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1643 days ago

Ratepayers to Fund Minimum Wage for Contractors

Geoff from Rototuna North

www.stuff.co.nz...
Hamilton City Council is to extend the minimum wage of $20 per hour to all staff employed by the organisation’s contractors. The cost is unknown but the best guess is between $258,000 to $859,000 per year to be funded through rates or through debt.
www.legislation.govt.nz...

Section 10 of Local Government Act details the purpose of local government is—
• to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
• to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.
How is the living wage (above the Government’s) most cost effective for households and businesses?
and
How is it on behalf of communities?
Good-quality, of the performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are—
• efficient;
• effective; and
• appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.
How is the living wage to contractors efficient, effective and appropriate for the ratepayer particularly in these austere and worrying times?
Those who voted for this lose sight of representative responsibility and fail to represent the residents and ratepayers who took the effort to vote and in fact all of Hamilton residents.
Some contractors do not contact solely to Council, their employees also work at other locations for other contracts.
How is this to be policed?
Oh that’s right it is only other people’s money – watch out for the spend-up on ‘nice to haves’ during the annual plan.
Buckle up it is going to be a rough ride, particularly in these austere and worrying times.

More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.

John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!

As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!

John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.

Share your question below now ⬇️

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5 days ago

Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

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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Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
  • 82.7% Yes
    82.7% Complete
  • 14.8% No
    14.8% Complete
  • 2.5% Other - I'll share below
    2.5% Complete
2093 votes
14 days ago

What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

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.

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