Remember to vote!
By Hutt City councillor Brady Dyer
Opinion: With a week to polling day, it is important that you get out and vote on Saturday.
While many in Lower Hutt have already headed to the polls, there are always those who hesitate.
If you're undecided, let's take a moment to debunk a few myths about voting.
Firstly, don't view voting as searching for the ideal marriage, or finding ’the one'. It's more like taking a bus journey.
You may not find a bus that drops you at your exact doorstep, but you will find one that gets you nearer to your destination.
Once you're closer, you'll likely find other ways—or perhaps another election—to move you even nearer to where you'd like to be. Don't let the quest for the 'perfect candidate' prevent you from making a decision that brings you closer to your hopes for the future.
Next, let's tackle the relevance of politics in our day-to-day lives. There's no escaping the fact that decisions made at the governmental level directly impact us. The rising cost of living in Lower Hutt is a perfect example.
When it comes to funding essential infrastructure projects, local ratepayers can't bear the brunt alone, especially when looking at the amount of investment that is required in the future to upgrade things like our water systems.
This is where central government needs to take more responsibility and increase funding for the community and local government to deliver more.
Also, while you're deciding whether to vote, consider this: the people who make key decisions in your life are probably not hesitating. Your landlord, who determines your rent, is likely to vote.
Your employer, who influences your work environment, will probably cast a ballot too. When you choose not to vote, you're essentially giving them more say in matters that affect you directly.
Turning to local issues, our focus shouldn't just be on improving roads, although that is needed. A well-rounded approach to transportation should include better options for walking and cycling.
Not only is this better for the environment, but it also alleviates congestion for those who do need to drive. In a nutshell, it's a win-win for everyone.Finally, let's not underestimate the power of a single vote.
Polling stations are open and within easy reach. Your vote isn't just a personal choice; it's part of a collective decision that shapes the future of Lower Hutt and New Zealand as a whole.
Voting isn't just ticking a box, it's a powerful way to shape both your community and your future. It's your chance to grab the wheel and influence the route this 'bus'—our community and our country—is taking.
While you may not find a service that delivers you straight to your dream destination, you can at least choose the direction that gets us closer.
Voting isn't flawless, but it remains our most effective tool for collective decision-making. So step up, get on that bus, and help steer us all towards a future you'd like to be a part of.You can find all the information you need to enrol and vote atwww.vote.nz
Poll: How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?
While it is a fun occasion, fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night has caused much conflict over the years, upsetting our pets and disrupting the sleep of neighbours.
How should we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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27.9% With a city-wide public fireworks display
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20.5% Small fireworks displays in each community
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7.7% Keep it as is
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32.7% We shouldn't celebrate it!
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10.8% Anything but fireworks
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0.4% Other - I'll share below
Solve This Riddle or Be Left Scratching Your Head!
With pointed fangs, I sit and wait;
with piercing force, I crunch out fate.
I grab victims, proclaiming might,
and physically join with a single bite.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Suspicious fire, Stokes Valley
Hutt Valley Police are investigating a fire at a previously targeted Stokes Valley residential address which left one person fighting for his life.
Around 3:10am this morning emergency services responded to a block of flats in Hanson Grove, an 81 year old man was located in a critical condition and was transported to Wellington Hospital.
The area was cordoned and a forensic scene examination is currently being conducted with the assistance of Fire and Emergency New Zealand and ESR.
The fire is being treated as suspicious and is suspected to be linked to two other fires at the same block of flats on Thursday 10 and Monday 14 October 2024, both of which were also lit during the early hours of the morning.
Police are appealing for information from people who have CCTV footage, witnessed the incident, or were in the area at the time of the fire to please get in contact.
Even the smallest piece of information could prove vital in our investigation.
If you have any CCTV footage from dashcam, residential, or commercial premises in any areas of Stokes Valley, witnessed any three of the fires, or were in the area at the time of the fires, even if you didn’t witness the incidents please contact us.
To report information please update us online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 241105/2249 and quote Operation SOVE.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.