A local Crissis; NPDC rate demands in Arrears.
As the silence now from the NPDC is deafening, on the question of a rate freeze/reduction, or God help us, a rate rise, i made enquirers to ascertain, as I do most years, how many of the districts 36000 rate payers have fallen behind with their payments. 3 years ago, it was only 8 properties. Last year it was approx. 110. But this year for the end of May, it has increased to a unbelievable , just on, 11000, nearly 1/3rd of the district rate payers. Nothing has been said about this situation in any newspaper that I have seen, not consternation has been mentioned anywhere i have read, from the NPDC. Yet they carry on as if nothing is amiss, Covid-19 is behind us, they appear to believe, so lets all sail onward to some sort of mythical well being! Well the real news for them is that most Business is in acute financial distress, on average, and property owners and business tenants are in a death type struggle to survive, at current costs/rate demands. The NPDC answer was that that average rate INCREASE for next is will be absorbed by increasing commercial property rates, more that residential rates. This is supposed to be a great equalizer, yet most small business is now hanging onto life by their fingernails. I read nothing from the NP Chamber of Commerce on this situation, its all as if we close our eyes, the problem will go away. The solution is so obvious what has to be done? Will it happen? I will try and attach a letter written by our present Mayor a few years back, only for enlightenment!
Share your most delicious (but affordable!) go-to meal...
Winter is knocking at the door and the cost of living has already made itself at home. So let's help each other out by sharing your meal ideas that don't break the bank.
Comment below with your go-to meals that are delicious and affordable.
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And the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero is...
A huge congratulations to mother and son duo, Mary and Sam Danielson from The Puketapu Hotel.
The votes for all finalists have been tallied and they have been chosen by Neighbourly members across the country as the Prospa Local Business Hero of 2024.
The Puketapu Hotel was nominated by a local called Margaret and the nomination reads:
'On Feb 14, 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle flooded many of the rural areas. Puketapu Hotel went under perhaps half a meter of water. However, immediately Mary Danielson and her son, Sam Danielson, along with their loyal staff pulled it together to cook copious amounts of food that without electricity would have been wasted. Throughout the years many of us have been treated with a pub gathering where we can reconnect and a free meal. At Christmas there was Santa, games, gifts for kids, donated patchwork for adults, an ice cream truck and lots of camaraderie.
This February on the cyclone anniversary, they again pulled out the stops to give hundreds of us a special night. We are all tired of the cyclone cleanup and they understood that it was needed.'
Such a deserving business and team, well done Mary and Sam. And thank you to all those who voted!
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