Kiwis need to halve car use by 2050 to sufficiently improve health
New Zealanders need to almost halve their number of car trips to satisfactorily improve our health and wellbeing, a new report claims.
The University of Otago report, Turning the Tide - from Cars to Active Transport, has recommended the Government put targets and legislation in place to reduce car use in urban centres from 84 per cent of trips to 45 per cent by 2050.
The report claims two-thirds of car trips made for commuting between 2015 and 2017 were within a comfortable cycling distance (five kilometres or less), while one-third were within a reasonable walking distance (2km or less).
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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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20.3% Light rail
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4.5% South Library
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41.4% Orana Wildlife Park
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11.3% The Arts Centre
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3.8% Dux de Lux
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13.5% Christ Church Cathedral
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5.3% Something else (share your thoughts in the comments)
When less is more
Turn old school chairs into a stylishly understated set with this simple DIY project and Resene finishes.
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