Plimmerton, Porirua

1477 days ago

Driveways driven away by new rule

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Hi neighbours,

A move to free up more land for new builds is likely to see fewer driveways and garages in modern housing, in a move some say could have New Zealand looking like Coronation Street.

Councils across the country must scrap planning rules that require car parks to be put down near new … View more
Hi neighbours,

A move to free up more land for new builds is likely to see fewer driveways and garages in modern housing, in a move some say could have New Zealand looking like Coronation Street.

Councils across the country must scrap planning rules that require car parks to be put down near new housing or business developments, under newly released housing guidelines.

The change comes as the Government looks to encourage development, in part by freeing up land held up by car parks, under its new National Policy Statement for urban development.

Property developer Phil Robinson said scrapping car park rules was a “big change”, but he was unsure if it was a “big win”.

What do you think of having more new builds in your area with fewer driveways and garages?

Image
1477 days ago

Poll: Is a predator-free Wellington achievable"

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Wellington’s predator-free vision is a step closer to reality, thanks to a major funding boost announced today.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced a further $7.6m in investment over the next five years at Otari-Wilton’s Bush in Wellington on Monday. The investment was expected to … View more
Wellington’s predator-free vision is a step closer to reality, thanks to a major funding boost announced today.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced a further $7.6m in investment over the next five years at Otari-Wilton’s Bush in Wellington on Monday. The investment was expected to create 42 new jobs.

The money would come from the Government’s company, Predator Free 2050, and matches similar investment from Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Image
Is a predator-free Wellington achievable"
  • 62% Yes
    62% Complete
  • 38% No
    38% Complete
342 votes
1475 days ago

See how our Houseplant Hero runnerup Hollie Procter fits all her plants into her tiny home!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

“So I would say it’s possible I might have the most plants per square metre,” she quips.

1476 days ago

Your thoughts on making Matariki a public holiday

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Hi neighbours,

Labour will make Matariki New Zealand's 12th public holiday from 2022 if re-elected, Jacinda Ardern has announced.

The new winter public holiday would fall at some point during the Matariki period, with an expectation that it would always happen on either a Monday or a Friday.… View more
Hi neighbours,

Labour will make Matariki New Zealand's 12th public holiday from 2022 if re-elected, Jacinda Ardern has announced.

The new winter public holiday would fall at some point during the Matariki period, with an expectation that it would always happen on either a Monday or a Friday.

The policy announcement follows a series of public campaigns for Matariki, which acts as the Māori New Year, to be recognised.

We want to hear your thoughts about Matariki becoming a public holiday. Do you support the idea, or are you against it? Perhaps you have a counter proposal.

Share your thoughts here.

Image
1475 days ago

The original big bathroom sale

Zip Plumbing Hutt Valley

- Bathroom Packages from $1599.
- Up to 70% OFF on End of line and clearance products

Next weekend, 18th September 2020 to 20th September 2020. Only in Hutt Valley.

66 Hutt Road, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012
(04) 568 3353
zipplumb@xtra.co.nz
Find out more

Image
1477 days ago

Poll: Would you buy an apartment in Wellington City?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

The Wellington City Council estimates that over the next 30 years, the capital will need up to 80,000 new homes. With little land available for development, apartments are likely to be the future for growth in the city.

For Wellington’s inner city, a six-storey minimum building height will … View more
The Wellington City Council estimates that over the next 30 years, the capital will need up to 80,000 new homes. With little land available for development, apartments are likely to be the future for growth in the city.

For Wellington’s inner city, a six-storey minimum building height will likely be introduced with developments up to 10 storeys in Te Aro and on some central city boundaries. In the inner-city suburbs, up to 5400 extra homes will be created.

But inner-city apartment owner Carol Brown​ says people should think very carefully before buying an apartment in Wellington. She is warning that although new apartments will be built to code, the code can change over time.

That is what happened to her and she warned the financial implications can be huge.

Image
Would you buy an apartment in Wellington City?
  • 17.8% Yes
    17.8% Complete
  • 82.2% No
    82.2% Complete
494 votes
1476 days ago

Whaitua te Whanganui a Tara Committee Have Your Say

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

One week left to tell Whaitua Committee what to do about poos in streams!

Whaitua te Whanganui a Tara Committee is tackling the tough (and smelly!) issues when it comes to water quality and they need your input!

Wastewater getting into streams harms our enjoyment of our streams and harbour. No … View more
One week left to tell Whaitua Committee what to do about poos in streams!

Whaitua te Whanganui a Tara Committee is tackling the tough (and smelly!) issues when it comes to water quality and they need your input!

Wastewater getting into streams harms our enjoyment of our streams and harbour. No one wants poos in streams.

The committee really wants to know what you think contributes to our wastewater problem, how we can solve it and who should pay for it.

Your responses will help the Committee develop recommendations for how wastewater should be managed in the future.

Thank you to everyone who took 5 minutes to tell the committee what you think. If you haven’t yet, there’s still a week left to join the conversation: haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz...

Image
1476 days ago

Potential Choking Hazard Found in Faulty Snorkels

Neighbourly.co.nz

A user of a snorkel product has reportedly found a piece of material detached inside, which may have lead to them choking.
The snorkel, manufactured by major water sports company arena, issued the recall which affects snorkels bought at various stores in the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and … View more
A user of a snorkel product has reportedly found a piece of material detached inside, which may have lead to them choking.
The snorkel, manufactured by major water sports company arena, issued the recall which affects snorkels bought at various stores in the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty regions.

What you need to know:

- The recall affects the arena Swim Snorkel II & Swim Snorkel Pro II.

- A piece of material may become loose in the snorkel which can become a choking hazard.

- The products were sold at Swim T3 and Teamline Stores from October 2019 to April 2020.

- Fill out this survey to check whether your snorkel has been affected.

Known owners of the snorkel will be contacted by Swim T3 or Teamline.

Image
1476 days ago

Peter Miskimmin

Rhondda Sweetman from Plimmerton Rotary

This week, a sporting celebrity, Peter Miskimmin, was our guest speaker.

He is an icon in the world of international hockey, having played 150 tests for NZ over 12 years and appearing at two Olympic Games. He is also an old friend of Bryan Waddle, and the two were able to exchange embarrassing … View more
This week, a sporting celebrity, Peter Miskimmin, was our guest speaker.

He is an icon in the world of international hockey, having played 150 tests for NZ over 12 years and appearing at two Olympic Games. He is also an old friend of Bryan Waddle, and the two were able to exchange embarrassing anecdotes.

Peter is now CEO of Sport New Zealand, which is an organisation funded by the government and has a wide and heavy brief.

Sport is a New Zealand passion, which makes Peter’s job both easier and harder. Easier, because it captures everyone’s attention. Harder, because everyone has a view and an axe to grind.

We are an extraordinarily successful sporting nation for our size, a fact which is not properly appreciated. We have had world champions in many sports, and participation is high. Sporting achievement is part of the kiwi identity.

Historically, the reasons are not hard to find. Children pay a lot of sport here, especially in rural areas, and we have sporting role models, and excellent coaches: world-class in many cases.

We are abreast of new technologies in eg cycling and yachting. We send our best athletes overseas to compete with the best, which can be relatively expensive. Covid-19 is making this more difficult.

There are downsides. Children now have inflated expectations, and success is measured too much in commercial terms. This is a disincentive to teamwork and the ‘fun’ side of sporting activity.

Sports clubs are struggling as the young are turning to individually based sport such as cycling, surfing, fitness, and even E-Sport. Organised, structured sport is a turn-off, it appears.

There is a strong connection between sport and the physical and mental health of the nation. Physical activity peaks at age 12, on average, and declines thereafter. It is markedly lower in deprived communities. This is a worry, and Sport NZ now has a focus on youth, and especially those in deprived areas.

Sport NZ has the difficult task of allocating its funds between these needs and its traditional support for elite and successful athletes.

A fascinating talk by one who is immersed in his role and is able to communicate it in fine style.

1477 days ago

Labour proposes making Matariki a public holiday?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Wellingtonians, what do you think of Labour's plan to make Matariki a public holiday?

Labour will make Matariki New Zealand’s twelfth public holiday if re-elected.

The new winter public holiday would fall at some point during the Matariki period, with an expectation that it would always … View more
Wellingtonians, what do you think of Labour's plan to make Matariki a public holiday?

Labour will make Matariki New Zealand’s twelfth public holiday if re-elected.

The new winter public holiday would fall at some point during the Matariki period, with an expectation that it would always happen on either a Monday or a Friday.

The exact timing of Matariki shifts every year as it relates to a star cluster reappearing and has traditionally varied between Iwi.

It would be the first new public holiday since the Third Labour Government made Waitangi Day a public holiday in 1973, although then Prime Minister Norman Kirk called it “New Zealand Day”.

Please mark any comments Not For Publication if you do not want to be quoted in a story.

Image
1477 days ago

Mary Potter Street Appeal

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Mary Potter Hospice's Street Appeal is only two weeks away and they need your help.

On Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September Mary Potter needs a thousand people wearing Mary Potter Hospice bibs and holding collection buckets across the streets of Wellington, Porirua and Kāpiti.

Image
1477 days ago

Muri Station honours Porirua's rail history

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

A closed railway platform in Porirua’s northernmost suburb has become a place to unlock some of the tales of the area’s proud, and colourful, railway past.

Muri Station, one stop north of the main Pukerua Bay Station, was closed in 2011 due to low patronage, structural defects and high … View more
A closed railway platform in Porirua’s northernmost suburb has become a place to unlock some of the tales of the area’s proud, and colourful, railway past.

Muri Station, one stop north of the main Pukerua Bay Station, was closed in 2011 due to low patronage, structural defects and high projected costs to upgrade it. The small building used as the station’s waiting rooms has not seen any use since the station’s closure but on Saturday, an official opening has given it a new lease on life, albeit one that is steeped in the past.

Pukerua Bay Residents Association, working with Porirua City Council, have placed information boards in the shelter, outlining the suburb’s connections with rail that began with the awarding of a contract to connect Paremata and Pukerua in 1883 (the suburb didn’t have the ‘Bay’ added to Pukerua until 1923).

.

Image
1480 days ago

Future bleak for Lambton Quay business

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

What is the future of businesses on Lambton Quay?

Two well known business have indicated they are struggling and Eftpos transactions are down 19 percent from the same time last year.

Wellington City councillor Simon Woolf says the outlook for Wellington’s Lambton Quay is so bad he is moving his… View more
What is the future of businesses on Lambton Quay?

Two well known business have indicated they are struggling and Eftpos transactions are down 19 percent from the same time last year.

Wellington City councillor Simon Woolf says the outlook for Wellington’s Lambton Quay is so bad he is moving his family photography business from the street after more than 60 years.

Sam Cranfield, whose wife Val established the Cranfields gift store now situated off Lambton Quay, told councillors at a meeting on Thursday the couple were liable for $750,000 if the business went bust, something he was very concerned would happen.

Image
Top