Nationwide Electric Vehicle info tour to visit Methven for first time
An annual nationwide electric vehicle information road show will be visiting Methven on Saturday 13 April for the first time, giving locals the opportunity to get independent advice about every aspect of electric vehicle (EV) usage and ownership.
The #LeadingTheCharge Great EV Road Trip is run by the Better NZ Trust, supported by the Energy and Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA). Better NZ is a charitable trust whose mandate is to create environmental, financial and health benefits for all New Zealanders through education, and by assisting in the adoption of zero carbon renewable energy technologies.
At present the Trust is focusing on actively supporting the growth of a vibrant EV community in New Zealand and the Road Trip is the biggest event on the Trust’s calendar.
Better NZ Trust Chairperson Kathryn Trounson says The Great EV Road Trip has become a popular annual fixture for electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts nationwide and – importantly – for people who don’t own an EV but would like to know more.
“It is a fun and easy way for people to find out everything they ever wanted to know about electric vehicles and to get a chance to drive or ride in a variety of electric vehicles for free.
“We love it when people experience an electric vehicle for the first time because their response is typically ‘wow, that’s amazingly quiet and smooth’,” she says.
Mrs Trounson says the Great EV Road Trip will be visiting large and small centres nationwide and has extended its reach into a number of previously unvisited smaller towns this year because greatly improved battery storage technologies, coupled with an ever-expanding nationwide charging network, means that electric vehicles can now go anywhere in New Zealand.
The Great EV Road Trip will be visiting Methven as follows:
3 pm to 4 pm
Saturday 13 April 2019
Outside the Blue Pub
2 Barkers Road
Six good reasons to use an electric vehicle
1. They are better for the environment and our economy: Compared with their non-electric equivalents, battery electric vehicles have 80% reduction in CO2 emissions when used in New Zealand; 60% fewer CO2 emissions across the vehicle’s life-span; and no tailpipe emissions.
2. EVs save money and are increasingly affordable: Users typically save thousands of dollars a year on fuel, with running costs being the equivalent of only 30 cents per litre of petrol when charged at home overnight. Maintenance costs are lower because they don’t have an internal combustion engine.
3. They are a pleasure to own and drive: Owners find them smoother, quieter and more responsive than non-electric cars.
4. EVs have better performance than internal combustion engine vehicles: Electric vehicles are beginning to surpass non-EV vehicle performance (e.g. an electric vehicle won the overall Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018).
5. Range is much less of an issue these days because an extensive – and growing – public charging infrastructure is now available throughout New Zealand. EV drivers can now charge at more than 220 public charging stations across New Zealand, and more than 90% of our highways have a public fast charger every 75km.
6. The choice of EVs is growing all the time:There are now more than 12,000 registered EVs on our roads, with a growing range of new and second-hand vehicles to suit a range of budgets.
For more information, visit:
Web: www.leadingthecharge.org.nz...
Twitter: @LTCBetterNZ
Facebook: @LeadingTheCharge
Bad behaviour prompts new rules for Ashburton’s library
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Two people are being trespassed from Ashburton's new library and civic centre per month on average due to bad behaviour.
The problem has prompted the council to bring in new rules for its community facilities.
Te Whare Whakatere opened in January, and already 16 people have been trespassed in the first eight months – equating to one every two weeks.
It’s understood the causes included violent behaviour and wilful damage and that other facilities have had problems with visitor behaviour.
The threat to other user's safety and experience has forced the Ashburton District Council to introduce a new visitor code of conduct, which was adopted on Wednesday.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron said it was a shame the council had to take the step of formalising a code of conduct.
The code sets the behavioural expectations for visitors to the council’s public facilities and includes a range of lesser consequences up to and including trespassing.
The code states that extreme or repeated nuisance behaviour can result in a trespass of up to two years.
Extreme behaviour included threatening behaviour, assault, sexual harassment, theft, possession or use of weapons, drugs or alcohol, and using abusive or offensive language.
People and facilities general manager Sarah Mosely said the majority of the code is how things already operated.
“We see this document as a positive because it links a number of current practices in one document," she said.
“The code of conduct consolidates all aspects, and lets everyone know what behaviour is expected from visitors and staff within our core council facilities and what actions may be taken if any behaviour falls below our expectations.
“It sets our expectations, it provides us with the flexibility to deal and address behaviour in a positive way that doesn’t always mean a two-year sanction.”
Sport and recreation manager Richard Wood said he had witnessed a range of behaviours at EA Networks Centre and had trespassed people in the past.
There are measures to deal with some bad behaviours, but when they escalate to inappropriate, abusive, violent, or disruptive, “we can pull the other levers” outlined in the code, he said.
The code of conduct came into effect as soon as it was adopted by the council.
Mosely said the code does not specifically reference the new Gangs Legislation that came into effect on Thursday, making it an offence to display gang insignia in a public place.
“This is because the police, not staff, are responsible for enforcing any breach of the law.
“We don’t envisage any issues within our facilities as there have not been any recent occasions where gang insignia has been worn within them.”
Riddle Alert! Who’s Up for Some Brain-Busting Fun?
4-letter word, always done tomorrow,
We’re out of tea, the ultimate sorrow!
Without the eye, you owe me some money,
No sugar no nectar no sweetness no honey,
4-letter word, if by chance you choose,
You can never win, you can only lose!
What is the 4-letter word?
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Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.4% Yes
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14.9% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
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