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New Zealand's small businesses have had another tough few weeks. We're calling on you, wherever you are across the country, to recognise a local business making a difference in your community.
We all love a cheeky grin and a wave from our local grocer, or a toot from the delivery … View moreNew Zealand's small businesses have had another tough few weeks. We're calling on you, wherever you are across the country, to recognise a local business making a difference in your community.
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. These are the business owners who remind us we're home.
Give your favourite local business owner the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2023 Prospa Local Business Hero awards.
From reporter Tina Law:
The Christchurch City Council's new water billing system went live on Sunday night and the first invoices for ratepayers using excess water are due to be sent out over the coming days.
The council introduced an excess water charge in October after making the … View moreFrom reporter Tina Law:
The Christchurch City Council's new water billing system went live on Sunday night and the first invoices for ratepayers using excess water are due to be sent out over the coming days.
The council introduced an excess water charge in October after making the decision to push ahead with the scheme in 2021.
It is not yet known how many people will get a bill, but the average charge is likely to be $83 and the maximum about $400.
Under the new rules, people will be charged a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes.
Meet a family with four boys (almost) that's up for adventure - and they don't mind roughing it in the process.
He iwi tahi tatou. Together we are one nation, united by Te Whare Rūnanga, standing tall next to the Treaty House and built by the hands of my whānau for not only Māori and Pākehā, but all New Zealanders. I invite you to come and share in their story.”
Pita Tipene is the Chair of the … View moreHe iwi tahi tatou. Together we are one nation, united by Te Whare Rūnanga, standing tall next to the Treaty House and built by the hands of my whānau for not only Māori and Pākehā, but all New Zealanders. I invite you to come and share in their story.”
Pita Tipene is the Chair of the Waitangi National Trust. He, and all of those all of those at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, invite you to come and feel the stories that shaped Aotearoa.
Pressure is mounting on the city council to come out against Christchurch Airport’s “senseless” plans to build a new airport in Central Otago.
Eleven academics from across New Zealand have formed a group to oppose the airport’s proposal to build a “world-class sustainable airport” in… View morePressure is mounting on the city council to come out against Christchurch Airport’s “senseless” plans to build a new airport in Central Otago.
Eleven academics from across New Zealand have formed a group to oppose the airport’s proposal to build a “world-class sustainable airport” in Tarras – about 90km from Queenstown.
The council owns a 75% stake in the airport, with the other 25% owned by the Government.
Three of those academics spoke at Wednesday’s Christchurch City Council meeting and urged the council not to continue supporting the project. The Tarras development was a vanity project that would cripple Christchurch’s economy, they said.
Christchurch Airport project director Michael Singleton said New Zealand was geographically isolated and high-quality air connectivity would always be an important driver of social and economic wellbeing.
“Doing nothing in the face of a well-documented and fast-approaching infrastructure deficit and changing climate jeopardises the long-term ability of communities to maintain or improve their standard of living," he said.
Read the full story here and tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Give a dull brown table a fresh light look using a modern chalk paint style effect.
Find out how to refresh your table with this handy advice.
We've seen the devastation of flood waters, yet the Government backed down on plans to protect wetlands (which help soak up heavy rain) after they received complaints by property developers.
Are you confident we're making the right decisions to protect us from future disasters? … View moreWe've seen the devastation of flood waters, yet the Government backed down on plans to protect wetlands (which help soak up heavy rain) after they received complaints by property developers.
Are you confident we're making the right decisions to protect us from future disasters? Let's discuss!
Share your thoughts in the comments below - add NFP if you don't want these shared in the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
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The affordability of everyday items just keeps increasing!
If it’s not the petrol prices, it’s the cost of food, insurance or rates and let’s not get started on mortgage interest costs!
Home loan interest rates don't stay the same for long these days and it’s causing many … View moreThe affordability of everyday items just keeps increasing!
If it’s not the petrol prices, it’s the cost of food, insurance or rates and let’s not get started on mortgage interest costs!
Home loan interest rates don't stay the same for long these days and it’s causing many households to feel stressed out. Could you be saving thousands of dollars a year? If you don't check, you don't know.
Get a FREE mortgage health check through Money Compare and find out. If you could save money, why wouldn’t you right?!
From reporter Tina Law:
Christchurch residents are using less water as the threat of being chargedhits home.
The city council says water use has decreased by more than 10% since charges for using too much were introduced, saving millions of litres.
The council introduced an excess water … View moreFrom reporter Tina Law:
Christchurch residents are using less water as the threat of being chargedhits home.
The city council says water use has decreased by more than 10% since charges for using too much were introduced, saving millions of litres.
The council introduced an excess water charge in October after making the decision to push ahead with the scheme in 2021.
The first bills are due to be sent out later this month, but people have already been reducing how much they use.
According to figures supplied by the council, the average daily water use per household has consistently dropped each month since April, compared to the same period the previous year.
Last month, residents used on average 645 litres of water, compared to 767 litres in January 2022, a 16% decrease.
May saw the biggest monthly year-to-year drop so far, of 26%.
Under the new rules, people will be charged a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes.
Bills will not be sent out for $25 or less, so people will have to use more than 900 litres each day over 90 days to receive a bill. Once a bill goes above $25, the person will be charged for all usage above 700 litres.
It is not yet known how many people will get a bill, but the average charge is likely to be $83 and the maximum about $400.
A council spokesperson said it was great to see the reduction in water use across the district.
“Millions of litres of water have been saved since we started a campaign to encourage residents to check and reduce their water use.”
Some of the savings are due to residents finding and fixing leaks on their properties.
“Some of these leaks were resulting in hundreds of thousands of litres of water being wasted each week.”
The council hopes water use will continue to decrease over the coming months.
However, some residents have labelled the charge as unfair, especially since almost a quarter (25,295) of Christchurch households will not be charged because they share a meter with their neighbours.
Mayor Phil Mauger has publicly labelled the charge “unfair”.
During an interview with Newstalk ZB last week, Mauger questioned the need for water charging now that many leaks had been fixed, including his own. He found he was using 3000 litres a day due to a leak.
Mauger, who in 2021 voted against the introduction of charging for excess water use, said he thought the matter should be referred to the annual plan and the public consulted again.
Cr Sam MacDonald has also expressed support for this to happen.
But Cr Sara Templeton said the charges were consulted on twice, with the proposal tweaked in between to make it more fair.
“Re-consulting continuously until you get the result you want seems a waste of council time and ratepayers' money.”
She said 20% of properties use 50% of the city’s water supply, meaning they were effectively subsidised by the 80% who use less water.
“It is simply not fair that a small unit in Linwood using little water subsidises a large, lush lawn in Fendalton.”
Templeton said the charge had proven that people did not reduce their water use or check for leaks without financial incentive.
“Without the reduction in use we will have to spend more money as a city drilling more bores and putting in more pump stations to keep up with use, putting rates up further.”
Dear neighbours,
Last year, Jane Horne and partner Simon Bartholomew's Mondrian-inspired cube took the title of Resene Shed of the Year. Now, we're on the hunt for this years winner! Send us photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever storage spaces, cute chicken … View moreDear neighbours,
Last year, Jane Horne and partner Simon Bartholomew's Mondrian-inspired cube took the title of Resene Shed of the Year. Now, we're on the hunt for this years winner! Send us photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever storage spaces, cute chicken coops and potty potting sheds to win amazing prizes worth more than $2000. The Resene Shed of the Year 2023 winners will be announced in the April issue of NZ Gardener.
Kia ora
MAOTA TRUST is currently seeking volunteers for board of trustees, we have treasurer position vacant and other board members vacancies.
If you have some free time, maybe you are retired and looking at wanting to fill in some of your day by wanting to help a great little organisation, then … View moreKia ora
MAOTA TRUST is currently seeking volunteers for board of trustees, we have treasurer position vacant and other board members vacancies.
If you have some free time, maybe you are retired and looking at wanting to fill in some of your day by wanting to help a great little organisation, then email aotearoamaota@gmail.com or ph 03 3234513 anytime.
Kind regards
Deborah Russell
Founder/Chairman/Trustee
MAHI AROHANUI o TAMARIKI AOTEAROA
CHARITABLE TRUST
Registered with charities services CC60435
Cyclone Gabrielle has had a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of Kiwis. As the long clean up begins and support becomes more and more needed, Stuff is calling for readers to support the Red Cross and Mayoral Relief Funds in areas where a local state of emergency has been declared. … View moreCyclone Gabrielle has had a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of Kiwis. As the long clean up begins and support becomes more and more needed, Stuff is calling for readers to support the Red Cross and Mayoral Relief Funds in areas where a local state of emergency has been declared. We'd love your support. You can donate here.
Dear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive taro recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Feb 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the April issue of NZ … View moreDear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive taro recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Feb 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the April issue of NZ Gardener.
It’s easy to transform a plain wicker chair into something special with Resene Colorwood natural wood stain.
Find out how to transform your furniture with our easy advice.
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