Prince Charles and Camilla make secret donation to Westport flood relief
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have given a secret donation to Westport’s flood relief fund.
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said the royal couple made the donation to Buller’s Mayoral Relief Fund to help residents affected by the flood that inundated the West Coast town in July.
He said at the request of His Royal Highness the amount would not be disclosed.
About 500 homes were damaged by the flood, resulting in provisional insurance costs of about $85 million.
The Mayoral Relief Fund has received more than $500,000 in government funding and donations. It has paid out about $300,000 so far, with the rest earmarked for uninsured people.
Cleine said some residents had lost everything and would be unable to return home for a long time.
“It is very thoughtful of them to contribute to the Mayoral Relief Fund. I have thanked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall for their generosity on behalf of our community.”
The heir to the throne visited Westport in November 2015 and charmed the crowds during a walk along the main street.
He also visited the now-closed West Coast Brewery to sample beer and whitebait patties, which he described as a perfect combination.
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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83% Yes
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14.5% No
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2.5% Other - I'll share below
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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4.6% Second half of November
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43.6% 1st December
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17.8% A week before Christmas
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33% Whenever you wish
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1.1% 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.