Thank you for using Neighbourly
Whangarei District Council Mayor Sheryl Mai wants the $60 million that had been earmarked for the Oruku Landing Multi Events Centre near the Town Basin to be spent fixing the Northland Base Hospital.
“We really appreciate the offer of investment in our District. I urge the Government to spend … View moreWhangarei District Council Mayor Sheryl Mai wants the $60 million that had been earmarked for the Oruku Landing Multi Events Centre near the Town Basin to be spent fixing the Northland Base Hospital.
“We really appreciate the offer of investment in our District. I urge the Government to spend this money in Whangārei, on the hospital that needs it more now than at any other time in the past.
“Years of underinvestment have left us with a hospital where sewage runs down the insides of walls. And the hospital may face huge pressure as we open up our borders.”
She was speaking after Council concluded months of investigations, discussions and consultation on the Oruku Landing Conference and Multi Events Centre by voting to abandon the project.
The vote meant we did not amend our Long Term Plan to include up to $70 million estimated as its share of the cost of the build of the conference and multi-events centre. This meant forgoing the additional $60 million which was to have come from the Government under its Covid-19 Economic Recovery funding for shovel-ready projects.
Mayor Sheryl Mai said some in the community would be very disappointed by the decision, however it was the decision Council had come to after considering a huge amount of information.
“Council, consultants, government and council staff were working under serious time-pressure to ensure we had enough information to give this project the consideration it deserved.
“Northland Development Corporation took the idea to Government with the best intentions and with inspired vision. Many in the community supported that vision and could see the potential of the project.
“When I first heard about this project I thought about the construction and hospitality sectors – entertainment, conferences, shows, concerts, all the things that it would bring to our district for our people to enjoy. I saw the opportunities for accommodation, the opportunity to stimulate the economy.
“But then I heard about poo running down the insides of the walls of the hospital and questioned our priorities, as did our community through their submissions. Times have changed. Underinvestment and hardship that have been simmering in some areas of central government funded social infrastructure in the North are erupting. That calls for us to reconsider our priorities.
“Our community has told us what their priorities are. More than 5000 people made submissions on this proposal, that’s one of, if not the highest response rates we have ever had on a public consultation.
“For every person who supported the proposal, four were against. Their arguments were researched, thoughtful and reminded us of the priorities our community has spoken of clearly in our consultations over recent years.
“Climate change, limited incomes, the housing crisis, projects that people have campaigned on through the LTP for decades that are still waiting. Not only that, we are living under the spectre of Covid’s on-going effects and dealing with disrupted supply chains and escalating costs.
“We already have good places to come together - the Northland Events Centre, Mackay Stadium and Hihiaua Cultural Centre. The development at Whangarei Boys High School will soon be complete. For decades we have been planning to redevelop Forum North and build Stage Two of the Hihiaua Cultural Centre. These projects have been in our Long Term Plan for years, at the request of our community.”
“Despite Council’s decision, there was universal praise for the efforts and intentions of the Northland Development Corporation who took this idea to government, for Government for its support of the project, for all who have worked tirelessly on the Oruku vision.”
Masters Study
Meet Hinerangi Busby who shares her journey with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
I am a graduate of the marae-centred programme, Te Pouhono, transforming Māori communities, promoting mātauranga-a-hapū, a-iwi. My participation took me to the Bachelor of Mātauranga Māori, … View moreMasters Study
Meet Hinerangi Busby who shares her journey with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
I am a graduate of the marae-centred programme, Te Pouhono, transforming Māori communities, promoting mātauranga-a-hapū, a-iwi. My participation took me to the Bachelor of Mātauranga Māori, and then postgraduate study.
Awanuiārangi centres you. This is the nurturing space of Māori researchers, with the support of academic and professional staff; this all transpires from an authentic indigenous and traditional Māori environment.
My studies have empowered me to play a more pro-active role in whānau and hapū affairs. Instead of being angry at a past that we cannot change, let’s become part of the solution for positive change.
We're hitting the streets this summer to better understand the needs of our customers!
We know that energy hardship is becoming a growing issue and people's interest in alternative energies are growing and this is changing the way we all consume energy - so we thought the best way to … View moreWe're hitting the streets this summer to better understand the needs of our customers!
We know that energy hardship is becoming a growing issue and people's interest in alternative energies are growing and this is changing the way we all consume energy - so we thought the best way to understand this is to survey our customers directly!
You'll see us at local community events, centres and even on your favourite beaches to ask everyone we meet what most matters to them.
Did we mention that if you fill out the survey, you enter a weekly draw to win a $200 grocery voucher? You can even do it online:
Since its inception in 1912, and with the support of our Charities team TG Macarthy Trust continues to help New Zealand communities by awarding grants to not-for-profit organisations. Read about what the trust is getting up to, almost 120 years after it was established.
This week is Bake Week at the Red Cross shop in Whangarei. Tis the season for yummy treats. If you are looking for baking items to help you make Christmas treats come and see us at the Red Cross shop. Our address is 46 John Street Whangarei CBD. We are open 9am to 5pm week days, 9am to 4pm … View moreThis week is Bake Week at the Red Cross shop in Whangarei. Tis the season for yummy treats. If you are looking for baking items to help you make Christmas treats come and see us at the Red Cross shop. Our address is 46 John Street Whangarei CBD. We are open 9am to 5pm week days, 9am to 4pm Saturdays and 10am to 3pm Sundays. Our phone number is 09 438 3701.
Dear neighbours,
If you've ever struggled with this question, houseplant collector Moira West (400 indoor plants and growing!) has the answers.
Summer is nearly here and for many folks it is time to head to the beach. Whether you have your own batch or rent one it can be interesting to know about sea level rise, risk posed by storms, and of course tsunami.
With the Climate Insights property report you can get information on all three … View moreSummer is nearly here and for many folks it is time to head to the beach. Whether you have your own batch or rent one it can be interesting to know about sea level rise, risk posed by storms, and of course tsunami.
With the Climate Insights property report you can get information on all three ocean-related events. With easy to read graphs and insights for reducing your family's and a property's risk it is an essential part of your coastal awareness toolkit.
The regions which will be moving into the new Covid-19 Protection Framework at Red on Friday have been announced.
Northland, Auckland, Taupō and Rotorua Lakes Districts, Kawerau, Whakatane, Ōpōtiki Districts, Gisborne District, Wairoa District, Rangitikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu Districts … View moreThe regions which will be moving into the new Covid-19 Protection Framework at Red on Friday have been announced.
Northland, Auckland, Taupō and Rotorua Lakes Districts, Kawerau, Whakatane, Ōpōtiki Districts, Gisborne District, Wairoa District, Rangitikei, Whanganui and Ruapehu Districts will all move to Red. The rest of the North Island and all of the South Island will move into Orange. These settings will next be reviewed on 13 December.
The existing Auckland boundary will remain in place until 17 January, and no new travel restrictions will be put in place. Vaccine passes will also come into force with the traffic light system.
Find out more about the new traffic light settings by region on this interactive map.
Book launch, reading by the author + learn to draw your favourite animal - or make up your own!
Saturday December 11 at Craniums toy and bookstore in Whangarei, author Michael Botur launches children’s book ‘My Animal Family,' reading the book aloud with a bonus drawing class guided by … View moreBook launch, reading by the author + learn to draw your favourite animal - or make up your own!
Saturday December 11 at Craniums toy and bookstore in Whangarei, author Michael Botur launches children’s book ‘My Animal Family,' reading the book aloud with a bonus drawing class guided by local comic book artists.
'My Animal Family' is a 20-page illustrated book which teaches children about their place in the natural world. Mixing hilarious rhymes with scientific facts, children learn about the phylogenetic tree and the relationships between all life forms, with a core message about understanding that humans are equal to all other animals, from Ape to Zyzzyva.
Get your A3 paper, work out a plan for which animal you would love to illustrate, and your illustration experts and local artists Shane Evans, Rico Searle and Michael Botur will help - plus they’ll help you create genus and species name for an animal real or imaginary.
They'll also help you draw some powerful poster lettering so you have some wicked artwork to take home to your whanau.
- 10am-12pm, Craniums, Town Basin, Whangarei Saturday December 11
- Books are $28RRP
- Illustrated animal posters are free for anyone joining in a drawing workshop.
- Stay for 10 minutes or 100 minutes, however long it takes to draw your masterpiece. It's all good!
Dear neighbours,
Read about this Dunedin cafe where vegetables from the kitchen has been grown by the owner. The staples of pumpkins, beetroot, cabbage and carrots do well here, he says, with a wide variety of other crops including spring onions, kohlrabi, celery, fennel, kale, potatoes, … View moreDear neighbours,
Read about this Dunedin cafe where vegetables from the kitchen has been grown by the owner. The staples of pumpkins, beetroot, cabbage and carrots do well here, he says, with a wide variety of other crops including spring onions, kohlrabi, celery, fennel, kale, potatoes, silverbeet, leek, mint and herbs. Yummy!
Add milk pregnancy testing to your next herd test, it’s the convenient way to tell if your girls are expecting after 28 days – without them knowing.
But why stop there? Combining animal health checks to your herd test could uncover subclinical Staph aureus, Johnes disease, those who produce… View moreAdd milk pregnancy testing to your next herd test, it’s the convenient way to tell if your girls are expecting after 28 days – without them knowing.
But why stop there? Combining animal health checks to your herd test could uncover subclinical Staph aureus, Johnes disease, those who produce A2/A2 milk, as well as your herd’s production worth (PW) to help you make better calls.
Talk to your Agri Manager about adding pregnancy or animal health checks to your next herd test.
We are still on the lookout for amazing volunteers who’d like to spare a few hours per week to support our Red Cross Shop team in Whangarei.
If you haven’t applied already and would like to lend a hand over the busy holiday season, push the button below to apply or for more information.
Has the pandemic made you shop more locally? Do you feel like you can rely on your community?
Let us know in our State of the Neighbourhood survey and you could win 1 of 10 $100 Prezzy cards.
Short Gestation Length (SGL) semen allows you to get cows in-calf late in mating. Using SGL semen should condense your calving spread, give more time for cows to recover and generate more days of milk. Not only can this boost your profits, but SGL is also a … View moreShort Gestation Length (SGL) semen allows you to get cows in-calf late in mating. Using SGL semen should condense your calving spread, give more time for cows to recover and generate more days of milk. Not only can this boost your profits, but SGL is also a cost-effective alternative to using natural mating bulls in weeks 7 to 10.
Talk to your Agri Manager about SGL options for your herd.
at Forget me not daycare.
110 Boundary Road, Tikipunga next to Whg Falls.
Household items, Orchid plants, Jewellery, Good quality clothes, Books, Xmas gifts and much more.
© Neighbourly 2024
Loading…
