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I see that Gold Card holders have been getting free travel on the Loco Loco . It has been 'estimated' that this is 24% of the people using this train . I don't know whether that has been measured , or just estimated . They ( Government and councils -- also known as us ) have been … View moreI see that Gold Card holders have been getting free travel on the Loco Loco . It has been 'estimated' that this is 24% of the people using this train . I don't know whether that has been measured , or just estimated . They ( Government and councils -- also known as us ) have been throwing around $18 million a year at this ( it is suppoosedly going to reduce to $12 million ) , and no-one has accurately measured this ?
BUT also , is this Grandad and Grandma going on a day trip once a year to the big smoke , or is it someone over 65 , still working , getting their pay each week , plus getting a pension , plus getting free travel ?
It has also been 'estimated' that 30% of the users are from Auckland .
So Waikato councils are paying literally $millions a year each , to subsidise people going to work in Auckland ? And also paying for Aucklanders to travel at subsidised rates to Hamilton ( mainly ) but possibly the greater Waikato .
And last year it was decided that it wasn't losing enough money , so they have put on extra trains on Thursdays and Fridays , so it can lose even more money .
And now , you cannot make upo this madness -- it is proposed by the councils involved that Gold Card holders won't get free travel any more , UNLESS they travel on these 'extra' Thursday and Friday trains .
Presumably , these 'extra' trains aren't getting many people , so they will make the figures look better by saying 'Oh , we have had a 200% increase in patronage on these trains' or some other dishonest reinterpretation of the figures .
And you know what happens on the other days ? Well , obviously there will be less people ( about 24% if their estimates are correct ) or maybe a slight increase in paying passengers , as Thursdays and Fridays may not suit some Gold Card holders . Fair enough . Except these incredibly intelligent councillors don't seem to have realised -- it costs the same to run a train whether you have 60 people or 80 people on it .
As a matter of principle ( every return trip is being subsidised by between $400-500 per passenger per day ) I will not go on this train , but my basic understanding is it is almost never fully patronised ( except maybe some Saturdays -- that is ironic as it was originally 'sold' as being for 'workers' to get to work in Auckland , now it seems it is more to take shoppers away from local shops , and/or to take families on a day out to Auckland .
If it was cost neutral it wouldn't be so bad , but it is only recovering around 8% of what it actually costs , to me it make absolutely no sense on any level .
There are already several buses a day ( which are cost neutral -- in fact , they have to cover costs or they won't be there in a year ) and this train ( which not only costs heaps , it is taking passengers from the privately owned bus companies , and as far as I can work out , is about 8 to 10 times worse for the enviroment per trip than a bus is . So why do some councillors keep on with this idiotic train set ?
Hi neighbours! Here are some product recalls from the past 2 weeks. Click on the title of these to bring up specific details of the recall.
Food:
Harvest Snaps brand Baked Pea Crisps
Raymons Mince Pies and Sausage Rolls
Kings Finest Small Batch Liqueur brand Advocaat
… View moreHi neighbours! Here are some product recalls from the past 2 weeks. Click on the title of these to bring up specific details of the recall.
Food:
Harvest Snaps brand Baked Pea Crisps
Raymons Mince Pies and Sausage Rolls
Kings Finest Small Batch Liqueur brand Advocaat
King brand Traditional Soup Mix Gluten Free Vegetable
Pavillion brand Beef and Gravy Pies
Henderson Dairy brand Farm Fresh Raw Milk (unpasteurised)
Products:
Serene S2068 Bathroom Heater.
Rylee and Cru Pyjama set
Avanti Bikes
Kale Airmove Fan
Ensure you check your household items to ensure you aren't consuming or using anything harmful.
Megapolytechnic Te Pūkenga’s annual report has detailed more than $50 million in cost savings in the year leading up to the coalition Government’s announcement to disestablish the institute.
Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology was formed four years ago to run the … View moreMegapolytechnic Te Pūkenga’s annual report has detailed more than $50 million in cost savings in the year leading up to the coalition Government’s announcement to disestablish the institute.
Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology was formed four years ago to run the country’s 16 polytechs and nine ITOs (industry training organisations).
Do you think it should be split up, or stay as it is? Tell us your reasons in the comments (add NFP if you don't want them used in print).
Hamilton Police are appealing for sightings of missing woman Jessica Littler.
Jessica, aged 77, has been reported missing by her family and there are concerns for her welfare.
Jessica’s car was located last night in the Hamilton Gardens gate 1 car park.
A search for Jessica is ongoing … View moreHamilton Police are appealing for sightings of missing woman Jessica Littler.
Jessica, aged 77, has been reported missing by her family and there are concerns for her welfare.
Jessica’s car was located last night in the Hamilton Gardens gate 1 car park.
A search for Jessica is ongoing and Police are asking for any sightings of Jessica since Wednesday evening (7 August).
We are also appealing for sightings of Jessica’s car since Wednesday evening. It is a blue Honda Jazz, registration number NWP799.
If you believe you may have seen Jessica or her car since Wednesday evening – either in the Hamilton Gardens area or across the wider Hamilton area - please contact Police via 105 and quote file number 240808/9601.
Give an old cot a new lease of life in fresh Resene paint colours with this easy makeover project.
Look at these lovely faces around New Zealand who have introduced themselves on our Know Thy Neighbour page. We all love learning about the people around us and we want you to join in too!
So share a photo and a little bit about yourself so your neighbours can (virtually) meet you!
Is your garden producing more fruit and veg than you know what to do with? Or are you simply wanting to add more to your cooking? NZ Gardener has teamed up with Upstart Press this August with a great subscription offer to help you out!
Subscribe to NZ Gardener for 1 or 2 years and you’ll … View moreIs your garden producing more fruit and veg than you know what to do with? Or are you simply wanting to add more to your cooking? NZ Gardener has teamed up with Upstart Press this August with a great subscription offer to help you out!
Subscribe to NZ Gardener for 1 or 2 years and you’ll receive the Abundance plant-based recipe book by Anna Valentine. Abundance offers over 100 recipes that are filling, healthy and packed with flavour, plus enjoy your monthly dose of NZ Gardener magazine - the perfect combo. T&Cs apply.
The team at NZ Gardener
Lilyz Closet will not be at trading at the market this month. See you all in September
I will be at the Ohaupo Market next Sunday.
LAST CALL! Those interested in our new History course entitled "A Political History of Modern Fiji" with Dr Tom White, PhD can register now by clicking on the Read More button below. This course begins tomorrow (Thursday evening 7:00pm). Check the web page for local time zone equivalents… View moreLAST CALL! Those interested in our new History course entitled "A Political History of Modern Fiji" with Dr Tom White, PhD can register now by clicking on the Read More button below. This course begins tomorrow (Thursday evening 7:00pm). Check the web page for local time zone equivalents in your corner of the globe. This course is available as an in-person class, live-streamed via Zoom, or as video recordings to catch up with at your leisure if you can't make the live sessions.
• This course introduces and debates Fiji’s most significant political events, its national leaders and its most divisive constitutional questions from the mid-19th Century.
• Beginning with the imperial ambitions of the mighty warlord and chief Ratu Seru Cakobau, the course examines how Fiji’s history of missionary contact, British indirect rule, Indian indenture, independence and repeat ethno-nationalist coups culminated in the 2006 take-over by the military strongman and moderniser Voreqe Bainimarama, as well as his subsequent 2022 electoral defeat to his old nemesis, Sitiveni Rabuka, and very recent imprisonment.
Check out this and all of our other history, philosophy and language courses on offer on our website.
An illegal dumping hotspot may have cost Kāinga Ora more than $6000 to clean up, while the state landlord says their action could make their land a further target for illegal dumping.
But locals near the Sare Crescent driveway says while they sympathise with the dilemma they’re happy to see … View moreAn illegal dumping hotspot may have cost Kāinga Ora more than $6000 to clean up, while the state landlord says their action could make their land a further target for illegal dumping.
But locals near the Sare Crescent driveway says while they sympathise with the dilemma they’re happy to see their taxes spent on cleaning up an eyesore.
A special performance of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Hamilton’s Clarence Street Theatre will live up the the show’s themes of inclusivity.
On Saturday, August 10 during the 2pm matinee, the Hamilton Operatic Society will run a hearing impaired-friendly show, with a New Zealand Sign … View moreA special performance of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Hamilton’s Clarence Street Theatre will live up the the show’s themes of inclusivity.
On Saturday, August 10 during the 2pm matinee, the Hamilton Operatic Society will run a hearing impaired-friendly show, with a New Zealand Sign Language interpreters on the side of the stage signing throughout.
Old and well used but still comfortable.2 recliners and 3 seater sofa.very heavy will need a couple of people to lift it. Must pick up matangi area
Table with 4 chairs in good condition. Extendable. A few scratches on table top . Must pickup matangi aera. $120 Ono.
Lenovo ThinkCentre M710q desktop
Running i5-7400T CPU
8GB Ram (Upgradable easily)
120GB SSD
Good for basic usage, internet, emails, youtube,
… View moreLenovo ThinkCentre M710q desktop
Running i5-7400T CPU
8GB Ram (Upgradable easily)
120GB SSD
Good for basic usage, internet, emails, youtube,
Running a fresh windows 10 install (Unlicensed)
Fully up to date
Comes with a genuine power supply
Missing wifi antenna
While the world’s top cyclists are riding for Olympic medals in Paris, one professional cyclist is cracking out 270km or more a day as part of world record attempt that’s rolled through New Zealand this week.
Ultra-distance cyclist Lael Wilcox is trying to ride around the world in 110 days … View moreWhile the world’s top cyclists are riding for Olympic medals in Paris, one professional cyclist is cracking out 270km or more a day as part of world record attempt that’s rolled through New Zealand this week.
Ultra-distance cyclist Lael Wilcox is trying to ride around the world in 110 days and seven of those have just been spent covering 1534.36 kilometres of New Zealand roads.
Is ultra-distance cycling something you'd ever try? Tell us your reasons in the comments (add NFP if you don't want them used in print).
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