A total of 175 views — including 2 from Iraq! It seems the Iraqi visitors were interested in the post on our home security cameras  — well, if they can deter trespassers and thieves for us, they may be good enough to deter Islamic terrorists!

Just about everyone we have spoken to in Christchurch since the 2010-2011 earthquakes has had a tale of woe about the way they have been treated by the Earthquake Commission.

Now, following the damage caused by the May floods in Kapiti, some coasters are getting the same.  According to Radio NZ: “Waikanae resident Steve Coburn said he had been left with a huge bill after losing a chunk of land from the front of his home during the May floods.

“He said the commission’s assessment was unfair.

“Eventually EQC assessed us and months and months later we got a letter saying the repair would cost $85,000 and they were going to cover $11,000.”

“Mr Coburn said he could not afford to put the shortfall on to his mortgage.

“The commission is legally bound to pay whatever is the cheapest: the value of the damaged land, or the cost of repairing it.”

(For our overseas readers we should explain that premiums for all property insurance policies include a levy for the Earthquake Commission which is the mandated insurer for land, and earthquake damage to certain limits.)

We mentioned the extremely hostile reaction of citizens to the Republic of Ireland’s introduction of water meters in that country in an earlier post.  Civil disobedience there on the issue is almost as strong as was the case during the independence from the UK struggle of a century ago.

The people of Kapiti can relate to their feelings!  This is from the Dublin says No facebook page

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Irish Water verses Irish Pride, last time they called and saw the sign on my water cover and walked away. My water pipe is at my front door so clearly on my property, I received a letter in the door yesterday (Sunday) saying they are around for the next three days installing water meters, this morning 7.45 am, they arrived at my door and drove off, they returned at 11 am walked into my garden with a screwdriver and ‘looked’, turned and walked away, the guy spent 20 min on the phone outside my garden, I decided to put a tone of gravel over my shore to delay their quick illegal removal of my cover to install their meter. See how this goes for now before I take further action, I cut the handles of the tone bag so it’s not easy to drag away but this would take a load of men to move LOL

Those who follow local media will have seen the concern expressed by users of this park about both the manner of dumping herbicides and the quantities being dumped.  As has been stated in previous posts, there has to be a strict limit on them, otherwise the consequences can be dire — for everything, people included.

No doubt a recommendation from the KCDC’s spin doctors following Wellington Regional Councillor Wilson’s criticism of it, another public ‘open day’ to see how this system is supposed to work is being held this coming Saturday.  It should be something worth doing, if only because your recently introduced water taxes are paying for it.

As it was 97 years ago, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month: the end of the ‘war to end all wars’.  A century ago, however, the ill-conceived and disastrous Gallipoli campaign was still in its final weeks.

For those of us who had grandparents serve in World War One, we recommend the Peter Plowman book Voyage to Gallipoli on ships used by the ANZAC troops during the war.

In the UK today is commemorated as Remembrance Day and in the U.S. as Veterans Day.

In a letter to the Kapiti Mayor and Councillors, the White ribbon organiser, Rob McCann, says:

‘Given the concerns expressed by some members of the public about actions of the KCDC, White Ribbon now asks that they cease calling themselves a ‘White Ribbon’ Council.’

Councillor Jackie Elliott (pictured) has complained for a long time about bullying within the Kapiti Council; and she is backed up by Councillor David Scott.

Kapiti Independent News article

See also the earlier post on the pamphlet by Dr Kerry Bolton.

That’s the impression given by this picture on the Colliers real estate site which is inviting interested renters.  This complex at present includes Pronto Pizza, Subway and a liquor outlet.

It has been since Monday.  Opening hours are as stated below, from the KCDC site.  The picture of Hayley is from the Destination Waikanae facebook page.

The season is 20 weeks long each summer and is generally from the first weekend in November until the end of March.

Waikanae Pool Opening Hours

Waikanae Pool is open every day except for Christmas Day during the season.

Monday, Thursday                               6am-6pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday                6am-8pm
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays      8am-8pm
(13 December – 15 February)               6am-8pm

Please note:  All swimmers are asked to get out of the pools 15 minutes prior to closing to allow time to get dry and changed by the time the facility closes.