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LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS
My opinions are actual, factual, events, personal experiences, which are documented and explained at length in my posts on Neighbourly – Face book and www.publiclibrarytrends.blogspot.co.nz... dating from Feb 2017 if read should answer questions as to why I feel the way I do.
INTERNET I don't have wifi at home – I use public wifi, Libraries etc. and friends, usually on a Thursday for a couple of hours, also on an occasional a Sunday.
Once I post I don't see or know what happens and I am unable to respond for a week or more. Under these conditions conversations don't work well, however I am usually open to clarifying questions.
Getting to any meetings is difficult for some people without transport or issues with their mobility, some I know do not go out after dark . We have an ageing population- these barriers to access localised information and accessibility to democracy are growing and are of global concern.
Not everybody has the same resources – financially, physically or economically and without community based journalism, information about what is happening in our city we often unaware of what is happening until it happens.
NONE of my comments have been gender based, so anybody who thinks so is reflecting their own mind sets – not mine - COUNCILLOR STEVE TAYLOR was the first councillor to reply to my emails, he offered to meet me. For reasons that were mine, that did not happen. He responded in a timely and business like manner.
THE ONLY other people to reply were WOMEN all the MEN excepting S.Taylor ignored me to a man.
RE-ELECTION All those standing for re-election, have now got a track record – an election is 'judgement day' a performance review, to see how the voters feel about them and their governance over the past three years.
THIS IS exactly the right time for me to tell of my experiences, it is the most appropriate time, there is no better time.
To share publicly personal, actual, truthful, experiences of your interactions with government or council and elected representatives is your legal democratic right.
EXPECTING – demanding, information, transparency, accountability and accessibility from our public representatives and public servants, is our legal democratic right and is exactly what we all should be doing, everyone of us, whatever our concerns or opinions.
It is a responsibility of all society to do so, it is critical we hold those in power, especially those we are taxed and elect to govern us, represent us, serve us, to account. Important that we take part, that we be heard, that we vote.
To be denied that legal right, to have that legal right withheld or interfered with, to be ignored and rendered invisible - is disenfranchisement.
LOBBYING elected representatives to interact with us and to take our views and concerns seriously is your legal right and is democracy in action, democracy made visible.
EVERYTHING I have posted publicly, I also conveyed directly, in multiple emails sent to all those named, telling them of my intention to go public, with ample time for them to reply, respond or refute, before I shared my experiences publicly, which I subsequently did on more than one occasion on more than one platform in 2017. I say the same thing now as I did then.
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LIVE Q&A: Financial well-being with Cat Rikihana
Today (Wednesday) we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Cat Rikihana who is a financial mentor, educator and financial capability practitioner at Financial Freedom Trust in the Manawatū.
Cat Rikihana (Ngai Tahu) like many financial mentors around Aotearoa, works with individuals, groups and whānau to successfully navigate financial stress and hardship. Mentors work alongside whānau to increase confidence and skills in personal money management and advocate with and for clients. Cat enjoys delivering online and face-to-face workshops which provide opportunities to normalise money conversations and encourages people to make time to consider their financial well-being.
Cat is also an independent financial well-being coach, educator and indigenous life coach at Restore Wellness Network. She is a published writer and currently in the process of writing her first non-fiction book: 'A financial self-care guide for women in Aotearoa.'
She'd love to answer any questions you may have around your budgeting and spending habits, strategies for saving, retirement planning and debt. (Don't be shy, but be mindful about what you disclose!)
↓ Share your questions now and Cat will reply to your comment below ↓
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Can you outsmart your neighbours with this riddle?
The more you take away from me, the larger I become. What am I?
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? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
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Poll: Have you ever had a scary flight?
A plane flying from Christchurch to Wellington on Sunday had smoke billowing out of the engine and upon landing, passengers had to open the emergency exit and jump out. Have you had any scary flying experiences?
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57.5% Yes!
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42.5% No, it's always been smooth flying