Hutt voters could ditch FFP
Lower Hutt voters will decide whether to ditch the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system at the next local body election.
Councillors resolved to hold a referendum between the status quo and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
Hutt City Council electoral officer Bruce Hodgins said councils had the option to review their voting systems two years before an election. The council’s last electoral reform poll was in 2003, he said.
Holding the referendum at the same time as the elections would spread the cost of the exercise and reduce expenditure from $175,000 to $30,000.
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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84.5% Yes
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14.1% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
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.
Railing planters
To gain extra growing space, make and hang these easy-to-build planters on almost any wooden fence or deck railing. Use Resene FX Blackboard Paint so you can easily identify what plants are in each. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.