March 2024 was Cool and Dry
March in Kāpiti, like most of central New Zealand, was around a degree cooler than normal, and much drier.
Our daily average maximum temperature of 20.3C was 1.4C cooler than the 13-year average, and almost a degree cooler than March 2023. But, despite lower temperatures we still reached 20C on 21 days, so it could qualify as a summer month.
As usual for time of year, east coast Blenheim and Masterton, at 21.6C had the highest average maximums in central New Zealand, with Nelson, Levin and Lower Hutt virtually the same as Kāpiti. However, Kāpiti’s overall mean temperature of 16.0C was the highest in central New Zealand,
We enjoyed the equivalent of 19 sunny days, only one fewer than average.
Total rainfall of only just under 40mm was recorded at the airport making it the driest March in nine years, with most falling in one episode at the beginning of the month. The little rain received in the following three weeks did little to ease the drought-like conditions. March 2023 had almost three times this amount of rain.
In April we can look forward to temperatures averaging around 19.5C, with 17 sunny days.
Poll: Have you ever been bullied?
People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.
Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
-
80% Yes
-
19.6% No
-
0.4% Other - I'll share below
Government to Reintroduce Charter Schools
The reintroduction of charter schools in New Zealand seems little more than a sop to National’s right wing ideologues and will achieve little except the diversion of funds from the already financially stretched state schools.
There appears to be little, if any evidence that they especially benefit underperforming children, who indeed appear better off in a state system, provided adequate support is provided. Charter schools also foster conservatism, elitism, and in some instances religious fundamentalism, the cause of so much strife in the world.
It could be argued that of all children who might benefit from a broad state education and mixing with their community peers, it’s those from these conservative, elitist backgrounds.
Loading…
