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I wrote a submission for the Dog Control Policy and Bylaw review. Because of the lockdown I was offered the following options for an oral presentation:
a) Via Zoom video link
b) Via telephone call
c) Submitting a short statement which someone will read on your behalf.
So I wrote a short statement… View moreI wrote a submission for the Dog Control Policy and Bylaw review. Because of the lockdown I was offered the following options for an oral presentation:
a) Via Zoom video link
b) Via telephone call
c) Submitting a short statement which someone will read on your behalf.
So I wrote a short statement well within the 5 minute allocation and asked if someone at the council could read it out for me as I don’t do zoom. Which they agreed on.
When I listen to the council meeting on Youtube nobody read out my statement. There were a few people talking to their submission and one person talked on the phone.
I wrote to NCC and asked what had happened. Part of their reply: “The Chair (Kate Fulton) of the committee makes the decision about how the Hearings are managed, and had made the decision shortly before the meeting that the statements would be circulated and tabled but not read aloud.”
Why was I then not contacted so I could phone in and read my statement? Another person talked over the phone. Kate Fulton was part of the previous dog review bylaw when NCC misread the Nelson dog community by then trying to enforce draconian laws. So her decision not to allow my representative or myself to speak to my submission doesn’t come as a surprise as my submission questioned the very essence of this proposed policy.
Thirty minutes into the meeting Kate Fulton reads out that a number of people (incl myself) had wished not to speak and councillors were asked to read our statements later. This contradict the communications I've had with council staff prior this zoom meeting.
www.youtube.com...
There is no wonder why people in general doesn’t engage positively with the council. One of the basic complaints I hear is that ‘they don’t listen anyway’, ‘it’s who you know that can make change happen’, ‘councillors pet projects’ etc. And it certainly comes across to be true. Dog reviews only come up every eight years or so which is a big part of the life of a dog and the time the owner and dog have together.
I have now joined the camp who lost faith in our democratic right in this "smart, little city".
People may not be interested or agree with my contribution to NCC, but I do believe it’s wrong to be silenced hence I’ve added my oral submission below. No comments needed to the oral submission itself please.
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“This is my contribution and short statement re the proposed dog bylaw. Many thanks for reading it out! Cheers, Helen (Which didn’t happen!)
Thank you for listening to this oral presentation and I hope you have read my written submission.
Dog ownership play a big part in the lives of many people and families. In 2018 the pet industry were worth $1.8b*.
Since the last dog bylaw were adopted dog ownership has increased steadily. The Dog control activity report between 2013- 2019 does not show any great negative changes despite the increase in dogs which reflect that most dog owners must be ‘good dog owners’. Housing developments in Nelson has changed with much smaller gardens which means an increased need for public areas for dog walking. This proposal is mostly about the increase of on-leash and prohibited areas. Many dog owners cannot give their dogs sufficient exercise and stimuli during on-leash walks.
During the last decade safe areas that used to be available for people to exercise their dogs have decreased or become less pleasurable to use.
-Walkways have become shared paths with cyclists,
-the hills around Codgers, Andrews field, the new BMX park at the end of Branford Park, the Maitai/Brook loop are shared but taken over by bikers,
-the back beach by kite surfers,
-the extension of Founders railway going through green areas,
-most swimming holes along the Maitai are dog prohibited part of the year,
-soccer activities on the Maitai cricket ground took over the cricket off season that dog -owners had negotiated with the council as an off-leash area
-and now all the grazed areas surrounding Nelson are proposed to become on-leash
just to name a few of these losses of safe areas for dog owners.
I can’t help but make the comparison between bikers and dog owners. The latter heavily regulated and mostly self-funded whilst the council has no interest to regulate or enforce the former and they are given substantial yearly financial support ($1m last year).
What makes a Good versus Bad dog owner? For example, many people use sport fields to let their dogs be off-leash as a place where children and dogs play together when there are no matches or training. Years ago I saw a councillor play with his children on the Victory Square sports field incl their off-leash dog. The family and dog had a lot of fun. It was an on-leash area so this councillor broke the bylaw. There were no other people around, they were not affecting anyone else. There’s not many green areas around for families with dogs in this area. Bylaws that either doesn’t make sense, aren’t practical or are too prohibitive won’t be followed and good people will become bad dog owners.
Suggestions:
- Fence off play grounds to allow families to bring their dogs to neighbourhood parks or sports fields not in use and let dogs be off-leash.
- Dog walkers need more areas to choose from, to spread the ‘load’ which would “minimise danger, distress, and nuisance to the community generally”. Leash aggression is a very real occurrence when dogs are force to meet other dogs on narrow footpaths or tracks.
- With the loss of safe off-leash areas the council need to find other ways to manage currently grazed land around Nelson urban areas. See my suggestions in my written submission.
- Good Dog Owners: If the council viewed dog owners as good dog owners, there would be no need for on-leash or prohibited areas. I have not heard that there’s an outrage against dogs so this must be a council driven proposal. It highlights the council’s view that there are not enough good dog owners hence these proposed prohibited bylaws. So when a biker/cyclist offends against a pedestrian on a footpath, shared path/track, do you limit all cyclists to on- road cycling only, or ban bikers from tracks’?
Unfortunate incidents are part of life and rather than a fear-based new dog policy and bylaw, I would like to see an inclusive approach. The wellbeing of dogs owners and dogs depend of quality areas to walk in. Please respect dog ownership by not penalise dog owners.
Thank you for listening
Did you know a government and industry study found the condition of as many as one in two New Zealand homes assessed wasn’t as healthy as it should be?
That has a big impact on our health, but despite the obstacles we face, there are lots of simple ways to make your place warmer and drier, … View moreDid you know a government and industry study found the condition of as many as one in two New Zealand homes assessed wasn’t as healthy as it should be?
That has a big impact on our health, but despite the obstacles we face, there are lots of simple ways to make your place warmer and drier, more comfortable and easier to heat.
Hi everyone, the next issue of Get Growing will be released early next week, so keep your eyes peeled! In the meantime you can read all previous editions here, so dig in and enjoy!
Does anyone in the Nelson area play Go? My husband is hoping to find other Go players in the area.
The game of Go was invented in ancient China thousands of years ago and later reached Korea and Japan in the 5th and 7th century CE.
Use colourful wallpaper to update a tired old piece of furniture easily!
Make the most of this weekend with this easy project idea from Resene. Find out how to create this quick and easy project yourself
Your fantasies have become reality.
HELL Pizza, Beer, Wine all in one delivery.
We’ve teamed up with Kiwi business Best Wine Co. to deliver beer from local legends Garage Project and award winning wines from Main Divide to provide you with the ultimate dining experience right to your … View moreYour fantasies have become reality.
HELL Pizza, Beer, Wine all in one delivery.
We’ve teamed up with Kiwi business Best Wine Co. to deliver beer from local legends Garage Project and award winning wines from Main Divide to provide you with the ultimate dining experience right to your lair...
Simply grab some food for delivery before 10pm and you'll have the option of tagging on some cheeky bevvies!
T&Cs apply, customer orders must be 18+ ID verified and receipt signature required before and after purchase
Read more about the ins and outs of booze delivery here .
Nelson’s very own Ultra Sanitizer manufacturing business is now supplying touch less Smart Dispensers that can be wall mounted, glass mounted, or mounted onto our Nelson made dispenser stands as seen in the Richmond Mall.
We are still supplying bottles of hand and surface Ultra Sanitizer in a … View moreNelson’s very own Ultra Sanitizer manufacturing business is now supplying touch less Smart Dispensers that can be wall mounted, glass mounted, or mounted onto our Nelson made dispenser stands as seen in the Richmond Mall.
We are still supplying bottles of hand and surface Ultra Sanitizer in a range of handy sizes along with certified KN95 masks.
Free delivery in Nelson when you mention where you saw this article.
Contact us via
email barsafenet@outlook.com
Phone or txt 021374657
Website www.barsafenet.com...
Tiny home, 20 ft converted container, sliding door, windows, fully lined timber interior wired for power
caravan type plug. Lights and plugs, converted by professional builder, no leaks and fully insulated we are unable to use this at the location we have so reluctantly for sale, this is an easy … View moreTiny home, 20 ft converted container, sliding door, windows, fully lined timber interior wired for power
caravan type plug. Lights and plugs, converted by professional builder, no leaks and fully insulated we are unable to use this at the location we have so reluctantly for sale, this is an easy shift by lift and shift. Ideal sleep out or extra room $15000 ph for details pics coming 021499324
Gardener volunteers extraordinaire wanted. We are looking for volunteers to help with maintaining the beautiful landscape gardens we have at hospice. Join our Monday team from 10am-12pm. Can you help? Contact Krisca Gould at krisca.gould@nelsonhospice.org.nz or (03) 546 3912.
Nelson councillors have supported seeking government funding to upgrade infrastructure for a 700 home housing development in the Maitai Valley and Atawhai hills.
Joelle Noar wrote a note to her future teenage self when she was seven, to remind her why she loved life. Popular children's songwriter Kath Bee, spotted it on social media five years ago and wrote a song about it, which has just won a national award.
Read about Mari's lockdown experience at Ernest Rutherford Retirement Village
Our next Just Cook 4 Healthy Ageing Class is coming up in July. This is run in conjunction with the NZ Nutrition Foundation and is delivered by myself. There are 4 classes over a month each lasting 3 hours. We cover Nutrition and there's a demo followed by time for you to cook the dish. Then … View moreOur next Just Cook 4 Healthy Ageing Class is coming up in July. This is run in conjunction with the NZ Nutrition Foundation and is delivered by myself. There are 4 classes over a month each lasting 3 hours. We cover Nutrition and there's a demo followed by time for you to cook the dish. Then we all sit down together and eat it. We are looking for people over the age of 65 who have a need for more motivation to cook healthy food for themselves, require a bit more confidence in the kitchen and to improve your cooking skills a bit. If you are looking for a place to extend your repetoire in the kitchen this is not the course for you. It's a fun time and you meet people who are similar to yourself. If you would like more information please contact me at sallyrees60@gmail.com Applications close on July 10th and there are a limited number of places. There is no charge for this course.
Simply visit your local Resene owned ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60ml testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers … View moreSimply visit your local Resene owned ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60ml testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers between 1-30 June 2020 at Resene owned ColorShops.
Trees That Count are an environmental charity on a mission to plant millions more native trees throughout New Zealand. Trees That Count runs the country’s only marketplace which provides a place for anyone to fund or gift native trees. This support is matched with planters throughout the country who are restoring, and growing, precious wildlife corridors or pockets of native forest, turning small projects into mighty ones.
I am outraged that the Minister for Economic Development has used a little-known loophole to allow the 56 movie crew for Avatar to enter New Zealand, while we are all patiently and quietly enduring lockdown to keep us all in New Zealand, safe. Why on earth are there 2 rules here? This is worse … View moreI am outraged that the Minister for Economic Development has used a little-known loophole to allow the 56 movie crew for Avatar to enter New Zealand, while we are all patiently and quietly enduring lockdown to keep us all in New Zealand, safe. Why on earth are there 2 rules here? This is worse than Cummings breaking the lockdown rules in the UK- this is 56 people breaking the lockdown rules! .
And the crew have apparently flown in from LA, one of the current coronavirus hotspots in the US.
And... get this! The producer says, "We're feeling very comfortable coming to the safest place in the world". Well - it WAS the safest place...
Does anyone know of a petition about this please? I have emailed our Prime Minister at jacinda.ardern@parliament.govt.nz
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