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Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for kūmara recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before February 27, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Homegrown … View moreDear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for kūmara recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before February 27, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Homegrown Recipes.
The Government has appointed Carolyn Cooper as the inaugural Aged Care Commissioner, to lead much needed systematic change in the sector, Minister for Seniors and Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today.
It's not too late to grab these sensational plants for your green-fingered, houseplant-loving Valentine. Here's a quick guide to the hottest indoor plants for that special person in your life.
Happy Valentines Day from the team at NZ Compare!
Take the time today to enjoy the love that surrounds you. Pass it onto your friends, family, pets, maybe even a neighbour! Brighten someone's day.
Don't forget to show yourself some love too!
We all love a cheeky grin and a wave from our local grocer, or a toot from the delivery driver, or a coffee order that’s ready before we arrive. And especially over the last year, it’s been the small businesses in our communities that have almost made things seem ‘normal’.
… View moreWe all love a cheeky grin and a wave from our local grocer, or a toot from the delivery driver, or a coffee order that’s ready before we arrive. And especially over the last year, it’s been the small businesses in our communities that have almost made things seem ‘normal’.
Give your favourite local business owner the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2022 Prospa Local Business Hero awards.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Work is under way on the business case for the proposed second bridge over the Ashburton River in Ashburton.
Stantec has started work on the detailed business case for the second urban bridge at the Chalmers Ave site and is expected … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Work is under way on the business case for the proposed second bridge over the Ashburton River in Ashburton.
Stantec has started work on the detailed business case for the second urban bridge at the Chalmers Ave site and is expected to be completed by July to be submitted to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency in August.
McCann said Stantec was already preparing for the topographic and geotechnical surveys would be commencing in the near future.
“They do all site investigation, survey work, geotech work, preliminary design, landscape architect, drainage storm water - it’s actual design.”
All that work will produce a detailed design that will be used to determine the cost of the second bridge for Waka Kotahi to consider.
“[The project] is at the point where they need a design to do a cost estimate which is a big part of it so they need to do all that work to work out what it’s going to cost,” council roading manager Mark Chamberlain said.
It is the third stage of the business case and follows the decision to progress with the second urban Ashburton bridge off Chalmers Ave and linking south via a new road to Grahams Rd.
Chalmers Ave was preferred over a duplicate State Highway 1 bridge off West St.
The council has budgeted $7.5m in the long-term plan for its anticipated share of the cost of construction.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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The Ashburton District Council is proposing to use $2 million of reserve funds to address the districts pothole problems in the next financial year.
It was among several key decisions made during a three-day annual plan workshop this… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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The Ashburton District Council is proposing to use $2 million of reserve funds to address the districts pothole problems in the next financial year.
It was among several key decisions made during a three-day annual plan workshop this week to form the council's draft budget for the next financial year.
The recent revaluation, record inflation, rising costs for goods and services, and the impacts of the new Government drinking water compliance will affect residents' rates bills.
Mayor Neil Brown said it would be a no-frills budget on basic services, but the council wanted to inject extra money into its roads.
“Ninety per cent of our roads are in good order, but there are potholes and other issues that need sorting to make them safer,” Brown said..
“We are doing our best to keep the total rates requirement percentage increase in single digits and budgeting for only what we need to do. Some work is on the nice-to-do list and some on the do-later list.”
On the do now list was road remediation with councillors stressing the additional $2m be used to focus on the districts pothole problems.
Brown said drinking water compliance, to meet new Government regulation, would be responsible for a good chunk of the rate increase.
“We need equipment to continuously test and report the quality of our drinking water to meet new quality assurance rules and that is on top of the money we tagged in the long-term plan for big upgrades to some water treatment plants, like Methven’s.”
Methven ratepayers are facing a big cost hike due to work beginning on the upgrades to their drinking water supply.
Councillors are working through options to keep rates increases as low as possible but it will likely be about 15 per cent, similar to last year’s hike.
Brown said it was a challenging budget and would contain only projects that the council knew could be achieved in the financial year.
The annual plan will need to be adopted when the draft is presented to council later this month.
If the plan varies too much from what was signed off in last year’s long-term plan, the council will need to consult the public.
Bring 2 cans of food into your local Resene ColorShop and swap them for 1 Resene testpot (60-80ml).
Resene will then donate all the food brought in to The Salvation Army local foodbanks.
By adding a little more colour to your life you can also help those in need. When you bring in 2 cans of … View moreBring 2 cans of food into your local Resene ColorShop and swap them for 1 Resene testpot (60-80ml).
Resene will then donate all the food brought in to The Salvation Army local foodbanks.
By adding a little more colour to your life you can also help those in need. When you bring in 2 cans of food you'll save on your testpot purchase (save up to $5.90 on an 80ml testpot) while also helping provide disadvantaged Kiwis with food parcels when they need them most.
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Ashburton's CBD redevelopment project will be completed on time and on budget - that being the new time and new budget.
At this week’s Council Activity Briefings, councillor Angus McKay congratulated the infrastructure … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Ashburton's CBD redevelopment project will be completed on time and on budget - that being the new time and new budget.
At this week’s Council Activity Briefings, councillor Angus McKay congratulated the infrastructure services team for delivering the project on time and on budget.
However, councillor John Falloon queried that assessment as he said the original budget for the redevelopment was $15 million plus a contingency sum of 10 per cent.
“That would take the value of the project to $16.5m,” Falloon said.
“Now we are at a financial completion of 95 per cent and so far we have spent $17,126,641.”
He said the other 5 per cent would take the total project cost over $18m.
Infrastructure services group manager Neil McCann said during the course of the project, the council had approved additional contingency to a total of 20 per cent “to accommodate all those extra costs” from scope changes and delays.
“We have maintained total expenditure of the contract under the approved contingency amount which is around about the $18m figure.”
McCann said once the costs were finalised upon full completion he would present that to the council in March, but was adamant it would be under budget.
“It will be under the total approved budget, including the contingencies that took into account those extra scope changes and delays due to Covid."
The overall project has been completed, in November, except for the installation of the parking sensors, which are expected to be installed by March.
A snag list has been prepared detailing the minor repairs that are required by the contractors, Tru Line Civil, that are being addressed this month.
Less is best – plastic that is. So what better way to help the environment than to create your own fun, reusable calico shopping bag? Paint your own with Resene testpots.
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From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Staffing shortages are already putting the pressure on at Ashburton Hospital while the threat of an omicron outbreak in the region looms large.
The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has confirmed that the current number of … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Staffing shortages are already putting the pressure on at Ashburton Hospital while the threat of an omicron outbreak in the region looms large.
The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has confirmed that the current number of nursing vacancies in the Ashburton District is putting pressure on the DHB’s acute and inpatient nursing workforce in Ashburton.
CDHB general manager rural health services Berni Marra said they were reshuffling staff and reviewing services to cope with the shortage.
“To minimise disruption to our Ashburton-based services, we are making full use of our talented Ashburton team, with nursing staff from various outpatient, community, day surgical and education work forces being redeployed to assist the areas currently under pressure.
“We’re also reviewing outpatient clinic and community care bookings for the next six weeks, with urgent and acute care, e.g. emergency and palliative, being prioritised.”
People may notice a difference in the way other services were delivered in Ashburton, Mara said.
“While our district nursing service continues, more clinics will be taking place virtually via telehealth for example.
“Our colleagues across the DHB are also supporting our community and our services, as we work through an active recruitment programme including talent sourcing from overseas, multi-channel advertising across all job boards, targeted campaigns, recruitment open days and attendance at career expos.
“While we work to overcome this short-term challenge, our community can be confident that they will continue to receive quality care from our Ashburton teams, when and where they need it.”
Acute and inpatient services would continue to be available and people should continue to access the care they need when they need it, she said.
“This includes making their GP their first port of call – they can tell you what to do and where to go if you need to be seen urgently.
“After hours, people can call Healthline for general health advice on 0800 611 116 anytime,” Mara said.
If you or someone you know needs mental wellbeing support or advice: Call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor. This service is free of charge and is available day and night.
We’ve all spent a lot of time at home last year, so many of us are in the same boat when it comes to our high power bills! GULP!
More Kiwis are now working from home, if that's you then it's time to check if you’re on the right power plan. SWITCH, SAVE and SMILE this Summer!
… View moreWe’ve all spent a lot of time at home last year, so many of us are in the same boat when it comes to our high power bills! GULP!
More Kiwis are now working from home, if that's you then it's time to check if you’re on the right power plan. SWITCH, SAVE and SMILE this Summer!
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Visit Power Compare to get yourself a better deal. Our service is free, we’re Kiwis helping Kiwis compare what’s out there across Power, Broadband and Money.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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The newly elected Ashburton District Councillors later this year will walk into a pay rise.
The Remuneration Authority, which dictates the elected councillors' salaries, is proposing to increase the remuneration pool from … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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The newly elected Ashburton District Councillors later this year will walk into a pay rise.
The Remuneration Authority, which dictates the elected councillors' salaries, is proposing to increase the remuneration pool from $383,524 to $450,195, to be distributed to Ashburton District councillors following the elections in October.
The pool doesn’t apply to the mayor and the Methven Community Board members.
Currently the deputy mayor salary is $58,365 and the other eight councillors receive $40,645. The pool increase would increase an Ashburton District councillor salary to about $47,000.
Some councillors spoke of being uneasy about a pay increase, which is outside their control, during what are tough economic times.
“I just find a 15.76 per cent increase a little bit unjustifiable in my own mind,” councillor John Falloon said.
“Basically, we only have inflation up to December at 5.19 but admittedly this does go back for three years so there may be some justification there, but to me I feel a little bit uneasy about a 15.76 per cent increase.”
Councillor Carolyn Cameron said she felt uncomfortable with the level of the increase.
With wages not keeping up with inflation, there seemed to be a disconnect “that elected members such as ourselves can benefit to a greater extent than the people that voted for us”, she said.
However, mayor Neil Brown said the increase would hopefully entice new, potentially younger, candidates to come forward for the next election.
“There’s been talk over the years that if the role paid more, then more younger people with full time jobs could go to part time jobs and spend a lot more time doing council and not miss out on any salary. This goes that distance I believe so we may get more young people around the table, we might not. Time will tell.”
The councillors have their opinions but ultimately the Remuneration Authority determines the salaries.
“You can’t determine what you get and what you don’t get but once its delivered to you, you can decide what you do with it.
“If you don’t want it you can give it away,” Brown said.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Ashburton’s new over-80s parking by-law has been questioned by one of its councillors, who’s not sure how it will help.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron felt the bylaw, which comes into effect on April 4, didn’t really benefit … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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Ashburton’s new over-80s parking by-law has been questioned by one of its councillors, who’s not sure how it will help.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron felt the bylaw, which comes into effect on April 4, didn’t really benefit older residents’ parking and their access to the CBD.
Residents aged over 80 would be eligible for a free special parking permit that entitled them to double the allotted time in the 30 and 60-minute time restricted car parks.
The permits do not apply to the pay and display parking area.
Cameron said the policy was supposed to make it easier for older people to access the shops by being able to park closer, not for longer.
“So I don’t know how this is helping,’’ said Cameron, who supported the policy. She reiterated access, not time, was the issue but didn’t know the solution.
“This is giving them to park longer at the shops but how is helping them park nearer the shops. The problem in Ashburton is parking location.”
Council strategy and policy manager Toni Durham said staff had considered other options but this was “the best we could come up with”.
Not all over 80s would be eligible for a mobility park and the council didn’t want to impact on access for other mobility park users, Durham said.
With the $15 million Ashburton CBD revamp, the council had already lost about 40 parking spaces and was loath to further reduce the number of parks by creating specific ones for over 80s, and then see them unused.
Councillor Stuart Wilson, who declared a conflict of interest and removed himself from voting due to being over 80, could see the benefit.
“The majority won’t proudly display in their windscreen they are over 80 so it will be limited to those who have limited mobility but don’t qualify for a mobility sticker.”
Councillor Rodger Letham couldn’t see any advantages for simply extending the parking limit.
Deputy mayor Liz McMillian said: “It’s a start and we need to start somewhere”.
The policy would be reviewed in five years or sooner if required, especially if there was low uptake of the permits.
From reporter Cate Broughton:
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Older and vulnerable people are being encouraged to “hunker down” in their homes during the peak of the Omicron virus, by some health experts – but others say this isn’t necessary.
New Zealand epidemiologist Professor Tony … View moreFrom reporter Cate Broughton:
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Older and vulnerable people are being encouraged to “hunker down” in their homes during the peak of the Omicron virus, by some health experts – but others say this isn’t necessary.
New Zealand epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely is based at Melbourne University and says he encouraged his nearly 80-year-old parents – who live in Rotorua – to stay at home when Omicron cases climb and the virus becomes endemic.
However, Cancer Society medical director Kate Gregory said there was not enough evidence to support giving this advice to cancer patients.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed there was community transmission of the Omicron variant in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health on Monday reported confirmed Omicron cases in the Nelson-Tasman region, Auckland and Palmerston North.
Blakely said he talked to his parents about continuing their usual activities while using a N95 mask, but “hunkering down” when cases climbed.
“You probably do that for another 10 days until case numbers start to go up in Rotorua, and then you really hunker down. So that’s what we’ve talked about.”
Blakely said “the maths of an epidemic” meant up to half of the population was likely to get infected with Omicron.
“The trick is to make sure the people who get infected are the young ones. So you accept that. You accept there will be hospitalisations associated with that.
But to minimise the hospitalisations, the mortality and morbidity – a bit like trench warfare – you send over the young ones, and you hunker down the oldies and those with co-morbidities.”
Blakely said his parents, who are double vaccinated and have had their booster, had already decided to stay at home when cases climbed.
But he said it was hard to say how long this period should last.
New Zealand’s traffic light setting of red – the highest level of restrictions under the traffic light system –would help to slow the spread of Omicron, and protect essential services from being overwhelmed, but this would also mean the peak of the virus would last longer, Blakely said.
“Here’s the deep irony, the better New Zealanders are at flattening the curve, the longer the hunker down will be.”
Blakely acknowledged prolonged periods of isolation for the elderly and vulnerable could have significant mental health impacts.
In Australia, Omicron has taken a huge toll on the aged-care sector with hundreds of outbreaks in aged care homes. But some families have said the lockdowns were overly cautious and too hard on the elderly residents, most of whom were fully vaccinated.
Wellington GP and Royal New Zealand College of General Practice (RNZCGPs) medical director Bryan Betty said the Australian experience of Omicron showed it could peak for as long as four to six weeks.
Betty said most people – including fit older people – would experience a mild to moderate illness, if infected.
“However, the caveat on this is ... we know the biggest risk factor for a poorer outcome from Covid is age, the elderly population in particular are vulnerable to a poorer outcome with Covid.”
Betty said it would be good for older people to consider staying home, with some support from friends and family, “as the case numbers rise” in the community.
Cancer Society medical director Kate Gregory said there was not enough evidence to date to support advising patients to stay home, but this could change “if we see much higher numbers”.
“If, in a week’s time we are seeing thousands and thousands of cases we may be advising people differently. I think the reassuring thing we’ve seen is that Omicron doesn’t seem to cause such severe disease and we know the vaccine provides very good protection.”
Gregory said for cancer patients the best defence is to be vaccinated and for the people in their households to be vaccinated.”
She said in her experience a “vast majority” of cancer patients had received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine, many with a third primary dose.
“It’s a frightening time, and especially for those who are more vulnerable.
"I think as long as people have the vaccine, wear the mask, do the hand-washing and get tested promptly, I think that’s probably fine. At the moment, that’s the advice we’re giving our patients.”
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