Parking fees going up in Christchurch
The Christchurch City Council, as part of its 10-year budget, the long-term plan, last week confirmed on-street parking in the central city will increase from $3.10 an hour to $4.50 – a 45 per cent increase.
The cost to park at the council’s Lichfield St car park building will also rise from $2.80 an hour to $4 – a 43 per cent increase. The rate at the Art Gallery car park doubles from $2 an hour to $4.
By comparison, people are charged $4.50 an hour to park in central Wellington and $2.50 on the weekend. Auckland charges $5 an hour for the first two hours and then $10 per hour after that.
The on-street fee hikes are expected to generate $660,000 of additional revenue for Christchurch. That figure would have been $960,000, but the council planned to waive the credit card fees and pay them itself, at a cost of $300,000.
The increase in off-street parking charges is expected to bring in an extra $162,000.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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85.1% Yes
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13.8% No
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1% Other - I'll share below
Handy gardener wanted with large chainsaw
Just needing a small job topping small hedges chain sawing. I’ve done most of the hedges however not the power saw that can cut through the branches I can’t.