• About
  • The local iwi history KCDC wants to avoid

Waikanae Watch

~ issues relevant to Waikanae people and others

Waikanae Watch

Monthly Archives: July 2015

someone in Sylvan Avenue who likes to be shaded by a tree

31 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Sylvan

Property developers and rental property business owners automatically assume that their houses will be more valuable if they have maximum sun, all day, all year, but that isn’t always what their inhabitants want  — we noticed this in the nearby Sylvan Avenue.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

the wanton killing of important wildlife has to be fought

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

cecil-the-lion-2-super

walter5_3390738b

A message affixed to Walter Palmer’s business in the U.S.

Although it was not an incident that happened in NZ or involved someone from NZ, it is clearly a wake-up call about how despicable some people are when it comes to animals.

We were very upset a few years ago about the negligent poisoning of native birds and non-native but cute hedgehogs by our property business neighbour (see earlier posts) and we fully empathise with those who are outraged by the rich American hunter Walter Palmer who bribed guides in Zimbabwe to lure that country’s most famous lion, Cecil, outside the boundaries of a national park to kill him with a crossbow.

According to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), the hunt began on 6 July. ‘They went hunting at night with a spotlight and they spotted Cecil,’ said the ZCTF’s Johnny Rodrigues.

‘They tied a dead animal to their vehicle to lure Cecil out of the park and they scented an area about half a kilometre from the park.’

Rodrigues revealed that Palmer shot his bow and arrow at Cecil, but failed to kill him and that they stalked the wounded and stricken lion for 40 hours before finally shooting him dead and beheading him.

He added, according to The Independent: ‘The head – his trophy – has been impounded and confiscated as evidence for the court in Victoria Falls’.

And to add to the outrage surrounding the death of Cecil, the future of the cubs of his pride are now thought to be at risk. The cubs could be killed if the pride is taken over by another male lion.

‘The saddest part of all is that now that Cecil is dead, the next lion in the hierarchy, Jericho, will most likely kill all Cecil’s cubs,’ Rodrigues said.

It’s not the first time Palmer has been in trouble over his lust to kill important animals: he pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the precise location of where he killed a black bear in 2008. Palmer was placed on a one year probation and fined $2,939 after it was found that he was not licensed to kill the bear in that particular area.

We hope that Walter Palmer gets what he deserves: he will probably bribe a judge in Zimbabwe to let him off, but folks in the U.S. will do what they can there — details here.

Our favourite charity in NZ is the SPCA.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

new housing subdivisions are usually boring

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There’s a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

ChurtonPark

If you look around the newer streets of Churton Park in Wellington, where the above picture was taken, you’ll be reminded of the words of this song by Malvina Reynolds (if you can remember the 1960s).

The general trend in housing over the last 40 years or so has been for sections (lots) to get smaller and houses to get bigger.  This means that yards have got smaller and people are closer to their neighbours than used to be the case; sometimes only a couple of metres separates one house from another.

Is this a good thing?  Not if you like privacy and greenery around you.  Once upon a time kids liked to play in their parents’ gardens, although with nearly every kid having their own computer in their rooms now, that is much less the case.

This is yet another aspect of the new housing proposals being promulgated by property developers in Waikanae that is cause for concern: higher density congestion and visually dull streets.  This and other reasons given earlier should make clear to our elected representatives why existing residents are unhappy.

Fortunately, demand for housing in the Wellington region is keeping pace with supply and the demand itself isn’t great (unlike in Auckland), but that could change in a few years as Auckland becomes less and less affordable.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

a street carpet at the bottom of Cuba Street in Wellington

28 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Cuba

We noticed this today at the north end of Cuba Street (there is another section further up out of sight in this view), and wondered if this is the sort of thing the KCDC had in mind when it mentioned a ‘cultural pathway’ between Ngaio Road and the Marae in its Long Term Plan discussion document (see earlier post).

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

the fake grass or ‘frass’ industry booms in California

25 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Pose de pelouse en plaque

Four years of drought, which shows no sign of ending, have seen a complete change of attitudes to fake grass there, and significant improvements in the appearance of it in recent times have led to a boom for the fake grass industry.  The state now provides rebates to homeowners who install it.  Article

In our submission on the KCDC’s long term plan, we suggested the main part of Mahara Place could be fitted with artificial turf  — nicer than concrete pavers and maintenance free, even if it it costs a bit to buy.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

good articles about the 1080 poison nightmare in the Kapiti Independent News

21 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Ban-1080-logo1Conservationist Tony Orman has concluded an excellent series of short articles about the highly detrimental impact of sodium monofluoroacetate, better known as 1080, in the Kapiti Independent News.

We became intimately aware of the poisoning issue when in 2010, four hedgehogs and two tui birds from a neighboring retirement village came into our property and died.  As the tui is, like all native birds, protected and the protection is enforced by the Department of Conservation, that is where we went.  They told us that they had already spoken to the manager, who has the management contract for that business, about poisoned native pukekos that used to exist there.

The deaths of the hedgehogs wasn’t quick, it took a few days.  We can only begin to imagine their suffering.  Needless to say, it made us committed anti-poisoning campaigners.  In this case the poison didn’t appear to be 1080, rather something else, but the impact was the same.

We well understand the need to eradicate possums which do a lot of damage to the country’s native flora and fauna, but why not let trappers and shooters do the job?  There is in fact no possum problem where we are, although there is a small problem with rabbits.  However, given that rural land around Waikanae is increasingly being turned into housing subdivisions (some of it by this man), then so what?

What really concerns us is the potential of people’s pets being poisoned.  Cats in particular like to engage in nocturnal neighborhood patrols – and we have lived in apprehension ever since the above episode of the prospect, as have others around our neighborhood.

 

The anti-1080 website

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Waikanae from the summit of the Akatawara Road today

19 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Akatawera 1

Akatawera 2

We noticed through our telescope that there was some snow here this morning, so drove up to get these pics.  The first is looking west, the second looking east as the combination of the white snow and yellow gorse flowers was rather nice.

Unfortunately this is a popular fly-dumping spot, about which we will have more to say soon.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

California drought means Angelenos are saying goodbye to lawns

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

lawns

Kapiti people are blessed with copious rainfall, too much at times — but those diagonally opposite in the Pacific aren’t so lucky.  New housing areas there are sure to want the unnecessary water meters that exist in the KCDC area!

Los Angeles averages only 15.1 inches (384 mm) of precipitation per year which is less than a third of Kapiti; for the year to date it has only been about 60% of the average.

An article in the Los Angeles Times

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

is Waikanae one big retirement village?

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Waikane may have one of the largest populations of over-65-year-olds in the country and a mobility scooter seemingly on every street, but the town’s promoters say they are sick to death of the town being tagged “God’s waiting room.” Former Kapiti mayor Brett Ambler coined the phrase more than 10 years ago and it stuck – perhaps a sign of its accuracy.

But Keep Waikanae Beautiful and Destination Waikanae are fed up with the phrase and the description “pensioner paradise.”

Norma McCallum, 79, has run Keep Waikanae Beautiful for 20 years and says the term ‘God’s waiting room’ should be dropped. …

Destination Waikanae member Sue Lusk, 61, said not just elderly people lived in the town.

“About 25 per cent of the population is over 65 but 75 per cent of everybody else includes a lot of young families and a terrific number of very well people. It is a bit heart-breaking when the myth is constantly reinforced.

scooters

It’s an impression that is easy to get and you’ll see more electric quad scooters whizzing along the streets than just about anywhere else.

In our first year in Waikanae in 2006 we asked a Statistics Department household survey worker how many people in the town were retired and the response was “about half.”

Despite the statistics claimed by Sue Lusk of Destination Waikanae quoted above from this stuff article, the four Waikanae area units have 37% of residents at the 2013 census aged over 65. This compares to 14% nationally. And the median age in Waikanae West and Waikanae Park is 64 and 61. This compares to 38 nationally.  More at stats.govt.nz

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

impressive community mural in a small Canadian town

14 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by Waikanae watchers in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Calgary mural Another idea for Destination Waikanae and WCB members, if they are really interested in attacting visitors to the town centre, as sent in by a reader:

“Cochrane is NW of Calgary, Alberta and east of Banff, in the foothills of the Rockies. This mural was unveiled last week at the Cochrane Ranch House. Each tile is one foot square [31 cm square], is its own individual picture and each is by a different artist. All of them together form this huge mural. On this website you can click on each of the tiles to see them in detail.  Check out, especially the horse’s eye. Click on any square that makes up the mural to see what the square really is.”

As a relevant note, the KCDC had a public art budget of $54,000 for the 2014-2015 financial year to the end of June  — and how much of it was spent?  Zilch.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

contact e-mail

waikanaewatch@gmail.com

Archives

  • January 2023 (291)
  • December 2022 (309)
  • November 2022 (302)
  • October 2022 (297)
  • September 2022 (266)
  • August 2022 (312)
  • July 2022 (272)
  • June 2022 (243)
  • May 2022 (250)
  • April 2022 (245)
  • March 2022 (277)
  • February 2022 (271)
  • January 2022 (236)
  • December 2021 (250)
  • November 2021 (298)
  • October 2021 (267)
  • September 2021 (237)
  • August 2021 (205)
  • July 2021 (186)
  • June 2021 (159)
  • May 2021 (167)
  • April 2021 (141)
  • March 2021 (133)
  • February 2021 (107)
  • January 2021 (125)
  • December 2020 (104)
  • November 2020 (104)
  • October 2020 (121)
  • September 2020 (114)
  • August 2020 (103)
  • July 2020 (101)
  • June 2020 (100)
  • May 2020 (128)
  • April 2020 (123)
  • March 2020 (98)
  • February 2020 (75)
  • January 2020 (97)
  • December 2019 (92)
  • November 2019 (102)
  • October 2019 (113)
  • September 2019 (127)
  • August 2019 (139)
  • July 2019 (121)
  • June 2019 (110)
  • May 2019 (127)
  • April 2019 (116)
  • March 2019 (91)
  • February 2019 (92)
  • January 2019 (87)
  • December 2018 (93)
  • November 2018 (86)
  • October 2018 (82)
  • September 2018 (86)
  • August 2018 (78)
  • July 2018 (72)
  • June 2018 (74)
  • May 2018 (82)
  • April 2018 (76)
  • March 2018 (78)
  • February 2018 (71)
  • January 2018 (84)
  • December 2017 (75)
  • November 2017 (75)
  • October 2017 (79)
  • September 2017 (76)
  • August 2017 (62)
  • July 2017 (63)
  • June 2017 (62)
  • May 2017 (81)
  • April 2017 (65)
  • March 2017 (70)
  • February 2017 (69)
  • January 2017 (61)
  • December 2016 (53)
  • November 2016 (55)
  • October 2016 (62)
  • September 2016 (70)
  • August 2016 (43)
  • July 2016 (41)
  • June 2016 (20)
  • May 2016 (26)
  • April 2016 (41)
  • March 2016 (36)
  • February 2016 (31)
  • January 2016 (44)
  • December 2015 (45)
  • November 2015 (37)
  • October 2015 (38)
  • September 2015 (30)
  • August 2015 (20)
  • July 2015 (18)
  • June 2015 (31)
  • May 2015 (27)
  • April 2015 (24)
  • March 2015 (28)
  • February 2015 (28)
  • January 2015 (19)

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Germany asked Brazil for ammo to use against Russians in Ukraine — Brazilian president told them to Stuff off January 28, 2023
  • yep, exactly right January 28, 2023
  • thank Her for resigning and getting out of our lives January 28, 2023
  • Save Our Supplements: oppose the Therapeutic Products Bill January 28, 2023
  • this probably explains why the Democrat National Committee is making public Joe’s impropriety — it wants him to retire January 28, 2023
  • 9 Powerful Health Benefits of Cinnamon: The World’s most popular spice (that the NZ government wants to regulate) January 28, 2023
  • New peer-reviewed study: >217,000 Americans killed by the covid ‘vaccines’ in just the first year alone! January 28, 2023
  • Croatian President calls Germany’s ‘We are at War with Russia’ comment “Madness” January 28, 2023
  • Europe’s most Corrupt country caught doing Corruption January 28, 2023
  • Andrew Tate: did you see a pandemic? January 28, 2023
  • Mahara Gallery news January 28, 2023
  • Waikanae River evening January 28, 2023
  • the pretence is gone — it’s a NATO versus Russia war January 28, 2023
  • from the Free Speech Union: another shocking attempt at censorship January 28, 2023
  • things that make you go hmmm January 27, 2023
  • map for this weekend’s Lions Waikanae Garden Trail January 27, 2023
  • Pharazyn Reserve evening panorama January 27, 2023
  • Pfizer executive admits they are engineering viruses January 27, 2023
  • Ukraine is currently staring annihilation in the face January 27, 2023
  • what’s a good name for this band — ‘The Schemers’, ‘The insufferables’? January 27, 2023
  • NATO is incentivizing Russia to hit back January 27, 2023
  • satire: Pfizer announces new mascot, ‘Clotty’ January 27, 2023
  • Elon Musk reveals ‘Major Side Effects’ after second booster of that substance January 27, 2023
  • The US plan to control Mexico is backfiring and the WEF is not happy January 27, 2023
  • Rahui declared over a body found in the sea south of Kapiti Island January 26, 2023
  • Douglas Macgregor on where the Ukraine war is heading January 26, 2023
  • End custody based on race! January 26, 2023
  • The ‘sharp end’ at the Australian Open January 26, 2023
  • Living under tribal rule January 26, 2023
  • Garrick Tremain on Hipkins January 26, 2023

  • Follow Following
    • Waikanae Watch
    • Join 397 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Waikanae Watch
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: