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The 98-year-old painter who saved a village and a cat who hitched a ride to a charity shop in an old chair feature in today's Antidote - your much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness even in these unusual times. … View moreThe 98-year-old painter who saved a village and a cat who hitched a ride to a charity shop in an old chair feature in today's Antidote - your much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness even in these unusual times. Sign up here to get The Antidote delivered to your inbox (it's free!)
It's been a rough ride for Auckland. As we regroup as a city in 2022, it is time to act responsibly.
Yet Auckland Council will continue to swell into a bloated, cash-sucking, employee-thickened, debt-laden beast.
Under the Goff administration, the rates grab has accelerated at pace. Auckland… View moreIt's been a rough ride for Auckland. As we regroup as a city in 2022, it is time to act responsibly.
Yet Auckland Council will continue to swell into a bloated, cash-sucking, employee-thickened, debt-laden beast.
Under the Goff administration, the rates grab has accelerated at pace. Auckland Council is now harvesting more than $5.3 billion a year from Aucklanders. This is not demonstrating kindness post-lockdown.
This intake increase has been achieved through a combination of general rate increases of over 16 per cent per annum in some suburbs, significantly increased council fees, fuel tax, and the introduction of an extensive number of targeted rates.
These include: Water Quality Targeted Rate, Natural Environment Targeted Rate, Accommodation Providers Targeted Rate, Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate and now a proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate. Then add the planned introduction of a rubbish collection Targeted Rate for central and north Auckland.
My concern is that, while all ratepayers are targeted to pay these taxes, only a few directly benefit from the projects the money delivers.
Auckland Council is sitting on $16 billion of total liabilities, including council's borrowings along with its interest rate hedging, which is an increase in debt of $5 billion under Goff.
Using debt to pay for infrastructure is reasonable - future generations helping to pay for the assets they will benefit from is fair. The problem is, this council is unable to get the books trending back towards the black.
Furthermore, despite all the spending, Auckland still has gridlock; unaffordable housing; empty "ghost buses"; and most roads no better than they were pre-amalgamation.
Auckland has been adversely led into a perpetual state of deficit - debt levels are now $29,611 upon every Auckland household.
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There are now more than 12,000 staff at Auckland Council. Since the Super City was created, the payroll bill has more than doubled and is running just shy of $1 billion a year. One in every four staff members earns more than $100,000 per annum. Middle management overkill. Scandalous.
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Auckland Council's own surveys show council's decision-making ability is not trusted by 80 per cent of Aucklanders. Not a healthy, customer-focused, lean organisation.
A scythe needs to be taken to peel council back to core business. It has taken on too many projects and agendas that are actually the domain of central Government - from climate change, business development, to promoting various social agendas.
The payroll bill requires an immediate 20 per cent reduction. This would be a $190 million reduction in costs, which is the equivalent of saving 12 per cent in future rate increases.
Such a cost-cutting exercise must simultaneously not harm the customer's interactions with council but instead greatly enhance them by driving for customer service excellence - including the removal of red tape, greater public transparency over spending, and an unswerving commitment for delivering core council services.
Mayor Goff is proposing a 6 per cent overall average rates increase for this year. This has to be openly challenged as a broken promise. Last year, he guaranteed Aucklanders' rates would not increase by more than 3.5 per cent, following last year's "one-off 5 per cent emergency" rates increase.
The 6 per cent total rates increase is comprised of both a 3.5 per cent average general rates increase, plus an additional climate change tax which will add another 2.5 per cent average rates increase on to our bills. The proposed rate will be paying for business-as-usual council projects such as electric buses, electric ferries, cycleways, and tree-planting which are already planned for.
As I constantly debate at Town Hall, Aucklanders already pay general rates and a regional fuel tax to deliver these types of projects. The council needs to stop "double-dipping" into ratepayer's pockets. After the traumatic year we've just had, it's simply wrong.
Plus there is already a council budget of $152 million for tackling climate change. Surely this money would be better directed into flood prevention measures in suburbs such as Kumeu and Howick; the building of seawalls; or proactive council planning to alleviate storm-water runoff from all the new housing?
Let's call this new climate tax what it really is - a disguised rates hike designed to fill Auckland Council's financial hole after Covid.
Council must cut operational spending and reprioritise within existing budgets.
I urge you to question your local councillor; the Mayor; share this article; start conversations; and ask questions. This is our city, our economic future and our rates.
To lead our city out of these hard times will require its leadership to demonstrate better financial acumen, and a more caring one.
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www.nzherald.co.nz...
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Great results for the Eggs Benedict & Blueberry muffins assessment for the Foundation cooks. Eggs Benedict - a popular Kiwi breakfast or brunch dish, consisting of two halves of an English muffin, each topped with bacon, a poached egg, hollandaise sauce and garnished with chopped parsley.
It … View moreGreat results for the Eggs Benedict & Blueberry muffins assessment for the Foundation cooks. Eggs Benedict - a popular Kiwi breakfast or brunch dish, consisting of two halves of an English muffin, each topped with bacon, a poached egg, hollandaise sauce and garnished with chopped parsley.
It was originally popularised in New York City.
We live in unusual times. It all gets a bit much some days. So we're bringing you a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness out there too.
Sign up here to get The Antidote delivered to your inbox each day.
Today: … View moreWe live in unusual times. It all gets a bit much some days. So we're bringing you a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness out there too.
Sign up here to get The Antidote delivered to your inbox each day.
Today: The story of a husband for sale on Trade Me, a skipper with a digger, kiwi chicks in the skies and many, many beers for Betty White.
Hi neighbours!
Need to rehab your money? Grow your wealth? Just understand your finances a bit better? Here's how you can start.
MoneyIQ will give you all the basics you need to get your money sorted and start working towards a brighter, richer future.
Hi neighbours,
We live in unusual times. It all gets a bit much some days. So we're bringing you a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness out there too.
You can check out today's edition of The Antidote - which features a cute… View moreHi neighbours,
We live in unusual times. It all gets a bit much some days. So we're bringing you a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness out there too.
You can check out today's edition of The Antidote - which features a cute puppy, the UK's longest-married couple, and Stewart Island's "savage" New Year's Eve here. If you'd like the Antidote delivered direct to your inbox, sign up here.
Now's a great time to get decorating and Save the GST value (15% off the full retail price) on Resene Premium Paints, Wood Stains, Primers, Sealers, Wallpaper, Decorating Accessories and Cleaning Products!
Plus if you're a Resene DIY Cardholder get an extra 5% off! If you don't … View moreNow's a great time to get decorating and Save the GST value (15% off the full retail price) on Resene Premium Paints, Wood Stains, Primers, Sealers, Wallpaper, Decorating Accessories and Cleaning Products!
Plus if you're a Resene DIY Cardholder get an extra 5% off! If you don't have a card, you can sign up free online, www.resene.co.nz/diycard, or while you are in store.
Offer available at Resene owned ColorShops and participating resellers until 1 February 2022.
WICKED the Musical flies into Auckland’s SkyCity Theatre in February for a strictly limited season of unmissable musical theatre magic! North Shore Music Theatre are excited to share this ‘swankified’ production with Auckland audiences, with a 40-strong cast of local talent taking you on a … View moreWICKED the Musical flies into Auckland’s SkyCity Theatre in February for a strictly limited season of unmissable musical theatre magic! North Shore Music Theatre are excited to share this ‘swankified’ production with Auckland audiences, with a 40-strong cast of local talent taking you on a bewitching journey back to the magical land of Oz - home of the yellow brick road, munchkins, and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The show is presented by North Shore Music Theatre, who are at the heart of community theatre on the North Shore. The talented team are passionate about providing outstanding entertainment, including substantial high quality productions, performed by local talent. After lockdowns dashed plans to stage the show in 2020, and again in 20201, North Shore Music Theatre are positively charmed to have the chance to bring this world-class production to Auckland, and to be able to provide their community with the opportunity to experience the magic of WICKED.
North Shore Music Theatre presents The Barfoot & Thompson Season of WICKED the Musical
4-26 February, 2022 at SkyCity Theatre,
Cnr Hobson Street & Wellesley Street West, Auckland Central
Shows: 7:30 PM Wednesday - Saturday, as well as 1 PM Saturday & 4 PM Sunday matinées. Tickets: $39 - $79, selling quickly at iticket.co.nz, or call 0508 ITICKET. Learn more about the production at www.wickedauckland.co.nz
Hi Neighbour,
How well do you know your customers? That might seem like a redundant question but let’s dig a little deeper.
Do you know their age? Their income? The values that resonate with them? Where do they live? Do they have a family? How do they like to spend their spare time?
As … View moreHi Neighbour,
How well do you know your customers? That might seem like a redundant question but let’s dig a little deeper.
Do you know their age? Their income? The values that resonate with them? Where do they live? Do they have a family? How do they like to spend their spare time?
As you answer these questions (and as many others as you can come up with) you’ll start to build clear customer personas that will help you tailor the experience you provide to fit the needs of your customers.
We’ve got a whole series of bite-sized videos on customer personas and customer experience waiting for you over on our website, so if 2022 is the year you take your business to the next level head on over and get started today!
The Team at Digital Boost
Kia ora neighbours, there are no suspicious circumstances in relation to a house fire which killed a man in Avondale, police say.
A police spokesman said police had been liaising with Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigators after the fire on Blockhouse Bay Rd, which happened in the early … View moreKia ora neighbours, there are no suspicious circumstances in relation to a house fire which killed a man in Avondale, police say.
A police spokesman said police had been liaising with Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigators after the fire on Blockhouse Bay Rd, which happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
When police arrived, surrounding properties had been evacuated as a precaution and the body of a man was found inside the burning home.
Read the full story at the link below.
It’s easy to create this simple blue succulent trough with a little bit of help from Resene testpots.
Find out how to create your own.
Hi fellow neighbors and happy new year to you all.
I'm reaching out to you as I need a fence and gate installer to help me out and complete installation of my sliding gate and fences on my property. The company I hired a year ago has now said they can longer complete the installation due to… View moreHi fellow neighbors and happy new year to you all.
I'm reaching out to you as I need a fence and gate installer to help me out and complete installation of my sliding gate and fences on my property. The company I hired a year ago has now said they can longer complete the installation due to covid....which is all lies.
They left my site with a half finished sliding gate 6 months ago. and a few fence panels under the house...they have not returned since.
This gate company has just said to me he will deliver the rest of the fences and gates if I find my own installer, otherwise its off to court which I will do as a last resort.
I'm asking if anyone knows of an installer or experienced handyman that can help me out.
Kind Regards
Glen
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust provides globally recognised education and qualifications in wines, spirits and sake, for professionals and enthusiasts.
Join international presenters live from UK hosting free webinars for wine enthusiasts, lots to learn!
•Decoding a wine list - 4 … View moreThe Wine & Spirit Education Trust provides globally recognised education and qualifications in wines, spirits and sake, for professionals and enthusiasts.
Join international presenters live from UK hosting free webinars for wine enthusiasts, lots to learn!
•Decoding a wine list - 4 February 2022 at 2 pm NZST
•Terroir in Spirits - 22 Feb 2022 at 11.30 pm NZST
•Understanding Napa Valley’s top grapes and wine styles - 11 March at 7:00 am NZST
From 24-30 January, MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology) is offering special tour packages FREE to community groups in the Auckland region, thanks to Auckland Unlimited.
ℹ️ Find out more and register by clicking on 'Read More'.
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