Council representation - Friday the 13th.
The Council's feedback survey on the upcoming Representation Review closes this Friday, the 13th of August. If you want to have a say about the councillor election system and whether or not community boards should be established in Tauranga you can do so by completing the form online or in writing. Google "Tauranga City Have Your Say" for the online form. Copies can also be picked up at your local library or the Council will send you one if you make a request.
The Review will determine how many councillors there should be and how they should be elected. Options 1, 3 and 4 councillors are elected from several wards but electors are only entitled to vote for the councillors from their ward.They may not vote for councillors from other wards. Option 2 provides for 9 councillors to be elected from one city-wide general ward and for electors to be entitled to vote for all 9 councillors. Maori ward electors may only vote for Maori ward councillors.
This is the first time that a Tauranga Council has given residents the opportunity to decide if they want community boards to be established. Community boards give residents a chance to have a say on local matters at a local level. Boards are managed by local people elected for 3 years from the community they represent. A board's forums and meetings are conducted in local venues where residents will feel comfortable having their say. This is real grassroots democracy.
Representation Reviews take place every 6 years.There won't be another opportunity to have your say until 2027. If you haven't already done so, make sure you let the Council know what you think before the survey closes on Friday.
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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84.4% Yes
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14.3% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
Got a Minute? Prove You’re the Smartest Neighbour!
What is it that when given one, you’ll have either two or none?
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.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
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.