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2136 days ago

WELLINGTONS BUS FIASCO

Jim from Trentham

"A dozen contractors have walked away with over $1.6 million in the first eight months of Wellington's bus fiasco".
Does anyone accept the feeble explanations that have been expressed regarding this expenditure? ie. a council spokesman said the works were budgeted for and were focused on implementation and ongoing improvements. GWRC employs contractors, consultants etc depending on expertise... Barbara Donaldson said the expenditure was operational and refused to comment.
It's time these people in well paid jobs stood up and took responsibility and did something to justify their salaries - so what if it's operational? its all taxpayer/ratepayer money and we should be getting value for it, as well as knowing what it was spent on. Where are the ongoing improvements - or is it intended to destroy the bus service first then anything following will be an "improvement"?
Chris Laidlaw has previously said he would do little differently. Rhodes Scholar or not, perhaps he should read the post regarding "Commonsense" which was posted on Neighbourly last week.
Why do we need consultants when it seems "everyone else" knows the $1.6 million would have been better spent on recruitment and retention of staff on the front line who are expected to face the ire of unsatisfied patrons.
To Laidlaw, Donaldson and their colleagues I say - ride the buses and explain to patrons yourself why the service is such a shambles, get down to the grass roots and see what people have to put up with. If you can't do the job then go and look for another.

More messages from your neighbours
7 days ago

HAPAI CLUB WATER LEAK

Chris from Clouston Park - Kingsley Heights

I pass the hapai club regularly & wonder when the water leak from the toby will be fixed. It has been leaking for at least two months. Hundreds of litres running across the side walk & down the drain.

8 hours ago

Chicken nuggets recall

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

A popular Pam's frozen food has been recalled.

What you need to know:
- Pams brand Tempura Coated Chicken Nuggets (1kg) have been recalled by Foodstuffs.
- The product may contain foreign matter (blue rubber).
- This product is sold at Four Square, Gilmours, New World, Pak’nSave and Social Supermarket stores throughout New Zealand.
- The affected batch has the marking of Best Before: 16 Oct 2025
- The issue was raised following a customer complaint.
- Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund.

For other recent food/product recalls, check our list here.

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1 day ago

🧩 Crack the Code: Today’s Riddle Challenge! 🤔

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I’m a three-digit number; my tens digit is five more than my ones, and my hundreds digit is eight less than my tens—what am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments 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.

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