of three waters (stormwater, wastewater and drinking water) including the creation of four publicly-owned entities to deliver these services. For the Taupō District, this would see us join with 21 other local council areas.
Every council has until late September to assess this proposal and the impacts on local communities.
Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas said while this is a government-led proposal, and council doesn’t have all the information, it is important to include community feedback at this stage in the process.
“This is about getting the conversation started. While formal consultation would be government-led, we think including your feedback at this stage is the right thing to do, as we believe our local voices are a key part of these reforms.
“What we do know is that compliance costs for water will increase significantly over time so a key consideration for us is whether we want to pay higher rates to keep ownership and control of our water assets or do we want to pay lower rates, by spreading the cost out across a wider area, but see the ownership and control of these assets sit with central government.
“The survey will allow us to better understand the community’s views on this balance of keeping costs affordable for households and retaining the delivery of three waters within council.
“This will also allow us to include our community’s views as a valuable part of what we take back to Government at the end of September,” Mr Trewavas said.
The survey closes on Wednesday 15 September to allow council time to review responses and incorporate into council’s formal response to the government’s Three Waters Reform proposal.
After this, the government has said they will consider next steps, including the process and revised timing for decision-making and consultation.
To fill out the survey please head to www.surveymonkey.com...
For more information on Three Waters you can head to taupo.govt.nz/threewatersreform or head to dia.govt.nz/Three-waters-review.
Neighbourly Q&A: Renting rights with CAB's Sacha Green
We are continuing our Q&A sessions on Neighbourly. This week we have the amazing Sacha Green from Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ) who will be answering your questions about your renting rights.
A little bit about Sacha:
She has been working for CABNZ for 10 years and is passionate about empowering people with knowledge of their rights as well as ensuring access to justice.
She helps support the team of over 2,000 trained volunteers who deliver the CAB service in 80 neighbourhoods around Aotearoa by providing advice and support at a national level on a wide range of issues. One of Sacha’s work areas is leading the CAB’s social justice work on housing and tenancy issues.
Whether you're a flatmate, landlord, boarder or flatmate, you can leave a comment below and Sacha will share an answer on Wednesday from 9.30am. You may want to ask about notice periods, bond fulfillment, reasonable rent increases, or even whose responsibility it is to deal with mould in the home.
Join Sacha here on Wednesday at 9.30am. See you then!.
⇩ Share your question below ⇩
Poll: Have you ever been bullied?
People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.
Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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81.7% Yes
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18% No
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0.3% Other - I'll share below
Tips for moving to a retirement village with a pet
Moving to a retirement village marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities waiting to be explored. Naturally, you want to share this journey with your beloved furry companion, and at Ryman, you are welcome to bring your pet along, provided they are suitable for the village environment.
Once your pet is approved for the village, the focus shifts to ensuring a smooth transition for them. Dogs and cats, being creatures of habit, may find relocating stressful. However, with patience and a thoughtful approach, we can mitigate their anxiety and help them settle into their new surroundings seamlessly.
For more tips click read more.
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