Support our Local Charity
Open letter to Porirua City Councillors
It is with disbelief I write this.
How can councilors who are elected by the people, to work for what is best for them and their city, deny what is one of our city’s most beneficial groups in recent years? I refer of course to the Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust led by Liz Sneyd and Craig Utting with their wonderful support group.
This charity has for many years offered free of charge to many of our, decile 1 and 2 schools, Tamariki and their Whanau the opportunity to learn a variety of musical instruments through After School Programmes, Holiday Programmes, evening practices and private lessons.
Virtuoso Strings have provided instruments to over 200 Tamariki and paid for any repairs to the instruments when required.
When the Tamariki become more proficient, they are offered the opportunity to sit Trinity College Music Exams paid for by Virtuoso Strings and with an almost perfect pass rate. These Tamariki also offer peer support to the younger learners. It is in this way that our Tamariki are learning Reliability, Commitment and Perseverance.
Over the past two years the Tamariki through Virtuoso Strings has achieved so much. Including but not limited to Concerts with world renowned Jonathon Lemalu and Black Grace (Neil Ieremia).
Through various fundraising activities the senior members have travelled throughout the North Island giving free concerts at various retirement villages and other venues. This teaches our Tamariki the value of working for what they want, giving to others and about New Zealand’s geography.
The most recent achievements for Virtuoso Strings was the award given to Liz Sneyd for the Inaugural NZ Music teacher of the year. And to the Virtuoso Strings Octet who won the Gold Award and Peoples Choice award at the recent Chamber Music Competition Finals.
Virtuoso Strings senior members also, at times with very short notice, provide music for businesses / conferences etc. in the Wellington area.
I am sure I have missed many things in the above outline, sufficient to say that Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust provides a lot in the way of the wider community involvement through the Tamariki and their Whanau.
How is it then they can be denied the funding previously provided by the council due to the parting of the ways from Ole’ Academy. Surely commonsense should prevail.
Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust is worth every cent the Council can provide them.
Come on Porirua City Council. Take a second look, change your mind and do the right thing!
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.2% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
New World Khandallah parking warning and appeal to nearby business owners
For very valid reasons (local commuters abuse) the New World has allowed the draconian Smartcomply company to police their carpark on their behalf.
Smartcomply will hit you with an $85 'fine' if you stay one second beyond the 60 minutes allowed.
Can I appeal to all nearby business's (especially eateries) to display a clearly visible "ARE YOU PARKED IN THE NEW WORD CARPARK' notice so customers can be warned about the possibility of an unpleasant post dining experience surprise.
A local eatery, and New World itself, could lose future custom due Smartcomply's excessive actions, as is likely our case.
Indeed I would urge any business local to a Smartcomply operation to implement a "ARE YOU PARKED IN ..........." notice if they wanted to avoid a lose in trade.
Here is the link to their Terms and Conditions that all entrants to a carpark under their control are expected to notice and read.
smartcomply.co.nz...
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.
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