According to the NZ Herald website and its video, about 11 pm last night, police were called to reports of a domestic incident between a 44-year-old man and a woman at a property in Waikanae.

When police arrived at the house they found the woman unharmed.

Before the police arrived the man fled in a vehicle; other officers began searching for the man.

His vehicle was later seen around the Mana Esplanade area, about 30 km south of Waikanae. The man approached a police car and threatened an officer with a large machete about 12.30 am.

Police, fearing for their safety, shot him.  Paramedics were called but he subsequently died.

Police had been conducting a scene examination near Mana Esplanade today. An air-rifle was found in the man’s car

More specific details about what happened would emerge as investigations continue.

Reading between the lines, it seems likely this man was a drug dealer and user.

We’ve seen statements by some on Facebook that it is 110 km/h, but at present the national limit of 100 km/h applies — although this road is one of several for which the limit is currently being reviewed, that change hasn’t been made yet.

We’re reliably told the fastest speed the Police have so far ticketed in two days on the new Expressway is 172 km/h.

Sue Lusk spent today painting out more tagging, while Theo and Leroy created these two Ruru totems.  (Sue Lusk pics)

As far as we can tell, it is the entrance bridge to the forthcoming huge Maypole company subdivision; their plans include such a bridge.

Hi Everyone, Reminder that this Monday will be an Open Evening. We are publicising this in the media and hope interested prospective members will come along to meet club members. Do bring interested friends with you, too. The evening will start earlier than usual at 7pm. We will have a barbecue, and tea, coffee and […]

via — Kapiti Coast Photographic Society

Southbound between Peka Peka and Waikanae

Just north of the Waikanae River crossing.  Car passengers won’t see much of interest although the overall scenery is nice.

We stopped to see what this birdcage thing is and figured it’s probably access to drains.  Two passing workers on the footpath gave us a smile.

This morning we took a drive along it from Te Moana Road to Kapiti Road, did a 180 degrees to Peka Peka; and then back to Te Moana Road.

The good thing, of course, is that the Ewy (as per a sign on Kapiti Road) is open and those who want to can now bypass Waikanae town centre.  The old SH1 is now a local road and traffic on it seems — from observation this morning — to have dropped by the 50% that officials were predicting.

The bad is that finishing touches to the periphery that will make it all visually appealing are not finished and they could take a few more weeks.  There are still plenty of utes and earth-moving vehicles etc. around near the Te Moana Road interchange and elsewhere, so be careful.

The design feature that bothers us is that it is not possible to turn from the Expressway onto Peka Peka Road when going north — you need to use the old SHI.  When going south it’s not a problem, however: you simply take what is now marked as a turnoff to Peka Peka and Waikanae along the old SH1, then turn west to cross over the bridge.

Arriving at Te Moana Road from the Expressway in either direction was a bit strange, but our feeling is that most of the time we will use the new road when heading north from Wellington.  When going south from Otaki though, we’ll use the old SH1.

According to this article on the Kapiti Independent News site :-

“After three years of construction, traffic will flow along the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway, three months ahead of schedule.

“My impeccable source is of a workman at the Wharemauku Bridge. NZTA vehicles have been driving up and down the down the road today making final checks and doing some fine-tuning.”

It’s been long enough in the making and most Kapiti people will be glad all the construction traffic and resulting inconvenience, dirt, mud and dust are at an end.

Heavy long distance trucks won’t be thundering through the centre of Waikanae anymore, and while a lot of pasture and vegetation have been replaced with 900,000 square metres of tarmac, the planners have taken the trouble to minimize the net environmental impact with new plantings, wetlands and of course the cycleways.  Most big truck engines are more fuel efficient than they used to be and emissions levels are also down.  A smooth level road with (theoretically) no stops will help that, too.

The main market in Waikanae is the regular Saturday morning one off Park Avenue; there’s also the Waikanae Show and the Spring market in Mahara Place.  All are sure to be important to the craftspeople and other traders who exhibit; and we see no reason for any changes to their nature and operation.

The draft on new policy is on the council website here (as usual with the council’s website it took a bit a bit of negotiation to find it; and it runs to 103 pages — no kidding).

If you have any comments, the e-mail is submissions@kapiticoast.govt.nz  Hearings for those who want to be heard take place in April.

“1080 … falls within the category of Highly Hazardous Pesticides for which the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is seeking a global phase out” In April 2010 Dr Meriel Watts from the Pesticide Action Network NZ (PANANZ) wrote to Environment Waikato regarding 10-20 year consents for the dispersal of 1080 poison. […]

via Banned in most countries & classified by WHO as ‘Highly Hazardous’… 1080 is a broad-spectrum poison that kills ALL oxygen-breathing animals and organisms – Dr Meriel Watts — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch