Should 'We' Close Down KiwiRail ?
A Bit Of History , and some of you can probably add to this --
-- KiwiRail and whatever it has been called over the years , has been a great job creation scheme -- it has kept a lot of people employed , on quite good pay .
-- It seems to have lost money for the last 40-50 years , at least .
-- From the 1930's until the 1980's , trucks were not allowed to compete with Rail . Trucks originally were only allowed to travel 30 miles ( 50kms ) -- in the 1960's that was slightly improved to 40miles ( 70kms ) , and in the 1980's increased again to 150kms ( we had gone metric , and that was about 90 miles ) .
-- Rail has been sold a couple of times by the Government for next to nothing , run even further into the ground , then bought back and $100's of millions more put in again .
-- In 2010 , the Government put a $1billion 'investment' ( of our money ) into bailing out Rail .
-- In 2017 , the Government put a $450 million 'investment' ( of our money ) into bailing out Rail .
-- In 2019 ( this weeks budget ) , the Government put a $1 billion 'investment' ( of our money ) into bailing out Rail .
-- In 2018 , the Government put $10's of millions of 'investment' into the Kaikoura and TranzAlpine trains .
-- In 2018 , the Government put $100's of millions into rebuilding the main trunk railway through Kaikoura . They also put 100's of millions into rebuilding SH1 too , but that is covered by insurance and our fuel taxes and RUC -- rail pays none of those .
-- KiwiRail has lost in the region of $100million to $200million per year on trading ( running the trains and maintaining the tracks ) .
-- Trucking companies , bus companies , and private motorists , ( Rails main competition ) by comparison , generally make money , and pay tax and GST . Private motorists don't , but I am sure you get the point . Trucks , buses and cars do pay fuel tax and RUC ( where relevant ) and rego , even a bit of tolls .
Now imagine if 'we' took the $6 billion plus that has been pumped into KiwiRail over the last 20 years , and spent it on safer roads , more double and triple lanes , passing lanes , etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What would you do if it was your job to fix Hamilton's CBD?
More alcohol restrictions, more lighting, busking rule changes and a whole lot of lobbying - these are some ways Hamilton leaders want to sort out the CBD.
Crime and anti-social behaviour in the area has been in the spotlight after recent news of a man defecating in the street near a city pub and another who flipped tables out the back of a bar after being found scrounging cigarette butts and asked to leave.
What would you do if it was your job to fix Hamilton's CBD? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5.1% Second half of November
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44.3% 1st December
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16.9% A week before Christmas
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32.5% Whenever you wish
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
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