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The 2023 General Election is to be held on Saturday 14th October 2023 - that's less than 6 months until you make your vote!
In the lead up to the election, what issues are you most wanting to hear from parties and their candidates about?
Type NFP if you want your comments excluded from … View moreThe 2023 General Election is to be held on Saturday 14th October 2023 - that's less than 6 months until you make your vote!
In the lead up to the election, what issues are you most wanting to hear from parties and their candidates about?
Type NFP if you want your comments excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
It’s your last chance to win this brand-new,, fully-furnished home located just north of Auckland in the stunning beachside town of Mangawhai.
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The comparison you've been waiting for! Are you team Apple or team Samsung?!
Both companies have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to technology and it can get pretty heated. It's always best to check before you invest - so compare the pro's and con's of … View moreThe comparison you've been waiting for! Are you team Apple or team Samsung?!
Both companies have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to technology and it can get pretty heated. It's always best to check before you invest - so compare the pro's and con's of Samsung and Apple now with this easy guide.
Telecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?
The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage … View moreTelecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?
The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage you to speak up and raise issues early.
For phone and internet disputes, talk to your provider first and give them a chance to sort it. If it remains unresolved or if you need some extra help, you can talk to TDR – your free and independent complaint service.
To get in touch or find out more, visit www.tdr.org.nz or freephone 0508 98 98 98.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A perceived road cone overkill may not come to an end any time soon.
Councillors have been warned a change in traffic management philosophy may not reduce the amount of cones on Ashburton streets.
Instead, it could get worse, council chief … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A perceived road cone overkill may not come to an end any time soon.
Councillors have been warned a change in traffic management philosophy may not reduce the amount of cones on Ashburton streets.
Instead, it could get worse, council chief executive Hamish Riach cautioned.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s regional relationships manager, James Caygill, told the Ashburton District Council there is “a transition from one regime for traffic management to another one” in New Zealand.
In the past there had been an "exceptionally prescriptive'' approach, he said.
That was transitioning to a risk-based approach instead.
“They will no longer have the ‘there must be X cones’, so you should see over time a transition.”
Councillors had initially taken it as positive news to counteract the public’s perception of road cone overkill.
But Riach warned that a shift to a risk-based approach could put costs up.
“It will be saying 'have you done everything to mitigate the risk', and when contractors turn their mind to that question, they may decide to do more, not less.”
Council’s infrastructure and open spaces manager Neil McCann said the council was still waiting to see what impact the new approach would have.
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CDANZ estimates that around 250,000 dogs are chained up for their entire lives in Aotearoa. Animal welfare inspectors from the SPCA can do little for them and only in the most extreme cases can dogs be seized, and owners prosecuted, due to the resources involved. Do we need to have better welfare … View moreCDANZ estimates that around 250,000 dogs are chained up for their entire lives in Aotearoa. Animal welfare inspectors from the SPCA can do little for them and only in the most extreme cases can dogs be seized, and owners prosecuted, due to the resources involved. Do we need to have better welfare rules for dogs?
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
WANTED WANTED WANTED:
Gold • Coins • Watches • Banknotes • Antique • Jewellery • Collectables
The market for many antiques, collectables, vintage watches, artefacts, gold and silver items has been buoyant these past few years. So if you are considering selling any of these or … View moreWANTED WANTED WANTED:
Gold • Coins • Watches • Banknotes • Antique • Jewellery • Collectables
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See us at a venue near you - See venues here: https://www.goldco.co.nz/.
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Telecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?
The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage … View moreTelecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?
The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage you to speak up and raise issues early.
For phone and internet disputes, talk to your provider first and give them a chance to sort it. If it remains unresolved or if you need some extra help, you can talk to TDR – your free and independent complaint service.
To get in touch or find out more, visit www.tdr.org.nz or freephone 0508 98 98 98.
Sharing the joy with neighbours, family, and friends alike doesn’t have to be hard. HelloFresh makes mealtime easy, even for a crowd.
With HelloFresh you don’t have to think about meal planning or the hassle of going to the supermarket. Everything you need for a no-stress, … View moreSharing the joy with neighbours, family, and friends alike doesn’t have to be hard. HelloFresh makes mealtime easy, even for a crowd.
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Our Seniors newsletter is out today. We publish details on the annual increase to NZ Superannuation and Veterans pension payments, the start of the Winter Energy Payment and provide advice on travelling overseas while on Superannuation and what you need to be aware of. We also hear about MoneyTalks… View moreOur Seniors newsletter is out today. We publish details on the annual increase to NZ Superannuation and Veterans pension payments, the start of the Winter Energy Payment and provide advice on travelling overseas while on Superannuation and what you need to be aware of. We also hear about MoneyTalks and the free budget advice they provide. Plus so much more!
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s new library and civic centre is facing a $5.6 million budget blowout, but ratepayers won’t have to pay any more.
That’s the assurance from Ashburton mayor Neil Brown, who’s confirmed a 10% budget overrun has been forecast for … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s new library and civic centre is facing a $5.6 million budget blowout, but ratepayers won’t have to pay any more.
That’s the assurance from Ashburton mayor Neil Brown, who’s confirmed a 10% budget overrun has been forecast for the $56.75m library, Te Pātaka o kā Tuhituhi, and civic centre, Te Waharoa a Hine Paaka.
“It won’t cost the ratepayers anymore as we have the $20m of [Government] shovel-ready money, exactly for this purpose,’’ Brown said.
“To make sure the project progressed and to insulate against any Covid-related impacts and cost increases.”
Shovel-ready is a term to show that planning is complete for a project, approval permits are in place, and laborers can get to work with sufficient funding secured.
The original library and civic centre project budget, set after public consultation in 2019, was $51.6m. But the council then secured a $20m Government shovel-ready grant in 2020, with an additional $5m contingency added in 2021 because of the uncertainties around the impacts of Covid-19.
Securing the Government shovel-ready funding meant that the council’s input figure dropped from $56.75m to $36.75m, with essentially a $20m contingency added to what it had planned to fund.
“The ratepayer will be paying no more than what we consulted on when we started the project,” Brown stressed.
“It won’t affect the ratepayer at all, and we are just thankful we have that shovel-ready contribution from the Government.”
The only way it would cost more is if the budget ballooned past $71m for a project originally scheduled for completion in October 2022 but now set to open by the end of this year.
The new building should be finished at the same time as the renovation of Baring Square East.
“We’re very disappointed that the cost has risen, but anyone undertaking a build in this current climate has experienced similar difficulties,” Brown said.
Dear neighbours, every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. This month, we're on the hunt for onion recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by April 20, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the June issue of NZ Gardener.
Over 360 Household Heroes across the nation were nominated by you to win $350! This country is full of amazing Kiwis who are keeping things running at home no matter what! You’re all heroes!
BUT there can only be one winner, was it you? Find out who WON $350 towards their Broadband and Power … View moreOver 360 Household Heroes across the nation were nominated by you to win $350! This country is full of amazing Kiwis who are keeping things running at home no matter what! You’re all heroes!
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The Tinwald Corridor Improvement project is a poor substitute for the benefits of the second bridge.
Councillor Richard Wilson didn’t hold back on describing the Tinwald project as a poor outcome compared to the bigger-picture benefits of the … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
The Tinwald Corridor Improvement project is a poor substitute for the benefits of the second bridge.
Councillor Richard Wilson didn’t hold back on describing the Tinwald project as a poor outcome compared to the bigger-picture benefits of the second bridge.
“This doesn’t substitute for a second bridge,” Wilson said.
Waka Kotahi presented the Ashburton District Council with the plans for the Tinwald Corridor upgrade, which is currently out for tender.
Wilson described it as a “poor outcome” as it’s only a start to addressing the congestion woes.
Wilson believes the intersection upgrade will be beneficial for connectivity but is adamant the major issue is the congestion and traffic flow, which it won’t address.
He questioned how traffic lights will solve anything when the traffic through Tinwald is quite often “any time after 3pm nose to tail”.
Wilson remains concerned about the impact of the up to 10 months of road works on the already congested stretch of road, believing the project could be completed much faster.
“We’ve learnt that wet days no one works. Weekends no one works. A sniff of Covid no one works. Any excuse no one works, what’s in the contract to hold them to account effectively, because 10 months seems a long time.
“You said it could be done quicker, well this piece of infrastructure, there is no reason it couldn’t be squeezed.”
It’s a fixed-price contract, but Wilson said the longer it takes the costs to start to be “borne by our community”.
Other councillors agreed with Wilson that 10-months, much shorter than the 18 months the Walnut Avenue upgrade required, will be too long.
Waka Kotahi's director of regional relationships, James Caygill, said the length of the construction time will be clearer once the work is tendered.
The tender is scheduled to be awarded at the end of May or early June, and then a sod turn and site blessing will occur in early June before construction begins.
The Tinwald project in essence is the same as Walnut Ave – installing lights on SH1 and upgrading the rail level crossing.
Waka Kothai assured the council that the lesson learned from the Walnut Ave project would be put into practice in Tinwald.
The point which drew a wry response from councillors was the assurance KiwiRail has its plans already in place – to the point where its “critical piece of work” is already booked in.
A 33-hour block of line closure for the level crossing upgrade is already locked in for October 7 and 8.
The project design manager, GHD’s Grace Ryan, said the block of line is “the single most critical programme item”.
“KiwiRail has confirmed they are committed to this block of line and has said come rain, shine or anytime short of a national emergency, it will happen.”
The issue at Walnut Ave was Waka Kothai had largely completed its work but there was a gap between this and KiwiRail starting, much to the disdain and bewilderment of the community.
“You will not be in the situation you were with Walnut Ave, where everything looks done and we are waiting for the rail component to be delivered,” Caygill said.
“We know when that rail piece of work is happening.”
Caygill said the object of the project “was never about solving through traffic”.
“I absolutely acknowledge that through traffic is an issue for the community, and an issue for us on the state highway and that is why we have been working together on the bridge business case.
“This isn’t a replacement for the bridge, this is about absolutely improving the connectivity for residents of Tinwald who are severed by that exceptionally busy state highway.”
The second bridge will relieve the congestion and traffic flow, Caygill said, proving a “much better functioning network” but it’s a separate process.
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