No grinches here: Mayor backs Christmas spend
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s mayor says there's no time for Grinches as the festive season gets under way.
The Government earlier this year called on councils to spend less on "nice-to-haves" and more on basics like roads and pipes.
This has forced councils to analyse their spending spending habits.
South Waikato District Council recently debated whether its Christmas parade was core council business, but decided to go ahead with it.
Ashburton’s community Christmas event Light up the Night has a $30,000 budget.
Mayor Neil Brown said the event is probably a nice to have, not a must-have expenditure.
“But people enjoy having it so we should do it.
The event is a time to “connect as a community and reflect on the year, while also looking ahead with excitement to Christmas and New Year and the summer in general”, he said.
“Council doesn’t want to be the Grinch and cancel that.
“It doesn’t cost a huge amount, it’s just under $1 per person in the district. If it’s well supported, it's $30,000 well spent."
The council can review it next year if people don’t like it, he said.
“I think it’s a good thing to do.”
Light up the Night takes place on November 30 in the recently renovated Baring Square East, with an evening of entertainment, music, and the giant Christmas tree will be lit up at 9.15pm.
The tree had been on East St for the last few years while the CBD and square were revitalised, but returns to the square where it will be positioned in front of Te Whare Whakatere, the new library and civic building that opened this year.
East St will be closed from 7am until 9.30pm, with the event starting at 6pm.
A week after the Christmas tree is lit up, the NBS Ashburton Santa Parade will be centred around the Ashburton Domain, with the route again running along Walnut Avenue on December 7.
The parade is not a council-run event, but is organised independently by Carol Johns and her team of volunteers.
The council supports the event by assisting with $3000 towards the traffic management plan.
“It’s a huge help as it's one of the biggest costs,” Johns said.
She runs the event “on the smell of an oily rag” and relies on sponsorship to keep the event going.
“We all do it for the community and I’d hate to see the event go.”
This year’s parade was set to be even bigger, with a lot more entries in the theme (a song featuring a colour) section set to entertain the thousands, she said.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.3% Yes
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46.7% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Turn Wallpaper Scraps into Beautiful Blossoms
These blossoms made from Resene wallpaper left over after decorating will mean your décor will be blooming gorgeous, no matter the season. Find out how to create your own wallpaper flowers with these easy step by step instructions.
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