Posts by The Press
949 days ago

Prince Charles and Camilla make secret donation to Westport flood relief

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have given a secret donation to Westport’s flood relief fund.

Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said the royal couple made the donation to Buller’s Mayoral Relief Fund to help residents affected by the flood that inundated the West Coast town in July.

He said at the request of His Royal Highness the amount would not be disclosed.

About 500 homes were damaged by the flood, resulting in provisional insurance costs of about $85 million.

The Mayoral Relief Fund has received more than $500,000 in government funding and donations. It has paid out about $300,000 so far, with the rest earmarked for uninsured people.

Cleine said some residents had lost everything and would be unable to return home for a long time.

“It is very thoughtful of them to contribute to the Mayoral Relief Fund. I have thanked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall for their generosity on behalf of our community.”

The heir to the throne visited Westport in November 2015 and charmed the crowds during a walk along the main street.

He also visited the now-closed West Coast Brewery to sample beer and whitebait patties, which he described as a perfect combination.

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2 days ago

Poll: What could the Christchurch City Council fund if it didn't have to pay GST on rates?

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

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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What could the Christchurch City Council fund if it didn't have to pay GST on rates?
  • 21.1% Light rail
    21.1% Complete
  • 4.4% South Library
    4.4% Complete
  • 41.1% Orana Wildlife Park
    41.1% Complete
  • 11.1% The Arts Centre
    11.1% Complete
  • 4.4% Dux de Lux
    4.4% Complete
  • 12.2% Christ Church Cathedral
    12.2% Complete
  • 5.6% Something else (share your thoughts in the comments)
    5.6% Complete
90 votes
10 hours ago

Open Christchurch - celebration of architectural excellence

The Team from Citizens Advice Christchurch Area

With 50 open buildings, 4 guided walks, 3 landscapes, 3 special events and over 40 activities (from expert talks and tours to workshops), Open Christchurch 2024 is a celebration of our architecture.

On 4 & 5 May, experience many of the city’s best buildings and spaces from the inside, for free. Discover new spaces or get up close to buildings you love.

35 out of the 50 buildings do not require advance bookings – you can just turn up on the day.

Check out the link under 'Read More' for a link to the website.

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