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When we were kids growing up in Whangarei, very, very occasionally, we'd get a frost and the grass would crunch under our feet when we walked to school. If we were lucky we could crack the frozen top off a puddle.
Is it THAT cold here yet?
Send in your winter photographs to … View moreWhen we were kids growing up in Whangarei, very, very occasionally, we'd get a frost and the grass would crunch under our feet when we walked to school. If we were lucky we could crack the frozen top off a puddle.
Is it THAT cold here yet?
Send in your winter photographs to tekowhainews@gmail.com OR attach them here in the comments of this post. It could be a photo of a place, people or property but it needs to be local to Te Kowhai.
Icicles hanging off your garage gutter? Great! Snap a pic and send it in.
I'll make sure your winter pics make it into the inside front cover of your local magazine: Te Kowhai News.
At a hearing on the Waikato District Council’s Annual Plan wastewater services consultation today, engineering consultancy Jacobs told the Council that its wastewater network was prone to blockages with foreign objects because it was in poor condition with low velocity flows, and with capacity … View moreAt a hearing on the Waikato District Council’s Annual Plan wastewater services consultation today, engineering consultancy Jacobs told the Council that its wastewater network was prone to blockages with foreign objects because it was in poor condition with low velocity flows, and with capacity issues during wet weather.
The presentation provided an update on the wastewater network investigations currently being undertaken to identify the issues that are causing overflows from the district’s wastewater network and came ahead of a full report expected from the consultancy in several weeks’ time.
Jacobs Business Leader for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Ian Garside, said the final report would likely contain a range of recommendations ranging from accelerating public education and continuing the current cleaning programme as a high priority, to upgrading the computer monitoring system and undertaking capacity upgrades and high-risk pipe renewals.
During a Council discussion following the presentation, the Council’s General Manager Strategy and Support Tony Whittaker said that the information didn’t change the current options before the Council which would either allow for the resources to develop new wastewater services plans for the Long Term Plan consultation in 2018 (under Options 2 or 3) or not (under Option 1).
Option 1 is aimed at mitigating key overflow risks and separating wastewater operations in line with Ministry of Health best practice guidelines. Option 2 includes the preparation of long term plans to protect waterways and environmentally sensitive areas, and Option 3 includes the preparation of long term plans for a district-wide ‘continuous improvement programme’.
During the day the Council heard presentations in support of 14 submissions on its Annual Plan consultation. Rates affordability, the need for community education about blockages and the level of information available from the 2016 Jacobs report were common themes in several of the presentations.
The Council agreed to receive three late submissions bringing the total number of submissions received to 466 with most in favour of either Option 1 (42%) or Option 2 (41%).
The Council will continue deliberations on the results of its Annual Plan consultation tomorrow (Thursday 1 June) in order to come to a recommendation for a final decision at an extraordinary Council meeting on Wednesday 28 June.
Proposed changes to targeted wastewater rates in the Council’s Annual Plan will see targeted wastewater rates increase by between $47 and $254 depending on property location and the option chosen. The changes are complicated by the fact that the Council is still in the process of moving from five different wastewater rates throughout the district to a single district-wide rate that will be introduced in the coming year.
Not all Waikato district ratepayers are affected by the decision as 22,000 ratepayers are on septic tanks and are not connected to a wastewater system.
General rates are set to rise by less than 3% and other targeted rates will follow the rate of inflation.
Ratepayers can check the impact on their individual rates with an online rates calculator on the Council’s website at www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz....
The decision to consult ratepayers about an expanded programme of wastewater works follows criticism of the Council last year after spills closed Raglan Harbour three times in a matter of four months.
Hamilton Operatic Society presents Les Misérable. Join the barricade and see one of the worlds most adored musicals.
For a strictly limited season only at Clarence St Theatre (Friday 23 June - Sat 8th July) Directed By David Sidwell and Musically Directed by Alex Wiltshire. Book at Ticketek.
Looking for a venue to hold an event? Talk to us about having your next meeting, BBQ, dinner or other private function at Te Kowhai Aerodrome! We have a range of options and can come up with a creative solution to impress! Email olivia@nzte.net.nz for more information.
Myrtle rust is a fungus that can destroy our native and taonga trees such as pōhutukawa, mānuka, kānuka and rātā. It also attacks feijoa trees. Severe infestations can kill affected plants and have long-term impacts on the regeneration of young plants and seedlings.
And it’s now in New … View moreMyrtle rust is a fungus that can destroy our native and taonga trees such as pōhutukawa, mānuka, kānuka and rātā. It also attacks feijoa trees. Severe infestations can kill affected plants and have long-term impacts on the regeneration of young plants and seedlings.
And it’s now in New Zealand – sightings have been reported in Kerikeri in Northland, Waitara in Taranaki and Te Kuiti in Waikato.
If you see it, DO NOT TOUCH OR DISTURB THE PLANT. Please take a photo and call us immediately on 0800 80 99 66.
To find out more about the invasive Myrtle rust fungus please visit www.mpi.govt.nz/myrtlerust
Hi neighbours! We are writing up a story about LED lighting and want your feedback. Do you use LED lights at home? Have you found they help to cut costs over winter? Vote in our poll and comment below!
*Please write NFP if you do not want your comments published*
What do you think about this new preschool opening in Hamilton? Future Kids offers yoga and meditation for its students and will be Hamilton's first completely green and sustainable preschool. There will also be animals on site and a large orchard. Would you send your kids here?
REVIEW: The play The Pickle King was written 15 years ago but you wouldn't have picked it. The fres…
Hamilton Operatic Society presents Les Misérable. Join the barricade and see one of the worlds most adored musicals.
For a strictly limited season only at Clarence St Theatre. Directed By David Sidwell and Musically Directed by Alex Wiltshire. Book at Ticketek.
There are so many things to love about winter... woolly socks, toasting marshmallows, hearty casseroles and being able to rug up warm next to the fire with some mulled wine mmm... If you're entertaining or heading away this week, come see us so you have everything you need for the long … View moreThere are so many things to love about winter... woolly socks, toasting marshmallows, hearty casseroles and being able to rug up warm next to the fire with some mulled wine mmm... If you're entertaining or heading away this week, come see us so you have everything you need for the long weekend!
Learning can happen anywhere. Enrol in a Bachelor of Arts at Massey – the only BA you can study from wherever you are. With 26 majors on offer you can study what you’re passionate about, while gaining valuable knowledge that will serve you now and in the future. Semester 2 starts July.
Work has commenced on the $2 million Canoe Racing New Zealand High Performance Centre on the shores …
A Hamilton woman has decided to climb the fourth highest mountain in the world to raise awareness of…
Attached is the May issue of the Te Kowhai News.
This is the first issue of the new-look design. Printed copies (being delivered to RD8 today) will all have colour covers and inside and out which means all the great photos from the community will be in colour.
I hope you like the new look … View moreAttached is the May issue of the Te Kowhai News.
This is the first issue of the new-look design. Printed copies (being delivered to RD8 today) will all have colour covers and inside and out which means all the great photos from the community will be in colour.
I hope you like the new look magazine.
In this issue:
• "I don’t know much…” interview with Dame Malvina Major.
• School Quiz night – the highlight of my annual social calendar ;o) - on 30 June.
** NOT on 1 July as stated in printed copies of the magazine. **
• Update on the new sub-developments and zone changes coming our way.
• Stranger danger as Te Pahu School kids attempted abduction.
• All the usual local news and events.
Please do keep Te Kowhai News in mind should you have anything news worthy to share. Anything from local interesting stories, anecdotes, sporting or academic achievements, new businesses that need a bit of profile, good things and not so good things going on in your area. Send me photos if you can or just get in touch and we can work it out.
7 year old husky type impounded with grossly infected eyes from entropia of top and bottom lashes in both eyes. 7 years of pain and discomfort. Best thing that could have happened to her was find her way into the pound... because... thanks to the big hearts at the pound, funds have been raised to … View more7 year old husky type impounded with grossly infected eyes from entropia of top and bottom lashes in both eyes. 7 years of pain and discomfort. Best thing that could have happened to her was find her way into the pound... because... thanks to the big hearts at the pound, funds have been raised to get her the surgery she desperately needs so she can start life fresh with new and improved eyes.
See plenty of bad press about pounds around the country so let's level the playing field with a good news story.
She will need a suitably fabulous home post surgery so any prospective home offers need to go to Amanda D at Waikato District Council pound team - 078248633 or 0800492452
Kudos to the team, they do a fab and unenviable job in our community.
Plenty of dogs and pups needing homes in pounds and rescues that support them - so adopt don't shop and stop unnecessary breeding. 💕
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