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This is a win win, you support a great cause and get to liven up your garden as the same time!
Upper Hutt Libraries are changing their opening hours
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From Monday October5 the Central Library will be open from 9.30am to 6.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, with a late night on Thursdays until 7.00pm. Weekend hours will be extended by half an hour each day with an earlier opening… View moreUpper Hutt Libraries are changing their opening hours
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From Monday October5 the Central Library will be open from 9.30am to 6.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, with a late night on Thursdays until 7.00pm. Weekend hours will be extended by half an hour each day with an earlier opening time of 9.30am, and closing at 4.00pm.
Pinehaven Library hours will also be extended by half an hour on Saturdays with an earlier opening time of 9.30am, with the weekday hours remaining the same.
Remutaka MP and State Services Minister Chris Hipkins would like to see civil servants move to Upper Hutt.
Hipkins says hubs outside Wellington would take pressure off existing offices in Wellington..
Wellington’s public sector employs about 27,000, while there are about 37,000 in the private … View moreRemutaka MP and State Services Minister Chris Hipkins would like to see civil servants move to Upper Hutt.
Hipkins says hubs outside Wellington would take pressure off existing offices in Wellington..
Wellington’s public sector employs about 27,000, while there are about 37,000 in the private sector. A Cabinet paper tabled last year revealed the State Services Commission wanted to “reduce the footprint” of government workers in the Wellington and Auckland regions, and move agencies elsewhere when possible.
What do you think of moving some state servants to Upper Hutt?
Nature's Choice
Gardening services
in the Wellington region
Call Now! 0272430951
If your garden can grow weeds, it can grow anything
Does your garden resemble the Amazon jungle? Are you looking to clear it out? Then you have come to the right place! Nature's Choice has been … View moreNature's Choice
Gardening services
in the Wellington region
Call Now! 0272430951
If your garden can grow weeds, it can grow anything
Does your garden resemble the Amazon jungle? Are you looking to clear it out? Then you have come to the right place! Nature's Choice has been turning jungles into respectable gardens for 20 years. We are the local horticulture landscaping experts in the Wellington region. From one-off section clean ups to regular maintenance, we can do it all.
Welcome to Chicken Week here at PAK n SAVE Upper Hutt!
We celebrate all things chook this week, from fresh drumsticks, breast and thighs all the way through to frozen whole birds, strips and more! Prices are until Sunday/while stocks last.
Come in and see us this week, we look forward to … View moreWelcome to Chicken Week here at PAK n SAVE Upper Hutt!
We celebrate all things chook this week, from fresh drumsticks, breast and thighs all the way through to frozen whole birds, strips and more! Prices are until Sunday/while stocks last.
Come in and see us this week, we look forward to seeing you!
See you soon!
Getting out and about in Wellington is a little different this year with people having to adapt to social distancing. But it’s not just humans learning new norms.
Guide dog Pedro has also had to learn some new rules.
Genevieve McLauchlan, an Upper Hutt local, gets around in a motorised wheelchair… View moreGetting out and about in Wellington is a little different this year with people having to adapt to social distancing. But it’s not just humans learning new norms.
Guide dog Pedro has also had to learn some new rules.
Genevieve McLauchlan, an Upper Hutt local, gets around in a motorised wheelchair with the support of Pedro.
Genevieve has Cerebral Palsy and vision loss as the result of an injury, so relies on Pedro’s guidance.
She is grateful for how Pedro quickly learned to move away from people and social distance. Pedro has also learned to work with Genevieve’s wheelchair. When she was first paired with a dog in 1998 by Blind Low Vision NZ (formerly The Blind Foundation), it was the first time in New Zealand, possibly the world, that a guide dog was working alongside a wheelchair.
Don't forget the Blind Week Appeal is on October 16 and 17.
Hey neighbours,
In the lead up to the 2020 election, Stuff is keeping voters up to date with what’s happening in their electorate, through Neighbourly. Here’s what you need to know about the candidates in the running to be Ikaroa-Rāwhiti's MP.
At the October 17 election, New Zealanders … View moreHey neighbours,
In the lead up to the 2020 election, Stuff is keeping voters up to date with what’s happening in their electorate, through Neighbourly. Here’s what you need to know about the candidates in the running to be Ikaroa-Rāwhiti's MP.
At the October 17 election, New Zealanders will have the opportunity to choose their regional spokesperson.
Through the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system, those enrolled can vote for the party they want as well as a local representative.
Why does my MP matter?
The person elected will be the voice for your region in Parliament. If you’re having trouble getting entitlements or dealing with Government departments, they can help. If your community needs funding for certain projects or activities, or there isn’t enough healthcare in the area, the elected MP can step in and help.
To read more, click here.
New Zealand springs forward this weekend as Daylight Saving time begins.
Clocks will go forward by one hour at 2am on Sunday 27 September. Daylight saving time will continue until Sunday 4 April 2020, when clocks will go back by one hour to NZ Standard Time.
Most New Zealanders should experience a… View moreNew Zealand springs forward this weekend as Daylight Saving time begins.
Clocks will go forward by one hour at 2am on Sunday 27 September. Daylight saving time will continue until Sunday 4 April 2020, when clocks will go back by one hour to NZ Standard Time.
Most New Zealanders should experience a seamless transition, with modern electronic devices adjusting automatically. However, older devices may need to be adjusted manually.
Do not forget it is also a good time to check emergency plans, survival kits and smoke alarms.
A HUGE thank you to all of you who came along to our first market on Sunday 13 September and helped make it the success it was :-) It far exceeded our expectations.
Our next market will be held on Sunday 18 October in the Waikanae Beach Community Hall and we look forward to seeing you all there … View moreA HUGE thank you to all of you who came along to our first market on Sunday 13 September and helped make it the success it was :-) It far exceeded our expectations.
Our next market will be held on Sunday 18 October in the Waikanae Beach Community Hall and we look forward to seeing you all there along with your friends and families.
This will be followed by 2 Christmas Shopping Markets to be held on Sunday 15 November and Sunday 13 December so note these dates in your diary now.
Now it's on the cards from the local paper that the government want to put a congestion toll for those traveling during peak times into Wellington, it will take photos of you're cars number plate and assign the charge to that vehicle....
Where is the great bus service to pick up the … View moreNow it's on the cards from the local paper that the government want to put a congestion toll for those traveling during peak times into Wellington, it will take photos of you're cars number plate and assign the charge to that vehicle....
Where is the great bus service to pick up the slack...that's right it's rubbish.
Where is the efficient and on-time train service to pick up the slack....again rubbish and too expensive to encourage people to give up their own car.
This is a foolish idea.
If you are looking for something to do in the bad weather then check out Andy Warhol's Pop Garden at Expressions Upper Hutt.
It features a dazzling array of flowers in a hall of mirrors, accompanied by rock music.
The exhibition runs until December.
The parents of a motorcyclist who died in a crash on State Highway 2 say it shouldn’t have taken their daughter’s death for authorities to upgrade an “inherently dangerous” intersection.
The comments come following an announcement by Remutaka MP Chris Hipkins that the intersection on … View moreThe parents of a motorcyclist who died in a crash on State Highway 2 say it shouldn’t have taken their daughter’s death for authorities to upgrade an “inherently dangerous” intersection.
The comments come following an announcement by Remutaka MP Chris Hipkins that the intersection on Moonshine Hill Rd and SH2 in Upper Hutt would be improved.
Rachel Pawsey, 30, died at the intersection when her motorcycle crashed with a car in August. Safety upgrades would likely include a median and side barriers, extra traffic lights, and raised safety platforms. Hipkins said consultation on a new speed limit will happen this year.
Do We Need An Airport?
Isn’t it funny how the term sustainable has changed? At its inception, I always thought it referred to something that could continue without damaging the planet. Now its any business concern that will make a buck. And so it is with the airport.
A Boeing 747 consumes … View moreDo We Need An Airport?
Isn’t it funny how the term sustainable has changed? At its inception, I always thought it referred to something that could continue without damaging the planet. Now its any business concern that will make a buck. And so it is with the airport.
A Boeing 747 consumes four litres of aviation gas per second. That is a fuel consumption of 12 litres per km, and on a one-hour flight, an estimated 15,000 litres. It is the biggest single use emitter of greenhouse gas. When the world went into lockdown in April, the sky turned a deeper shade of blue. It gave us all hope that if we stop destroying the planet, it will recover. By its very nature then, the Airline industry is not sustainable.
Airports are also famous for their noise pollution. A jet engine on take-off, emits approximately 140 Decibels of noise. This is more than enough to raise blood pressure and cause cardiovascular damage. I think we have all gained in health literacy in recent months and understand the benefits of peace and quiet and the ability to wind down and relax. 140 decibels of noise on a regular basis is not conducive to good health and well-being.
Economically, does it make sense? Not really. It employs a handful of people in Kapiti. In terms of investment it doesn’t add much to the local economy. On a cost benefit basis it probably doesn’t look too flash. Since the outbreak of Covid 19, Airline companies have reduced operations in the region of 70 percent. Air New Zealand expects to record a loss of $120 million for 2019/2020 and in this uncertain climate, it does not appear that Covid is going away anytime soon. With a third wave set to engulf Europe and the US showing no sign of peaking, predictions are for at least another three years of it. That’s a long time to mothball an industry. Few people are brave enough to fly in this climate.
Does the airport have other intrinsic qualities that make it desirable? I can’t think of any. My one and only flight to Auckland from Kapiti Airport was nerve wracking and uncomfortable. On my arrival at the airport I hoped to get a coffee but everything was closed. On boarding, I felt like I had been seated in a pressurised Bristol Freighter as the plane lumbered out of the airport and flew at low altitude to Auckland. It felt immeasurably slow. While it was nice to see all the landscape, it was not a comfortable feeling to be that low to the ground. The turbulence was distinctly unnerving and the plane shuddered alarmingly when this occurred. On my next trip I travelled to Wellington and boarded a nice big comfortable jet plane that whisked me away while I enjoyed a hot coffee on board. A much more pleasant trip.
With all this in mind, I’m puzzled then as to why the council and other business interests are so keen to retain the airport. There has been a lot of circular skulduggery going on it seems, in recent months, as various business interests jockey for position. Alarm bells went off for me when the Kapiti Coast Council CEO announced we should buy the airport. No meaningful community consultation has occurred on this but the council seems happy to spend ratepayers money on something of dubious merit and with no mandate. Noone has seen how the numbers stack up in order to make an informed decision whether they would support it. I haven’t seen the figures either, but having spent four years as a Treasury Analyst and another four as a Wall St Analyst in my misspent youth, I suspect they don’t stack up too well. Perhaps that’s why we haven’t seen any numbers. It would be very informative to see the current and projected rates of return for this enterprise.
I don’t think we need an airport. The Airport should be closed, the assets sold and the land returned to its rightful owners. The government has a moral obligation to return this land to its original owners and should never have appropriated the land in the first place. If government cannot return the land, the rightful owners should be compensated.
Rather than throwing good money after bad on a sunset industry, I would prefer to see council invest ratepayer’s money into ventures that are actually sustainable. That is, they are capable of continuing without damage to the planet. I personally would like to see the land adjacent to the airport, further developed with green industry such as solar technology or light industry such as health technology which would provide employment and career opportunities for Kapiti residents. With work from home arrangements now taking on a new ethos, there will be many business interests keen to establish operations outside of major cities. We all know Kapiti is a fabulous place to live, with great people and a supportive community. Why not capitalise on this with developments that will enable us to prosper. I will be deeply disappointed if Council buys this white elephant of an airport and saddles us with the debt.
What do others think? It doesn’t look like anyone is going to be given the opportunity to submit on community consultation regarding the airport, so let’s use Neighbourly as a forum.
Hey neighbours,
Good news – 2021 is set to be the year of the long weekend.
Five out of 10 public holidays will be Mondayised (or Tuesdayised in one case) next year, which means if you work a standard Monday to Friday week, you can look forward to some extended breaks.
In fact, once … View moreHey neighbours,
Good news – 2021 is set to be the year of the long weekend.
Five out of 10 public holidays will be Mondayised (or Tuesdayised in one case) next year, which means if you work a standard Monday to Friday week, you can look forward to some extended breaks.
In fact, once you’ve tacked on the weekends, you’ll end up getting a whopping 25 days off out of those 10 stat days, plus your region’s anniversary day.
To find out how to get the most out of your annual leave next year, click here.
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